When it comes to sustainable construction materials, there’s no contest: mass timber buildings require less heavy equipment, save on labor costs, and take less time to install than concrete and steel. By utilizing mass timber, the construction industry can utilize green building practices without compromising efficiency.
That was the message of “Managing Mass Timber: From Forest to Future,” a lecture delivered by Dr. Anthony Mirando and Dr. Lameck Onsarigo of Kent State University. Presented on September 30 at the College of Engineering and Computer Science, the lecture was part of a national tour showcasing Dr. Mirando and Dr. Onsarigo’s research at Kent State University’s College of Architecture & Environmental Design.
Mass timber refers to a class of engineered wood products (EWPs) that are often used for wall, roof and floor construction. Because commercial-scale mass timber construction projects are on the rise across the United States, Professors Mirando and Onsarigo highlighted the importance of educating the next generation of professionals about these green building materials.
The lecture featured data from one of the tallest mass timber buildings in the United States: INTRO in Cleveland, Ohio. A mixed-use structure with 300 apartment units and ground-floor commercial space, the project was uniquely efficient because of the use of mass timber materials such as Glued-Laminated Timber (GLT) beams and columns, as well as Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) slabs. The real estate developer reported that construction time was about 25 percent faster than typical concrete or steel construction.
“Managing Mass Timber: From Forest to Future” also included a weeklong exhibit in Link Hall where students could examine real-life examples of mass timber building materials, including dowel laminated timber, nail laminated timber, and connections and assemblies used in mid- and high-rise construction projects. The “Managing Mass Timber: From Forest to Future” national exhibit tour is funded by the Softwood Lumber Board (SLB) headquartered in Portland, Oregon. Dr. Andria Costello Staniec, Department Chair of Civil and Environmental Engineering, and Mr. Reed Kelterborn, Director of Education for SLB, delivered welcoming and opening remarks.
The visit from Kent State University faculty was organized by Yilei Shi, Associate Teaching Professor and Undergraduate Civil Engineering Program Director, and Cliff I. Davidson, Civil and Environmental Engineering Professor Emeritus. “We were thrilled to host Drs. Mirando and Onsarigo’s national touring exhibition on the construction management aspects of the mass timber building industry, and to highlight the benefits of mass timber as a sustainable construction material to the Engineering, Architecture, and Construction (EAC) community here in Central New York,” says Professor Shi. “Interest in mass timber buildings is rising rapidly throughout the country. Skilled labor and seasoned professionals are in great demand. This state-of-the-art exhibition and lecture can help bring our students up to speed and get them ready for the next generation’s EAC industry.”
“In addition, we are training students to design and build more sustainable and resilient infrastructure to approach the immense challenges of climate change and natural disasters,” Professor Davidson adds. “Mass timber can be one of the most effective construction materials to meet these challenges.”
Students in engineering, architecture and other disciplines who are interested in the topic of sustainable building materials may also want to register for the 2025 New York State Green Building Conference, which will be held in Syracuse this coming March.
