Taking on Climate Change and Affordable Housing with Mass Timber

In support of the New England Climate-Smart Commodities project funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the New England Forestry Foundation (NEFF) and its partners are hosting the first in a series of workshops. The series aims to grow the market for climate-smart forest products, such as mass timber, and connect with efforts to incentivize climate-smart forest management across our region.

Join us to learn about the relationship between healthy forests and robust markets for forest products and hear from mass timber experts from New England and throughout the U.S. who have successfully integrated mass timber into affordable housing projects to simultaneously address two of the biggest challenges of our time: reducing carbon impact while increasing housing supply.

Special thanks to:

Panel Overviews:

Welcome – Patrick Duffy, WoodWorks, Vanessa Komada, New England Forestry Foundation, Dennis Carlberg, Boston University

Panel 1 – Forestry and Material Impacts – Forest, Carbon, and Procurement

Speakers: Ashley Cagle, WoodWorks,  Jennifer Shakun New England Forestry Foundation, Troy Harris, Jamestown Timberland and Innovative Wood Products

We face a dual climate and housing crisis: balancing housing and development for an ever-growing society with carbon-friendly solutions is a common theme across the United States. Speakers will address wood as a “right now” solution for housing and climate needs, highlighting New England forestry products in regional construction and the use of locally sourced timber used in Jamestown’s 619 Ponce project—the first commercial building project in Georgia to use mass timber made from southern yellow pine (SYP) timber grown in the state.

Panel 2A – Technical Design of Mass Timber in Affordable Housing – 340+ Dixwell

Speakers: Patrick Duffy, WoodWorks, Jeff Spiritos, Spiritos Properties, Andrew Ruff, GOA, Michael Scancarello, WSP

Sustainable and affordable housing construction is a critical priority for individuals, developers, design and construction teams, and government agencies. While we have collectively identified the need to address climate and affordability issues, how does the AEC+D industry take action to implement viable solutions? Speakers will detail resources available to guide housing development that responds to these issues and discuss mass timber’s impact on sustainability in the immediate term, affordable housing drivers, the “why” of mass timber, and practical lessons learned from the 340 Dixwell project.

Panel 2B – Technical Design of Mass Timber in Affordable Housing – Bunker Hill Redevelopment

Speakers: Nick Nigro, Leggat McCall Properties, Natalia Escobar, Stantec, Bryan Maltais, McNamara • Salvia

Team members from the Bunker Hill Housing Redevelopment project will discuss the benefits of mass timber and the nuances and challenges of building in a redevelopment area. Learn how the team navigated an eight-year process for the development and expansion of the Bunker Hill Housing Community and leveraged mass timber to meet sustainability and construction speed priorities—enabling them to deliver a successful project.

Panel 3A – Lessons Learned in Affordable Housing – Star Lofts & Junction Lofts

Speakers: Molly Cutler &  Scott Cutler, Cutler Development

In Des Moines, IA, Cutler Development has successfully used mass timber construction on affordable housing projects. In this panel, Molly & Scott Cutler of Cutler Development will address lessons learned during the development, design, procurement, and construction of two such projects: Star Lofts and Junction Lofts. Carbon reduction was central to project programming, and the team will show how mass timber and efficient MEP systems met these requirements.

Panel 3B – Mass Timber Housing Study and Prototype

Speaker: Tom Chung, Leers Weinzapfel Associates

Tom Chung, FAIA, LEED AP BD+C, a Principal with Leers Weinzapfel Associates, will detail the firm’s role in the NEFF Climate-Smart Commodities grant, focusing on the program’s housing study and prototype project. By examining key points from the study, this presentation will deepen the audience’s understanding of how to incorporate mass timber into the design of upcoming projects.

Credits: Attendees can Earn 4.5 AIA/CES HSW LUs, 4.5 PDH credits or 0.45 ICC credits

Location:

Boston University

Center for Computing & Data Sciences

665 Commonwealth Ave

Boston, MA 02215

Event Parking/Transit:

Public garages and lot available on campus.

Visit https://www.bu.edu/transportation/parking/charles-river-campus-parking/crc-guests-visitors/ for locations

Located across the street from the Boston University East stop on the Green Line.

For questions or additional information, please contact:

LeeAnn Charpentier, CMP | leeann.charpentier@woodworks.org | (301) 633-0330

Image: Rhode Island School of Design – North Hall / NADAAA / Odeh Engineers-WSP / Photo John Horner