\u201cMy work has always explored the relationship between design and construction, especially as it relates to material innovation,\u201d Tate said. \u201cMass timber systems like CLT are particularly compelling because they lend themselves to offsite manufacturing, which is ideal for both rural housing and dense urban projects.\u201d<\/p>\n
What is cross-laminated timber?<\/p>\n CLT is a type of mass timber<\/a> created by bonding together several layers of kiln-dried lumber, each oriented at right angles to the one below. This crosswise arrangement gives the panels exceptional strength and stability in both directions.<\/p>\n CLT panels are manufactured off-site in controlled factory settings and then transported to construction locations, where they can be assembled quickly, significantly reducing build times. The panels can be used for all the major structural elements of a building \u2014 floors, walls and roofs.<\/p>\n Tate\u2019s research and teaching emphasize the practical and aesthetic benefits of CLT. He notes that the material\u2019s strength-to-weight ratio allows for lighter foundations and faster construction, while its natural beauty invites designers to leave structural elements exposed.<\/p>\n \u201cOne of the fantastic things about mass timber is that it often becomes part of the architectural expression,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Protecting forests, boosting the economy<\/p>\n The implications of CLT extend far beyond its strength and beauty. According to Aaron Stottlemyer<\/a>, Ph.D., department head of Forest Analytics at Texas A&M Forest Service<\/a> and adjunct professor in the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences<\/a> Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology<\/a>, CLT is also a strategic opportunity for Texas\u2019 forest economy.<\/p>\n \u201cAcross East Texas, we\u2019re growing nearly double the amount of timber we\u2019re harvesting,\u201d Stottlemyer explained. \u201cThat surplus creates a need for new markets. Mass timber \u2014 including CLT \u2014 is one of the most promising avenues for utilizing that excess in a sustainable way.\u201d<\/p>\n Stottlemyer\u2019s team monitors forest growth and harvest rates across the state, providing critical data for land management and economic development. He sees CLT as a key component in building a \u201ccircular economy,\u201d one that supports private landowners, forest industry, conserves working forests and reduces carbon-intensive construction.<\/p>\n \u201cTexas is 95% privately owned, and when markets slump, you often start to see forests converted to non-forest uses: shopping malls, subdivisions, things made with concrete,\u201d he said. \u201cStrong timber markets encourage landowners to keep their land forested and invest in stewardship. That\u2019s good for the environment and the economy.\u201d<\/p>\n Texas timber on display<\/p>\n This intersection of architecture and forestry will be embodied in the Aplin Center<\/a>, under construction on the Texas A&M campus, made possible by a generous donation from 1980 Aggie graduate Arch \u201cBeaver\u201d Aplin III, founder and CEO of the wildly popular Buc-ee\u2019s travel centers<\/a>. The university was thrilled to announce this summer the availability of Buc-ee\u2019s products on campus<\/a>, a nationwide first.<\/p>\n All timber used in the three-story, 211,724-square-foot Aplin Center facility will be sourced from Texas sawmills.<\/p>\n The center will house a wide array of experiential learning spaces and amenities, including a campus visitor center, event space, winemaking and fermentation labs, food science facilities, and student-run retail and restaurant operations. Its design and construction are a testament to the university\u2019s commitment to sustainability and interdisciplinary collaboration.<\/p>\n \u201cThis building brings together the A and the M of A&M,\u201d Stottlemyer said. \u201cIt bridges agriculture and mechanical disciplines, and it\u2019s a visible statement of leadership in sustainable design.\u201d<\/p>\n Texas A&M leads in sustainable architecture<\/p>\n Tate emphasized the building\u2019s educational value.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s the equivalent of having a great textbook,\u201d he said. \u201cStudents will be able to see and touch the structure, understand how it\u2019s assembled, and learn from it. That\u2019s invaluable.\u201d<\/p>\n The implications for Texas are significant. As mass timber gains acceptance among developers and designers, in building codes and construction practices, the state is poised to become not just a consumer but a manufacturer of CLT products. That shift could bolster rural economies, reduce carbon emissions, and position Texas as a national leader in sustainable building.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen universities adopt new technologies, society often follows,\u201d Stottlemyer said. \u201cTexas A&M is putting its money where its mouth is and leading in this realm.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s always going to be a place for steel and concrete. But timber \u2014 especially when it\u2019s renewable and locally sourced \u2014 deserves to be part of the conversation.\u201d<\/p>\n Tate sees the moment as both timely and transformative.<\/p>\n \u201cArchitecture is about making something that\u2019s of its time but also timeless,\u201d he said. \u201cMass timber systems allow us to do that in a way that\u2019s beautiful, efficient and deeply connected to place.\u201d<\/p>\n This story by Lesley Henton, Texas A&M University Division of Marketing and Communications, first appeared on Texas A&M Stories<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"Interior](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Aplin-Center_3.1-LEVEL-1-AREA-B-THEATRE-VISITOR-CENTER.jpg\")
<\/a>The interior of the Aplin Center includes exposed cross-laminated timber materials as an architectural and aesthetic design feature.\u00a0(Renderings courtesy of\u00a0DLR Group and Pickard Chilton)<\/p>\n
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