Two Michigan Universities Leading the Way on Technology and Promotion of Mass Timber

Two Michigan universities are working with the state’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to develop mass timber construction technologies and promote mass timber construction, according to a feature by UPword Michigan (8-21-24).

Michigan Technological University (MTU) is exploring the production of mass timber materials, using hardwood such as red maple and cross-laminated timber (CLT) technology. Michigan State University (MSU) is working with softwoods such as pine and focusing on education and outreach.

The recently built STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) Center for Teaching and Learning at MSU is a model of mass timber construction. The building is a three- and four-story structure using eye-catching wood.

Another showpiece of mass timber construction is the DNR’s customer service center, now under construction in Newberry, says Patrick Mohney, senior lands program manager with the DNR Office of Public Lands. The building will include housing, offices, and community space.

Another example is “Southtown” in downtown Ann Arbor, an eight-story building with apartments and retail, office, and community space.

Across Michigan, seven mass timber buildings are under construction or have recently been built, and 55 are in the pipeline, says Sandra Lupien, director of masstimber@MSU, a Michigan State University program that conducts education, research, outreach, and curriculum development for mass timber construction. The buildings include apartments, offices, schools—even a veterinary clinic.

“People see the value (of mass timber construction),” Lupien says. “It’s beautiful. The material is durable. There are carbon, climate, and sustainability benefits. There are potential economic benefits. And there are biophilic benefits. … Research has found that when we have materials like exposed wood in buildings, the occupants of those buildings report better mental health, a sense of well-being and greater productivity.”

As of June 2023, there were 856 mass timber buildings under construction or already built across the US and 1,004 were in design, according to Woodworks, part of the Wood Products Council. The council is a nonprofit that provides free project support and education for wood building construction.