SFA Unveils The First Mass Timber Project in The University of Texas System

On Thursday, Stephen F. Austin State University officially opened the Pineywoods Dining Hall, the university’s first mass timber building and the first mass timber project in The University of Texas System.

At the ribbon-cutting ceremony, SFA President Dr. Neal Weaver said, “This project is really special for a lot of reasons. One, it is the first mass timber project in The University of Texas System. No other campus in the system has a building like this. And the most important part is it highlights what makes East Texas special and the unique opportunities we have as a region of our state to contribute to all of Texans and hopefully a new way of building buildings all across the country.”

The 20,000-square-foot facility features two dining areas connected by an open-air walkway and patio. Exposed wooden beams and angled columns support a raised timber roof, while large, dark-trimmed windows echo the look of tall trees. A brick exterior complements campus architecture and adds a natural finish.

Kirksey Architecture, a Texas-based interiors and architecture firm, designed the building to showcase mass timber made from Southern yellow pine. SFA selected the material for its ties to the Texas Forest Country and its potential to support local timber landowners, related industries, and sustainable building practices.

“As a firm dedicated to sustainability and innovation, this project highlights the benefits of mass timber while furthering the university’s mission to reconnect with its roots through the state’s Southern yellow pine lumber industry,” said Steve Durham, Kirksey Architecture’s managing director of collegiate practice.