Events connect building community with resources and information to grow sustainable development through innovative, carbon-friendly mass timber construction
The Georgia Forestry Foundation (GFF), in partnership with the USDA Forest Service and Wood Works, is hosting a series of meetings across the state to increase awareness and utilization of mass timber, an innovative, engineered wood product with the ability to improve construction performance and reduce the carbon footprint of the built environment.
The meetings will bring together local architecture, engineering, construction and development teams to spotlight the key benefits of mass timber construction while addressing challenges that may inhibit the utilization of mass timber as a primary structural material. The meetings are strategically hosted in centers for population growth and economic development across the state, including Atlanta, Savannah, Columbus, Macon and Athens.Â
“Mass timber represents a transformative opportunity for Georgia’s forestry and construction industries,” said Matt Hestad, Senior Vice President Georgia Forestry Association and Foundation. “With our state leading the nation in growing, harvesting and manufacturing sustainable forest products, we are uniquely positioned to showcase how locally sourced wood can drive innovation, reduce carbon emissions and support economic growth in the places we live, work and play.”
The first meeting will be held in Columbus on January 30, with additional meetings planned for Savannah (February 25); Athens (March 20); and dates for Macon and Atlanta to be announced soon. With more than 26 completed or in-progress buildings across the state, mass timber construction is starting to gain more notoriety as a key solution to sustainable, modern construction – making these events critical to the future of Georgia’s built environment.
The creation of the meetings stems from the Mass Timber Accelerator Program launched in Atlanta through a grant funded by the USDA Forest Service and the Softwood Lumber Board. The Georgia Mass Timber Accelerator serves as a launchpad for innovative wood design—offering architects, engineers and developers the resources and support to elevate mass timber projects across Georgia. Â
To learn more about the Mass Timber Hubs, you can visit our website. The event is free. You can also learn more about the Mass Timber Accelerator here.Â
About GFF
The Georgia Forestry Foundation (GFF), established in 1990, is a 501(c)3 organization that focuses on the long-term sustainability of Georgia’s 22 million acres of private working forests. GFF seeks to educate and engage Georgians with the story of working forests and capitalize on our most important opportunities to capture carbon, filter water, provide wildlife habitat, create jobs and build sustainable communities. For more information, visit www.gffgrow.org.
