Mass Timber News
Federal Support of Mass Timber and Low Embodied Carbon Materials
Credit: The Canyons, Kaiser + Path
Photo Credit: Marcus Kauffman
Lots of good timber news coming out this week, but I will start with this.
The federal government is investing heavily in mass timber as both a climate and social solution through the Build Back Better Regional Challenge, awarding the Oregon Mass Timber Coalition a $41.4M grant to accelerate affordable housing production, provide good jobs, and restore forest health. I am particularly excited about the use of timber coming from restoration forestry projects to reduce wildfire risks in our forests. Check out more details on the U.S. Economic Development Administration website linked below. Emily Dawson, Taylor Cabot, Jennifer Dillan, MRED, Celeste Whorton and I even make a photo appearance at 1:17 in the pitch video, sitting on one of our panels for The Canyons in Portland during construction at Kaiser + Path!
This is in addition to the $350M allocated in the Inflation Reduction Act specifically for Low-Embodied Carbon Construction Materials and EPDs. For Federal buildings, $2.15B has been allocated to GSA through 2026 to acquire and install low-embodied carbon materials and products for use in the construction or alteration of GSA facilities. Even the Federal Highway Administration is being pushed to use low-embodied carbon materials, with $2B going towards their efforts.
Embodied carbon is getting it's day in the sun, and it is about time. We have a lot of work to do, but this is exciting momentum.
EDA Website - Build Back Better Regional Challenge
Oregon Mass Timber Coalition
Inflation Reduction Act of 2022
#masstimber #sustainableforestry #sustainabledesign #lowembodiedcarbon #embodiedcarbon #innovation TallWood Design Institute Oregon Department of Forestry Port of Portland University of Oregon Oregon State University Iain Macdonald Benjamin Kaiser Greg Howes Steve Marshall
Sidewalk Labs Mass Timber Resources
Here is another set of references that some of you might find helpful from my time at Sidewalk Labs (Part of Google). We wrote a series of articles outlining our work designing a prefabricated kit of parts using timber as the structural material for buildings up to 18 stories (and beyond!).
Big shout out to Mark Bauernhuber, AIA, LEED AP and Lily Hui Huang for their co-authorship, and of course Eric Jaffe for teaching us how to break out of our technical speak for more accessibility to a wider audience!
Introducing PMX 15: Our model for a mid-rise timber building
PMX 15, Part 1: How to design a timber building to code in a seismic region
PMX 15, Part 2: How to manufacture high-design, low-carbon timber buildings
#masstimber #sustainabledesign #prefab
Mass Timber Resources - Building Carbon12
A few years ago when I was at Kaiser + Path, we created a great resource for people interested in switching over to mass timber construction. Here is a friendly reminder that https://buildingcarbon12.com/ exists, and includes valuable information like links to the actual permit set of drawings, fire reports, etc. If you are considering mass timber, please use our experience to give yourself a head start!
#masstimber #sustainabledesign
Young Architect Podcast: The Power of Staying Connected with Kristin Slavin
In this episode of the Young Architect Podcast, Michael spoke with friend and fellow Architect, Kristin Slavin about her experience with incorporating renewable resources into her work, specia international travels, and how we can be more responsible for creating our own future.
Kristin has a ton of great tips on how to choose a graduate school, how to be more financially secure, and how to discover a career you’ll be passionate about for life. By the end of this episode, you’ll have a ton of ideas about design, education, and uncovering your interests.
Reflections on "The Overstory" by Richard Powers
Orcas Island - Moran State Park
I just finished reading The Overstory by Richard Powers, and my favorite quote from the book is: "When you cut down a tree, what you make from it should be at least as miraculous as what you cut down."
We can change construction to be renewable, healthier, and higher quality using mass timber, but we have to be intentional and purposeful about how we use our resources in all construction projects. Let's get to creating miraculous buildings!
#masstimber #sustainabledesign #sustainableforestry #innovation