MassTimber@MSU and Climate Futures Co-host Mass Timber Panel at the 2026 U-M Climate Week
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EmailThis event on October 2 in Ann Arbor convenes leaders from policy, industry, design, and education to explore the innovations needed to scale mass timber adoption across the Great Lakes region.
Michigan is uniquely positioned to become a national leader in the emerging mass timber economy and become a regional leader in low-carbon construction. With abundant forest resources, a strong manufacturing base, world-class research institutions, and state level frameworks targeting decarbonization, Michigan is poised to model integrative and innovative approaches to sustainable forestry, manufacturing, construction, and workforce development. Building on the momentum generated by the leadership of MassTimber@MSU (Michigan State University) and co-developed in partnership with Climate Futures, this event convenes leaders from policy, industry, design, and education to explore the innovations needed to scale mass timber adoption across the Great Lakes region.
The first panel, Setting the Stage: Networks, Programs, and Policies to Build Momentum, examines how public policy can accelerate the development of a regional mass timber industry while advancing climate, economic, and community development goals. Sandra Lupien will discuss her recent research exploring opportunities to advance state and local policies and incentive mechanisms through comparative analysis of international success stories and from advocacy experiences with Mass Timber@MSU.
The second panel, Educating Future Professionals, focuses on educating the future professionals who will help transform a growing mass timber sector. Adam Smith, George Berghorn, and Luke Barnett will explore how potential partnerships between Michigan's universities and professional practice can establish innovative and dynamic feedback pathways that accelerate a more collective, regional integration of mass timber.
The final panel, A Full Systems Values Approach, broadens the conversation to examine the interconnected relationships among forests, manufacturing, construction, communities, and environmental outcomes. Susan Jones, Kathryn Fernholz, and Ben Ridderbos will discuss how a systems-based perspective enables synergies across forest health, biodiversity, circular material flows, rural economic development, housing affordability, occupant well-being, and long-term community resilience.
Together, these three panels reflect a vision of mass timber as a catalytic lever for transformative change across policy, education, industry, and environmental stewardship. By bringing together leading thinkers, practitioners and advocates from across the mass timber ecosystem, this event seeks to foster collaborative strategies that incentivize and sustain innovative and equitable regional mass timber adoption and model actionable pathways toward a more resilient and regenerative vision for the Great Lakes region.
This event is co-sponsored by Climate Futures & MassTimber@MSU (Michigan State University). Registration is not required to attend. Learn more: https://taubmancollege.umich.edu/event/emerging-innovations-in-mass-timber-regional-advancements-in-policy-practice-and-education-climate-week/.
Event Details:
Date: October 2 @ 9:30 AM
Location: A. Alfred Taubman Wing Commons (2000 Bonisteel Blvd, Ann Arbor, MI 48109)
- 9:00-9:30 — Gather in the commons & coffee
- 9:30-9:40 — Welcome & opening remarks (Jen Maigret)
- 9:40-10:20 — Setting the Stage: Networks, Programs, and Policies to Build Momentum (Sandra Lupien)
- 10:20-11:20 — Educating Future Professionals (George Berghorn, Luke Barnett, Adam Smith)
- 11:20-11:30 — Break
- 11:30-12:30 — A Full Systems Values Approach (Susan Jones, Ben Ridderbos, Katie Fernholz)
- 12:30-1:30 — Lunch
- 1:30-2:15 — Q&A Panel (all)
- 2:15-2:30 — Closing remarks
