By Andi Anderson
Michigan State University is playing an important role in helping grow the mass timber building industry in Michigan and across the country.
Mass timber refers to large, engineered wood products that can be used for major structural applications, including multi‑story buildings. These materials offer many environmental benefits, such as carbon storage, improved fire resistance, and faster construction through prefabricated components.
The journey behind MSU’s leadership in this field begins with Sandra Lupien, a Michigan native who previously lived in California. In 2016, the state faced one of the most severe droughts in its recorded history.
The extreme conditions caused significant strain on water resources and contributed to major challenges in forest health.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, more than 100 million trees died during this period. These losses fueled bark beetle infestations and destructive wildfires that released millions of metric tons of carbon into the atmosphere.
While completing a master’s degree in public policy at the University of California, Berkeley, Lupien became increasingly focused on climate‑related issues. She and a friend also started a furniture business using wood from beetle‑killed pine trees to create durable, sustainable pieces.
“People were really relating to that value proposition,” Lupien said. “They thought it was an exciting business prospect. We were selling some furniture, but we very quickly realized that the scale of the problem we were trying to address was so enormous. What we were doing was so tiny in comparison, and we wanted to pivot to making something that was more scalable.”
Their search for scalable solutions led them to learn about mass timber. “We knew someone with the U.S. Forest Service, and he asked us if we knew what mass timber was. We didn’t, but after learning more we thought that was the scalable solution we wanted to pursue. But there wasn’t much infrastructure in place to help grow the mass timber economy – particularly one based on using wood that would otherwise burn or rot in forests.”
In 2021, Lupien discovered a position at Michigan State University that aligned perfectly with her experience and vision. “Very strangely, in early 2021, I saw a position at Michigan State University leading a program called MassTimber@MSU – essentially looking for someone to be the mass timber cheerleader in Michigan,” Lupien said. “I thought, ‘That’s clearly my job, so it’s time to move back to Michigan and take this on.’”
Lupien became director of MassTimber@MSU, a role that involves collaborating with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources to advance outreach, communication, partnerships, and policy development for the mass timber industry. She began working with MSU researchers, state leaders, and building partners to understand opportunities and challenges surrounding mass timber adoption.
She joined MSU in July 2021, shortly before the opening of MSU’s STEM Teaching and Learning Facility. The building, one of the first mass timber structures in Michigan, introduced this technology into university planning through the efforts of a team led by Department of Forestry Chairperson Richard Kobe and construction management assistant professor George Berghorn, who also serves as the research director for MassTimber@MSU.
Today, MSU continues to expand research, education, and partnerships that support sustainable building and forest health, helping grow a stronger mass timber industry for the future.
Photo Credit: michigan-state-university-msu
Categories: Michigan, Education