Tallwood Design Institute

Our Headquarters

The A.A. "Red" Emmerson Advanced Wood Products Laboratory

Completed in 2019, The A.A. “Red” Emmerson Advanced Wood Products Laboratory is a world-class timber engineering facility dedicated to applied research in advanced timber fabrication and structural performance of large timber buildings. The facility serves as the headquarters for TallWood Design Institute, a unique research partnership focusing on advanced timber construction, and was designed to facilitate advancements in timber construction through applied research, product development, testing, and professional education. The laboratory houses two distinct technical functions: large-scale structural testing and advanced timber manufacturing.

Fabrication Bay

An advanced wood products manufacturing bay, outfitted with state-of-the-art fabrication equipment, including a Minda 8 x 10-foot CLT press, a large 5-axis CNC fabrication machine, and a high-accuracy Kuka robot mounted on a linear track system. The Uniteam UT-9 CNC is capable of working with mass timber panels up to 29 feet in length and 10 feet in width, as well as straight curved beams. Emmerson is also equipped with a wood planner, sliding saw, and a cross cut saw. With our equipment we can fabricate the materials that are needed to construct our testing projects and further innovate mass timber structures.

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Structural Testing Bay

Complete with a 25′ tall, 4′ thick strong wall, our structural testing bay is capable of testing structures up to three stories high, and a 60′ X 80′ strong floor – one of the largest strong wall/floor systems related to wood and timber research in the U.S. The Laboratory is equipped with two cranes that are capable of lifting 10 tons each.

Emmerson Lab

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Location