Oregon Mass Timber Coalition’s Post

It was a true delight to produce this short video with Marcus Kauffman on hybrid mass plywood modular housing pioneered at MODSpdx. Early next year these homes will be deployed to the rural community of John Day, Oregon. This is happening NOW! The floors and ceilings are made with state-of-the-art mass plywood developed and manufactured by Freres Wood in Lyons, Oregon. The walls are built using conventional stick-frame (2”x6”) methods. This hybrid approach dramatically reduces time-to-market to help ease the rural housing crisis today.

Over the past few years, we’ve heard a lot about the urban-rural divide, but what about the urban-rural connection? How can strategic investments strengthen rural communities, leverage urban resources, and create new opportunities that bridge the gap? Last month, I joined MODS PDX, Oregon Department of Forestry, and the US Forest Service for the launch of a new sustainable, scalable workforce housing initiative. It’s no secret that housing is scarce throughout Oregon, but for rural areas, a lack of development resources and qualified contractors can keep communities from addressing this ongoing crisis. To truly tackle this issue, we need real housing that will last in our unique climate so that families have a chance to build generational wealth with a solid and safe foundation. That’s where HONE comes in. These new modular homes are made from wood sustainably harvested during local forest maintenance, crafted by rural manufacturers, assembled in Portland, and shipped out ready to be assembled in a fraction of the time with less manpower than traditional housing construction. While they’ll initially be deployed for workforce housing, it’s not hard to imagine how projects like this could change the game in other scenarios like disaster response. Think of it: Sustainable, resilient homes made by Oregonians for Oregonians. Rural and urban communities coming together to pool resources, creating a circular economy that adds value to local businesses and a pathway to homeownership for hardworking families. When we invest in holistic, community-led solutions, we can do more than just address our immediate problems. We can create lasting change and opportunity, the kind that bridges divides and creates a stronger, healthier Oregon for everyone. If you’d like to know more, our colleagues at ODF created a video highlighting the project and launch, and I highly recommend giving it a watch. Marcus Kauffman Margaret Van Vliet Sheba Person-Whitley Robert Lyons Jill Rees

Mass timber unlocks efficiency and spurs public and private innovation. Inspired by the precision of Freres Wood mass plywood, the bright minds at MODSpdx, Base Design + Architecture, and USDA Rural Development are bringing the hybrid modular mass timber housing to rural markets in Oregon. With 18 units headed for John Day, OR this is the start of something great! Another great storytelling effort by the inimitable Dan Bihn.

🏙️ Curious about abandoned towers, rising housing costs, and innovative housing technologies? 🌱 Part 1 of our Q&A series dives into these pressing topics! Discover why cities struggle to repurpose old buildings, the reasons behind skyrocketing house prices, and the exciting future of modular and mass timber housing technologies. Stay tuned for more insights! #HousingCrisis #UrbanDevelopment #InnovationInTheCity #CopalMM

The Roots of Renewal Kindred is honoured to have taken part of The Roots of Renewal, an inspiring video by the BC Indigenous Housing Society. This video highlights the connection between mass timber construction and Indigenous values of respect, reciprocity, and stewardship of the land. Check out the full video to see how tradition and innovation come together to shape a sustainable future: https://tr.ee/cMCHzMKmy9 #KindredConstruction #TeamBuilt #MassTimber #SustainableBuilding #IndigenousValues #HousingForTheFuture #AffordableHousing #SustainableConstruction

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) states in its “Noise Guidebook” that as America becomes an urbanized country with advancing technology and growing levels of noise in our environment, building sound-insulated structures is increasingly important to the well-being of our communities. Residents of buildings constructed with hollowcore enjoy many benefits, including high-quality sound insulation. Read more about the sound insulation advantages of hollowcore: https://hubs.ly/Q02y8GNw0

Mass timber "accelerators" have popped up in several U.S. cities to encourage builders to use engineered wood products. Now, the Softwood Lumber Board, which has invested in several such initiatives, is looking to fund accelerators in more U.S. cities. Proponents of mass timber say it's a way to reduce the embodied carbon of buildings, although some researchers have cautioned that wood can be associated with high greenhouse gas emissions and ecological impacts depending on where it comes from. #masstimber #construction

Discover the future of urban living with our pivotal study on mass timber construction in the Seattle area. By reducing embodied carbon, enhancing biophilic benefits, and promoting affordability and density in high-rises, mass timber is setting new standards for sustainable, innovative urban landscapes. Learn more about how this approach is transforming cities for the better.

The housebuilding sector must evolve to meet the Future Homes Standard and transition towards the construction of low-carbon and zero-carbon homes. We recently engaged with Bloomberg’s Matthew Brooker to discuss our ongoing research about improving sustainability and productivity within the UK housing industry. In his article, Matthew highlights the growing momentum behind timber frame construction as a viable solution. This approach is gaining traction due to its potential to significantly reduce embodied carbon, while also improving construction speed, operational efficiency, and waste reduction. The Productivity Institute Centre for Sustainable Business Dr Suzanne Peters Graham Winch #netzero #MMC https://lnkd.in/ef7JpCiw

Read about Jonatan Pinkse, Dr Suzanne Peters and Graham Winch's research on improving sustainability and productivity within the UK housing sector. To find out more, read their full paper on our website: https://lnkd.in/egXEtHvr Graham Winch will also be speaking at the Construction Productivity Conference on 28 January 2025, where he will talk about TPI research on Modern Methods of Construction: https://lnkd.in/e-QeJYku