Michigan Hardwoods and Mass Timber: Historical Context, Technical Barriers, and Emerging Opportunities
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EmailIn this meeting, we welcomed Randi Dodgson, PhD Student from Michigan Technological University, who presented on structural grading and engineering applications of underutilized wood species.
July 24, 2026
Michigan Hardwoods and Mass Timber: Historical Context, Technical Barriers, & Emerging Opportunities
Randi Dodgson, PhD Student from Michigan Technological University
In this meeting, we welcomed Randi Dodgson, PhD Student from Michigan Technological University, who presented on structural grading and engineering applications of underutilized wood species.
Michigan's forest resource is dominated by hardwoods (~70%), yet hardwoods remain underutilized in engineered wood products. This presentation will address why this gap exists by examining the historical context and key barriers facing hardwood adoption into mass timber markets; from grading and manufacturing challenges, published design values, testing requirements, and ultimately, industry acceptance. Ongoing research efforts will be connected to the technical information that architects, engineers, contractors, and manufacturers need to consider as mass timber continues to evolve.
