Western Michigan University Student Housing

A new residence hall for first-year students is coming to Goldsworth Valley in the fall of 2026 and Mass Timber played a significant role in achieving the following goals of the project.

Speed: We were asked to design and build more than 1,000 beds of student housing in two years. This aggressive delivery schedule was made possible by a design / build strategy focused on off-site manufacturing, with prefabricated mass timber ceilings and cold form metal stud interior and exterior walls. Overall, we saved more than 25% in design and construction schedule (2 years instead of 3). 
 
Affordability: By maintaining a 3-ply thickness and bearing most of the mass timber ceilings on typical 6” metal stud, we were able to focus the expensive glulam columns and beams in the student common spaces (where they have the most impact). The accelerated construction schedule and efficient building layout help maximize affordability. 
 
Sustainability: Solar orientation, prefabrication (eliminating construction waste), and mass timber are the standout sustainability strategies. The mass timber results in a dramatically reduced embodied carbon footprint, 3.5 times less than a conventional steel and concrete system. The mass timber is highly fire resistant, a rapidly renewable resource, and harvested from a sustainably managed forest in Arkansas. 
 
An Exceptional Student Experience: In addition to all the common spaces having mass timber ceilings, columns, and beams, every student bedroom includes exposed wood ceilings. The wood gives students a tangible sense of warmth, elegance, and connection to the outdoors (biophilia). This combined with universal accessibility and progressive living / learning features makes this an exceptional student environment.