Overview
The Center for Timber Innovation in the Built Environment (CTIBE). The Center for Timber Innovation in the Built Environment at the University of Washington advances the understanding and adoption of mass timber as a sustainable, carbon-smart building material. Through interdisciplinary research, hands-on learning, and community partnerships, CTI drives innovation that supports both resilient communities and the natural systems that sustain them.
With Washington’s forests at a crossroads, responsibly managed second- and third-growth softwoods can provide affordable, climate-smart solutions for our state’s growing housing and infrastructure needs.
Download the CTIBE Two-Pager (PDF) to learn more about our mission and impact.
Our Work
Research
The center unites experts across disciplines to advance timber innovation in response to housing and climate challenges. Our work focuses on:
- Designing and testing next-generation timber assemblies and systems.
- Partnering with industry and public agencies to expand use of mass timber across the Pacific Northwest.
- Producing applied research that supports broader adoption in housing and infrastructure.
Education
The center prepares the next generation of sustainable-building leaders through interdisciplinary coursework, design studios, and hands-on fabrication. Students gain direct experience in:
- Design, construction, forestry, and policy integration.
- Real-world projects and career pathways within the mass-timber sector.
- Collaboration across disciplines to strengthen Washington’s timber workforce.
Community-Engaged Action
CTIBE partners with communities, Tribal Nations, municipalities, and producers to link forest management with sustainable development. Engagement opportunities include:
- Site visits, tours, and community events.
- Collaborative projects that bridge research and practice.
- Education grounded in place—connecting people, landscapes, and design.
Shared Values
CTIBE’s work is rooted in a shared commitment to:
- Climate-sensitive innovation and collaboration.
- Interdisciplinary research and openness to diverse perspectives.
- Equitable, community-focused engagement.
- Partnerships across academic, professional, Tribal, and civic sectors.
Leadership
Executive Director: Tyler Sprague, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Architecture, Tyler leads the Center for Timber Innovation. As a historian of the built environment, his work bridges architectural history and structural engineering to advance sustainable design and timber innovation.
How to Engage
Partnership fuels progress. You can help expand mass timber innovation by:
- Collaborating on applied research and demonstration projects.
- Supporting students through studio sponsorships, internships, or thesis funding.
- Contributing materials or tools for fabrication and testing.
- Opening your doors to give students access to forests, mills, and timber projects.
- Championing the story by sharing CTI’s work and impact through storytelling and events.
Join Us
Rooted in the University of Washington’s legacy of innovation, CTIBE brings together the College of Built Environments, the College of the Environment, and the School of Environmental and Forest Sciences to lead the next generation of timber research and education.
Contact
Tyler Sprague | tyler2@uw.edu
Savannah Ledgerwood | ledges@uw.edu