Event Description

As the demand for sustainable and scalable housing solutions grows, mass timber - a family of high-performance engineered wood construction materials - is rapidly gaining momentum across the U.S. and in Michigan as an innovative alternative to traditional building materials. Made from a renewable, carbon-storing material – wood – and delivered as a prefabricated kit-of-parts, mass timber’s gaining market share due to its sustainability, structural, and efficiency benefits – not to mention its undeniable aesthetic appeal. This presentation will bring together leaders in the mass timber space to provide introductory context to its growing momentum and the diverse benefits it can offer to new and existing construction. Through a series of case study applications, this presentation will also explore housing projects nationwide that have integrated mass timber into their building designs. These examples will highlight key project details and the decision-making processes that led to selecting mass timber, offering valuable insight into how this material can address growing housing needs while contributing to the long-term decarbonization of our built environment.

Lessons Learned:

1.  An understanding of mass timber and how its use as a renewable, carbon-storing material not only contributes to the health and resilience of our natural environment but also aids in the decarbonization of the built environment.

2.  Knowledge of the structural performance and fire safety properties of mass timber that ensure safe, resilient, and scalable housing solutions.

3.  An understanding of how mass timber can enhance occupant well-being through biophilic design, supporting long-term public health in residential housing.

4. Real-world mass timber housing case studies that showcase broader goals in occupant welfare, community resilience, and project efficiency.