What we’re about
Critical Mass (Timber) is an informal monthly gathering of professionals interested in building bigger, taller and smarter with wood. Centering around the use of relatively new-to-the-US materials such as cross-laminated-timber, our group aims to bring together architects, engineers, construction professionals, developers, code officials, municipal planners and anyone with an interest in seeing more buildings go up using renewable materials. THIS IS NOT A LECTURE SERIES! Our goal is to create an interactive discussion space in which individuals can learn from each other through sharing of personal experiences and projects they have undertaken. Facilitated by the TallWood Design Institute, a joint initiative of Oregon State University Colleges of Forestry and Engineering and University of Oregon's College of Design.
Upcoming events (1)
See all- Carbon Narratives for Design Planning: Mass Timber MeetupLink visible for attendees
How do we navigate the complex story of embodied carbon in building materials? And where does mass timber fit within that story?
The Carbon Narratives for Design Planning project was developed to explore this question, synthesizing peer-reviewed research and insights from academia, industry, government, and environmental organizations.
Led by the University of Oregon's NetZED Lab and the Institute for Health in the Built Environment, this work surveyed industry perspectives, hosted a series of online workshops, and produced a graphic design guide to help AEC professionals and students better understand embodied carbon considerations when selecting structural building materials.
For our September Meetup, we'll dive into the findings and lessons from this initiative.
Featured Speakers:
- Mark Fretz, Co-Director of the Institute for Health in the Built Environment, University of Oregon
Mark will unpack the key questions raised by industry around embodied carbon, explain why the narrative can be so complex, and highlight opportunities for mass timber to address these challenges.
- Blayne Burnside, M.S., University of Oregon
Blayne will showcase how he applied the Carbon Narratives framework in his thesis research, comparing embodied carbon in mass timber versus traditional construction approaches.
Join us for an engaging discussion that brings clarity to the embodied carbon conversation and offers practical insights for architects, engineers, contractors, and others in the AEC community interested in low-carbon building solutions.
