Maui, Hawaiʻi – November 8, 2024: Thanks to a partnership between Hawaii Off Grid Architecture & Engineering and WoodWorks – Wood Products Council, homes across the Islands are soon to be constructed with mass timber—an innovative wood solution that is sustainable, inherently fire resistant, and fast to construct. This initiative is part of an effort both to assist project teams that want to pursue mass timber buildings in Hawaii and ensure that local workers have the expertise to build them.

Mass timber is a category of framing styles characterized by the use of large, engineered wood panels, often paired with engineered wood columns and beams. Its value as a building material in Hawaii includes reduced carbon impact, as well as its natural ability to char in a fire while retaining its structural strength. Char calculations are well established based on the size of mass timber elements, allowing designers of these projects to meet building code requirements for safety and performance.

“The fire rating [for mass timber] is very good because wood at this size will char in a fire,” explains Matt Kopp, Project Manager at Hawaii Off Grid. “The charring on the wood protects the structure, giving occupants time to exit the building.”

“Mass timber allows us to sequester more carbon than we emit during construction, manage our forests responsibly, and help communities become more resilient to wildfires,” says David Sellers, Principal Architect at Hawaii Off Grid.

Hawaii Off Grid is currently working on the design and construction process for Hawaii’s first mass timber home on Kauai and several ongoing mass timber builds for future Lahaina homes.

“Mass timber is a newer kind of construction typology, and relatively new to Hawaii,” says Kopp. People [in Lahaina] who lost their homes can rebuild them in a way that we think is very sustainable. Everything comes pre-cut, ready for connecting; the idea is that it can be erected on site, affordably and very quickly.”

For Maui residents, mass timber as a construction option comes at an important time. Families impacted by the Lahaina wildfires can obtain free or reduced-cost home design plans and rebuilding assistance, thanks to a collaborative effort between the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement (CNHA), and American Institute of Architects (AIA) Maui chapter architectural firms, including Hawaii Off Grid. Two of the home design plans also incorporate mass timber as an option, thanks to support from the USDA Forest Service and WoodWorks.

“WoodWorks’ role is to help developers, building designers, and contractors use wood to create quality buildings that are safe, durable, and sustainable,” said WoodWorks President and CEO, Jennifer Cover. “We wanted to make mass timber available for the reconstruction efforts while ensuring that locals are positioned to be the ones building these structures.” WoodWorks, who has worked with universities and training centers to establish more than 50 mass timber training programs across the country, secured funding for a two-story mock-up, which was placed at the University of Hawaii Maui Community College and will be used to deliver construction training courses here on Maui. Funding for the mock-up was provided by the USDA Forest Service and Softwood Lumber Board.

“Participating in this valuable effort furthers our goal of encouraging mass timber options for new construction—as a way to improve building resilience while supporting sustainable forest management for all public and private landowners,” said Brian Brashaw, Assistant Director, Wood Innovations, for the USDA Forest Service.

“We want to encourage the next generation to stay on the Island, and get involved in the industry,” says Kopp.  “We anticipate a massive demand for contractors who know how to work with mass timber in the coming years.”

To view home design plans, visit www.helpingmaui.org/rebuild.

To learn more about mass timber and HIOG, visit Hawaiioffgrid.com.

For more information on WoodWorks, visit woodworks.org.