Learning and Architecture: What Mass Timber Can Teach Us presented by Martin Hopp

This course explores the intersection of sustainable building practices and educational environments. Through the lens of recent mass timber projects, including the Evergreen Charter School, the course examines how mass timber construction can address key challenges in K-12 education, such as facility inequity, student well-being, and sustainability goals. Participants will gain insights into how mass timber supports healthier learning environments, reduces embodied carbon, and offers cost-effective alternatives to conventional construction materials like concrete and steel. The course emphasizes how buildings can serve as an integral part of the educational experience, fostering community engagement and promoting long-term resilience.

Credit: 1AIA LU/HSW

By the end of the course, you will be able to do the following:

• Discuss problems faced by K-12 buildings, specifically around the types of building materials and their impact on occupants.
• Define the term, mass timber building, and describe the benefits to the health and welfare of the occupants inside it.
• Define the concept of the “third teacher” and how building design and the environment contributes to better student outcomes.
• Analyze the connection between school design and health and sustainability of the students in the building.