January 8, 2025
Today, the Port of Portland approved a lease for the University of Oregon’s state-of-the-art acoustic research laboratory at the Mass Timber and Housing Innovation Campus (MTHIC) located at Terminal 2 in Portland’s Northwest industrial district. This milestone marks a significant step in the transformation of the former marine terminal into a manufacturing hub to bolster Oregon’s growing mass timber industry, create jobs, and address the region’s housing shortage.
Advancing Oregon’s Industries and Housing Solutions
“The Mass Timber and Housing Innovation Campus brings together leaders from all sectors to transform and grow Oregon industries. Together we are committed to creating good jobs, promoting sustainable forestry practices, and supplying housing that’s desperately needed in our region,” said Kimberly Branam, Port of Portland Chief Trade and Economic Development Officer. “The University of Oregon’s leadership in acoustics testing and on-site presence will be key to the manufacturing hub’s success.”
The Oregon Acoustic Research Laboratory (OARL), the first of its kind in North America, will serve as a research and development anchor tenant for the MTHIC. The lab is designed to perform advanced testing of sound-dampening products and construction methods, focusing on reducing sound transmission in multistory, multifamily housing units.
A Facility for Industry and Innovation
“The lab will be a cutting-edge facility capable of high-performance and high-throughput testing, benefiting both university researchers and private-sector partners,” said Anshuman “AR” Razdan, University of Oregon Vice President for Research and Innovation. “Its primary goal is to certify acoustic test results needed for code compliance, accelerating the adoption of mass timber assemblies in housing and commercial buildings.”
The OARL will also become the new home for the Energy Studies in Building Laboratory, reinforcing the University’s commitment to sustainable construction and research. Design and permitting for the facility will begin in 2025, with construction set for 2026 and completion expected in 2027.
Supporting a Growing Industry
The Port and the University of Oregon are members of the Oregon Mass Timber Coalition (OMTC), which in 2022 received a $41.4 million grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration’s Build Back Better Regional Challenge. This includes $14.6 million toward developing UO’s acoustic research lab and other OMTC initiatives statewide. Additional funding of $4 million from Housing and Urban Development and $5 million from the Oregon Legislature has further supported the MTHIC’s development.
Zaugg Timber Solutions Joins the Innovation Campus
The Port Commission also approved an agreement with Zaugg Timber Solutions (ZTS), the Oregon-based arm of a Swiss company specializing in timber engineering and manufacturing. ZTS will open an interim manufacturing facility at a previously renovated warehouse on-site, setting the stage for a new mass timber modular factory. A long-term lease for the factory is expected to be approved by spring 2025.
About the Mass Timber and Housing Innovation Campus
The 39-acre MTHIC is a transformative project designed to:
- Support modular housing production.
- Advance mass timber research and development.
- Provide workforce training and small business support.
With infrastructure improvements and soil stabilization underway, Phase 1 of the campus is set to be operational by 2028, with housing production expected to begin in early 2026.
For more information on the Mass Timber and Housing Innovation Campus, visit Port of Portland’s Mass Timber Page.