Top stories, events, and more!

We're looking forward to the next meeting of the Michigan Mass Timber Community of Practice on June 4 at 11:00 a.m. This virtual technical assistance and peer learning gathering convenes quarterly so Michigan folks can get answers to questions to help them advance mass timber projects or initiatives. This month, the first hour will focus on how to think about and discuss mass timber's forest carbon climate and sustainability events, starting with a presentation by Ashley Cagle. The second hour will be an open discussion with breakout rooms available, so bring all your questions for answers by MassTimber at MSU, WoodWorks, American Wood Council, and your peers. 

Complete the application to receive an invitation to participate.

MassTimber@MSU's Sandra Lupien was honored to speak at the second annual MI Healthy Climate Conference in Lansing (May 16 and 17). She joined the "Clean Innovation in Industry" panel with MSU's Kristen Cetin, Graeme Miller from the U.S. DOE Midwest Onsite Energy Technical Assistance Partnership, and moderator Kareem Hammoud of the U.S. Climate Alliance. Sandra discussed how building factories and other industrial facilities out of mass timber can significantly reduce those buildings' carbon footprints. She also compared the potential for "Buy Clean" and "Build Clean" approaches to help building owners, like governments, select the lowest-carbon building materials for their projects. Governor Gretchen Whitmer's powerful remarks on Michigan's climate leadership were truly inspiring.

Another one of our Michigan State University Construction Management alumni is making waves in the mass timber industry! Advised by MassTimber@MSU's George Berghorn, Bhushan Nankar is at the forefront of integrating AI with mass timber construction. As a Project Manager at Kinsol Timber Systems Inc., Nankar uses AI and 3D modeling to streamline construction processes and reduce environmental impact, emphasizing the importance of mass timber as a sustainable alternative to traditional building materials.

At least 90 engineers enjoyed a mass timber-focused tour of the Michigan State University STEM Teaching & Learning Facility led by MassTimber at MSU's George Berghorn and project architect Kevin Marshall (Integrated Design Solutions), engineer Pete Heeringa (SDI structures), and Andrew Riess from Christman Constructors, Inc. The tour was part of the Structural Engineers of Michigan annual conference held at MSU. We are grateful they took the time to visit our building and learn more about mass timber design and construction! 

Photos: Todd Hamilton

Thanks to Walbridge for hosting not one, but two, MSU-led groups on tours of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources' beautiful mass timber building-in-progress in Michigan. First, Jarred Saralecos’ Forest Field Studies class stopped by as part of a U.P. tour focused on the markets and economies of the forest products supply chain. Then, MassTimber@MSU’s Sandra Lupien and George Berghorn visited with a group of Canadian and U.S.-based folks interested in mass timber manufacture and sawmills. It was amazing to see the Michigan-sourced red pine cross-laminated timber in place in this inspiring space! 

Last month, MSU Department of Forestry colleagues at the University of Eastern Finland Department of Forestry, Science, and Technology hosted MassTimber@MSU Director Sandra Lupien for a visit to their region. Over the course of four days, Sandra spent time in the campuses' two cities - Kuopio and Joensuu. First stop: Kuopio for views of the landscape in this beautiful lake region and tours of some beautiful new timber structures. Tour by UEF biomaterials technology professor Reijo Lappalainen alongside Cleo Orfanidou of the European Forest Institute.

During her trip, Sandra provided a keynote address at the University's 9th Annual Karelia Symposium titled "Wood on My Mind." Sandra spoke about the growing mass timber economy in the U.S.A., what's happening with #MIMassTimberMomentum and how MassTimber@MSU is engaged in that, as well as policy opportunities to advance mass timber. She was honored to speak alongside Finnish academic leaders from both UEF and the Karelia University of Applied Sciences, researchers and industry professionals from the European Forest Institute, UPM (United Plywood Manufacturers), and the Finnish Federation of Finnish Woodworking Industries. The event kicked off with insightful welcoming remarks by Sari Essayah, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry.

Henrik Heräjärv hosted Sandra on UEF's campus in Joensuu - which calls itself the Forestry Capital of Europe. Thanks to Seppo Tossavainen for kicking off the day describing the City's Forests Joensuu initiative and to Cleo Orfanidou and Florencia Franzini for the introduction to the European Forest Institute and its research and policy work related to climate-smart forestry and long-lived durable wood products like mass timber. After that, tours of inspiring mass timber buildings: the Metla building, and the sports complex including a Finnish baseball field, track & field spectator stands, and the multipurpose Areena Joensuu. The day wrapped up with Sandra hosting a wood products webinar to explore potential research collaborations between UEF and MSU Department of Forestry faculty.

To see more photos of wood buildings near UEF's Joensuu campus, view album: https://buff.ly/4d34ZcP

The City Center of Joensuu features some lovely mass timber structures, which all feature substantial exterior mass timber elements. One of them—an outdoor restaurant—uses the beautiful Japanese method Shou Sugi Ban to protect wood from the elements. See more pictures at: https://buff.ly/44ipHSe

We're wrapping up Sandra Lupien's recent visit to the University of Eastern Finland with some beautiful pictures of an inspiring project in the countryside just outside of Joensuu. Ulla Maaria Koivula and Jonathan Hull are experimenting with innovative mass timber designs— that they then deploy on their site as rentals for events, artist retreats, and more. The buildings, not to mention the landscape, are gorgeous and sometimes whimsical. The pics speak for themselves, so we'll just leave some here—along with a link to the Field Studies website—for you to enjoy. https://buff.ly/3QodQfQ