SLB Roundtable Creates Road Map for Wood in Architecture Education | SLB April 2025 Newsletter

A wood education roundtable at the International Mass Timber Conference in March brought together 17 academic leaders, including deans and department chairs, from architecture programs across the nation. SLB Education convened this group to share insights, identify barriers, and explore new strategies for integrating wood—especially mass timber—into postsecondary architecture programs at schools not currently providing education on wood building systems.

Facilitated by David Hinson, Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies at Auburn University, and Tom Chung, Professor of Architectural Practice at Auburn, the forum drew a wide range of perspectives. Some participants represented trailblazing programs—like Clemson University and the University of Oregon—that have made significant progress incorporating mass timber into their curricula. Others came from large-enrollment institutions, such as Arizona State University and the University of Michigan, which are just beginning to embed wood systems into their programs.

During the fast-paced “lightning round,” each participant highlighted how their institution is currently weaving mass timber lessons into coursework and outlined challenges, such as limited faculty expertise, accreditation constraints, and resource gaps. The discussion then broke into smaller groups to examine two focal areas: curriculum-level opportunities—including the policies and institutional practices needed to expand mass timber systems as a core component of architectural education—and course-level resources, emphasizing the development of a “teaching toolbox” to streamline adoption within existing and new classes.

Auburn University will produce a report synthesizing key findings and actionable recommendations from the roundtable. Wood education is underrepresented in many postsecondary architecture, engineering, and construction management programs across the nation. This report will help shape the SLB’s investments in wood education and provide a road map for further integrating mass timber into architecture curricula alongside concrete and steel as a fundamental learning outcome for architecture students.

The American Wood Council (AWC) and the Construction Fire Safety Coalition (CFSC) launched an updated CFSC website and rebrand. The new look incorporates a three-sided shield to represent the three main partners of the coalition: the fire service, construction crews, and regulatory experts such as building officials. These groups play specific and vital roles in making sure buildings under construction are safe from fire, and the rebrand reflects the coordination and needs of each group.

Rebuilt based on direct feedback from users, the website places ease of navigation and the resource hub front and center. The updated resource hub now includes a search and filter function, making accessing specific documents even easier. The refresh follows the release last summer of the Construction Fire Safety Checklist app that was designed to support building code officials and the fire service in ensuring code compliance on construction sites.

The AWC and the Coalition work to unite developers, builders, regulators, and the fire service in our efforts to protect property, lives, and communities from construction fires. The CFS app and the updated website are critical resources to help these groups access easy-to-use resources and education materials and meet fire code requirements. The Construction Fire Safety Coalition’s new website can be accessed here. The CFS Checklist app is available for download on the Google Play and Apple stores.

The 2025 International Builders Show was the largest in 17 years, with more than 81,000 residential construction professionals in attendance at the Las Vegas Convention Center in late February. The SLB, Think Wood, and several industry association partners had a joint trade show experience to highlight the benefits of wood in single-family construction and remodeling. Alongside Think Wood, the Western Red Cedar Lumber Association (WRCLA), the Northeastern Lumber Manufacturers Association (NeLMA), the Western Wood Preservers Institute (WWPI), the Western Wood Products Association (WWPA), and new to this year’s show, the Cedar Shake and Shingle Bureau were on hand to provide region- and species-specific expertise.

Following IBS, the exhibit traveled to Providence, Rhode Island, on March 26 for JLC Live, a regional event for builders, remodelers, and tradespeople. The exhibit will also be at the AIA Conference on Architecture & Design in Boston from June 4 to 7.

With 3,000 developers, architects, engineers, and construction professionals all interested in exploring the use of wood materials, the International Mass Timber Conference was the ideal setting to put practical resources into the hands of project teams. WoodWorks brought materials covering design through construction—from the Mass Timber Cost & Design Optimization Checklists to How to Successfully Cost Manage a Mass Timber Project. 

A highlight was the new Example Specifications for Mass Timber Panels, which take care of much of the legwork required to specify cross-laminated timber, glue-laminated timber, nail-laminated timber, and dowel-laminated timber panels. This customizable document follows the Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) format, providing a comprehensive guide for using these panels in construction projects. It includes a wide range of products and procurement models, guidance on the variations, and links to resources that can assist in design and specification.

As co-producer with Trifecta Collective, WoodWorks played a leadership role in the conference’s structure and programming, helping to shape a worthwhile experience for teams looking to build their mass timber expertise. In addition to technical resources, the WoodWorks booth featured demos of the WoodWorks Innovation Network (WIN), a community site that showcases mass timber and innovative light-frame projects and their design and construction teams. 

WoodWorks provided targeted education for contractors with a live build of a mass timber mock-up on the trade show floor, supported by resources including the U.S. Mass Timber Construction Manual. WoodWorks also hosted the fourth annual WoodWorks/WIN networking event, which continues to draw teams engaged in real mass timber projects and has earned a reputation as one of the most beneficial networking events for conference attendees.