Judith Sheine, University of Oregon Professor and Head of the Department of Architecture, and Iain Macdonald, Associate Director of the TallWood Design Institute, introduced their approach to healthy and efficient mass timber buildings: the TallWood Design Institute. This joint initiative of OSU’s Colleges of Forestry and Engineering and UO’s School of Architecture & Allied Arts seeks to promote the use of innovative wood products and building components produced in the state of Oregon.
The Institute’s mission is to increase the ability of Oregon’s manufactured wood products industries to compete in emerging markets for the high value wood products that are perfectly suited to the timber we grow and the stewardship ethic of our State and to support Oregon’s growing reputation as a center of expertise for sustainable building design. We are working to grow the mass timber manufacturing base in Oregon and to eliminate barriers and stimulate demand for buildings utilizing mass timber products and building systems.
With funding from the state and federal governments, we have currently underway $1.9 million in mass timber research projects on seismic and fire resistant performance, vibration, acoustic and energy characteristics, as well as life cycle and biome analysis. We are performing testing and peer review of mass timber structural components and systems to prototype and refine new products and partnering with product manufacturers and state building officials to allow these products and systems to be permitted for construction. The Institute is also providing educational programs at the two universities as well as workforce training and engaging in the design of demonstration projects in Oregon.
Contact: tdi@oregonstate.edu
Twitter: @TallWoodDesign
This post is part of a blog series sharing information covered at the Health Energy Research Consortium in Portland, OR May 4-5, 2017.