Mass Timber

During this studio, I learned that mass timber is a wood product made of two or more solid wood panels that are bound together. It is a low-carbon composite material. It can be an alternative building material for concrete or steel builds due to its exceptional strength. Carbon and steel products are notorious for producing toxic emissions. The construction industry is currently responsible for 45% of CO2 emissions. Mass timber is a sustainable, low-carbon product. Instead of using old-growth trees, which are used for traditional lumber, new-growth trees are harvested. These trees capture and store atmospheric carbon dioxide through photosynthesis. If utilized, this product can sequester carbon, improve a building's air quality, decrease waste, and can even be reused/recycled after the structure is disassembled. A building’s air quality would be improved due to mass timber’s off-gassing, which is highly reduced in this building material. I decided to utilize this material to design a high-rise building. The entire building is made of timber, even the structural core.

All projects completed during this studio were completed on an individual basis. I learned how to read code, how to find information efficiently, and design using mass timber materials. I furthered my skills in Rhino, laser-cutting, Enscape, Revit, and even learned how to operate a CNC machine! We were tasked with designing a Bee Hotel, a mass timber pavilion, and finally a mixed-use development.