S2E5: Mass Timber 101

On this episode we're joined by Judith Sheine, Professor of Architecture and Director of Design of the TallWood Design Institute at the University of Oregon. She shares her work with mass timber innovation and what it means for environmental sustainability. Sheine also discusses how the TallWood Design Institute applies research to support the future of mass timber as a resilient material for buildings and rural economies. This is part one of our conversation with Judith Sheine.

Topics

• What is Mass Timber [00:33]
• What does biophilic mean? [3:04]
• Mass Timber, resilience and Environmental Sustainability [4:05]
• What is the TallWood Design Institute? [10:54]
• The future of mass timber, and UO's College of Design role in the vision [14:44]

Guest

• Judith Sheine, Professor of Architecture and Director of Design of the TallWood Design Institute at the University of Oregon

Resources

• Oregon's College of Design, learn about programs in architecture, landscape architecture, product design, and more, with opportunities to develop hands-on design skills and explore sustainable approaches to shaping the built environment.
• TallWood Design Institute, discover the collaborative research institute between University of Oregon and Oregon State University dedicated to advancing mass timber and wood product building solutions through testing, applied research, and educational opportunities for students interested in sustainable building.
• Oregon Mass Timber Coalition, find out more about bout the statewide partnership between research universities and government agencies working to grow Oregon's mass timber industry and strengthen a regional ecosystem for sustainable wood product innovation.

Quotes

• "Things that are really interesting about wood is that it can replace steel and concrete, and wood has been proven to have a lot of biophilic properties. There have been studies that show that wood environments in workplaces mean fewer absences, healthier environments, more productivity, and there's been studies done in schools and also in hospitals as well." [2:37]
• "So we do what is known as applied research, sometimes called use-inspired research, very closely aligned with industry, and that funding has enabled us to do, over 100 research projects since 2015, which is kind of amazing. So we've really helped to—in really every aspect of mass timber—so we've really helped to advance the industry. And so far the legislature seems very happy with what we're doing." [13:56]
• "We have made a very comprehensive, strategic plan for how to engage stakeholders across government, of course, university researchers, nonprofits, people in urban and rural communities—really everybody who could possibly be a stakeholder in this, finding ways to engage them and also to attract outside investment, to invest in startups, to invest in more buildings, and the University of Oregon has organized this very big strategic planning effort." [17:38]
• "I think that mass timber for the Northwest really has both enormous potential for economic development and for environmental stewardship, which is what the TallWood Design Institute was designed to promote. That's our mission." [18:31]

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