University of Michigan Starts Construction on New Mass Timber College of Pharmacy Building

The University of Michigan has commenced construction on its new mass timber College of Pharmacy building, The University Record reported (4-3-24). The new mass timber building will allow the university to reduce greenhouse emissions and emphasize a shared culture of sustainability.

Through the incorporation of mass timber, the building will reduce its embodied carbon—the greenhouse gas emissions associated with the extraction, transportation, manufacturing, and installation of building materials—by 40%.

Total carbon avoided by the building project is expected to exceed 1,500 MTCO2e—equivalent to the total emissions of about 357 gasoline-powered passenger vehicles driven for one year. Additional sustainability benefits of mass timber include minimized construction waste and a visual connection to nature. Mass timber also offers increased speed and ease of construction and inherent fire resistance.

The 142,000-square-foot building, designed by RDG Planning and Design and engineered by TD2 Engineering & Surveying, is scheduled to be completed in fall 2025.