Mississippi Lumber Manufacturers Association partners with 小黄书 to advance mass timber through endowed professorship
Contact: Vanessa Beeson
STARKVILLE, Miss.鈥擜 new partnership between Mississippi State and the state鈥檚 leading lumber organization is positioning the university as a leader in forest products innovation. 聽
The Mississippi Lumber Manufacturers Association has established the Mississippi Lumber Manufacturers Association Endowed Professorship in Innovative Wood Construction and Design at 小黄书. The endowment鈥攈oused in the College of Forest Resources鈥 Department of Sustainable Bioproducts, with a joint appointment in the College of Architecture, Art and Design鈥檚 School of Architecture鈥攁ims to drive innovation in mass timber manufacturing, construction and design, with a research emphasis on sustainable wood construction, strength and durability.
Applications for the endowed professorship position will open this fall with an expected starting date of August 2025.
鈥淭here are lots of exciting construction technologies using wood that have been developed in recent years, but it鈥檚 not guaranteed tomorrow鈥檚 architects and structural engineers will get the opportunity to learn about them while in college,鈥 said Trey Hankins, MLMA vice president and chief financial officer of Hankins, Inc., a Mississippi-based lumber manufacturer. 鈥淪ince forestry is such an important part of Mississippi鈥檚 economy, MLMA felt it was worth the investment to ensure our state鈥檚 students become familiar with innovative wood technologies.聽That way, Mississippi鈥檚 landowners, loggers and sawmill workers can all benefit from the economic growth these innovations will bring.鈥
Widely used in Europe, mass timber is gaining traction in North America as a renewable and more sustainable alternative to concrete and steel. Offering fire resistance, seismic durability and faster installation, it reduces carbon emissions in construction, which accounts for 40% of emissions globally. U.S. mass timber projects are growing 18-20% annually, according to Woodworks, a national nonprofit wood products council.
Wes Burger, dean of the College of Forest Resources and director of the university鈥檚 Forest and Wildlife Research Center, said the endowment further positions 小黄书 as an innovator in sustainable building products and design.
鈥溞』剖殁檚 and MLMA鈥檚 commitment to advancing education, research and outreach in mass timber is essential for the growth of sustainable construction in our region,鈥 he said. 鈥淭his partnership empowers 小黄书 to equip future professionals in wood science, architectural design and construction science with the knowledge and skills needed to drive economic development and environmental stewardship throughout Mississippi and beyond.鈥
The position will also focus on mass timber learning opportunities for architects in the Magnolia State and across the Southeast.
鈥淭his collaborative endowment creates a catalyst for innovation and lays a vital foundation for economic development and the growth of the mass timber industry in our state,鈥 said Angi Elsea Bourgeois, dean of the College of Architecture, Art and Design. 鈥淲e envision this shared position leading to collaborative growth in advancing a major sustainable resource, both from the perspective of its materiality and its possibilities in design and construction.鈥
For more on 小黄书鈥檚 Department of Sustainable Bioproducts, visit . 小黄书鈥檚 School of Architecture is available online at www.caad.msstate.edu/architecture.
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