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MPP House Prototype Construction in the Home Stretch
MPP House Prototype Construction in the Home Stretch

The 2nd Mass Plywood Panelized House prototype is nearly complete.  The University of Oregon team, led by Judith Sheine and Mark Fretz, are working with Swinerton and Timberlab on the project, which has been constructed on the concrete slab in the Emmerson yard.

The first prototype of the two-story, two-bedroom, house was built inside the Emmerson Lab in 2024 and tested digital workflows, constructability and structural approach.  Following that process, the project was redesigned with a different construction and structural approach, substituting “platform” construction for “balloon frame” construction, i.e., the first prototype was built one floor at a time and the second was constructed with full height vertical walls.

While the first prototype did not include insulation and cladding, the second one is fully clad. Along with testing digital workflows, constructability and structural approach, this will allow the team to produce performance data on daylighting, thermal, moisture, indoor air, and acoustics characteristics. The prototype will stay in the Emmerson yard through spring 2027 to allow for data collection and will be available for tours for researchers, government officials, students, and other interested groups.

Funding was provided by EDA BBBRC Grant # 07-79-07906, and by Business Oregon’s Research Fund, Contract # C2022840.