Event Description

Ann Arbor Public Schools is helping lead Michigan’s transition toward healthier, lower-carbon buildings through the adoption of mass timber construction in its new school facilities. As part of the district’s bond-funded building program, new school projects are being designed with a focus on healthy indoor environments, safety, sustainability, and innovative building materials that support both student well-being and long-term climate goals. The use of mass timber—an engineered wood product that stores carbon while enabling high-performance design—represents a major shift in how public buildings can be constructed in Michigan.

Recent updates to building codes and local development policies, alongside broader state adoption of the 2021 Michigan Building Code, are expanding opportunities for mass timber construction and allowing taller, more complex timber structures while maintaining rigorous safety standards.

Key takeaways: 

• Why Ann Arbor Public Schools is choosing mass timber for new school facilities — and how it supports sustainability, indoor environmental quality, and community goals.
• How AAPS has used the procurement process to support its mass timber and sustainability goals in these facilities. 
• How mass timber design contributes to reduced embodied carbon and healthier built environments in educational settings.
• Practical insights from project teams on implementation, challenges, and lessons learned for future public projects.

Participants will gain insight into the technical, policy, and design considerations shaping mass timber adoption in Michigan and how Ann Arbor’s experience can serve as a model for communities looking to build healthier, safer, and more climate-forward buildings.

This webinar will be valuable for educators and administrators, construction and design professionals, sustainability advocates, and those interested in learning more about the applications of Mass Timber.