Ahead of the curve in mass timber manufacturing

March 1, 2024
A graphic depiction of a roofed structure that has undulating curves and a group of human figures standing underneath it.
Visualization of an lightweight timber roof structure built from curved cross-laminated timber. Image Credit: Ryan King - High Performance Wood Morphologies Studio instructed by Dylan Wood
Portrait of Dylan Wood
Dylan Wood

Dylan Wood, assistant professor of architecture in the School of Architecture and Environment in the University of Oregon’s College of Design, secured two U.S. Department of Agriculture awards that will advance innovation in mass timber manufacturing.

The first $30,000 award will support Wood’s effort to design and prototype prefabricated flat pack timber components that can self-shape to curved shapes on site, with the goal of improving efficiency in transporting and assembly.

The second $10,000 award will fund the development of a model for evaluating curved surface geometries in long span, cross-laminated timber structures. This project is co-led by Erica Fischer of the Oregon State University’s College of Engineering.

Both projects look to improve use of wood materials by combining expertise in design, engineering, and high-tech manufacturing, with the potential to open new markets for Oregon wood products in the US and globally. They support the mission of the TallWood Design Institute, a collaboration of Oregon State University and the University of Oregon, to advance timber in the built environment.

A geometric graphic of a timber structure surface with curves.
Geometric planning and analysis of curved timber components for point-supported timber structures. Image Credit - Dylan Wood, Braden Lawrie

— By Catherine Jarmin Miller, Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation