Timber Two: Wood Innovation on the Olympic Peninsula

Abstract

Washington’s Olympic Peninsula evokes images of remote, snow-covered peaks, ancient forests, and rugged cliffs rising out of the Paci c Ocean. The region, celebrated for its natural beauty, has an identity equally rooted in the timber industry, yet there is a disconnect between the public’s awe and enjoyment of nature, and their ability to visualize the impact that natural resource extraction has on the Paci c Northwest’s changing landscape. The West End of the Olympic Peninsula and Forks are inextricably linked to this dichotomy. The region is home to a bastion of thriving ecologies, yet it is the abundant provider of a natural resource that fuels the growth of cities and enables modern lifestyle. This thesis proposes a new approach to the timber industry, one in which the manufacturing of engineered wood products can help bring new life to the forest communities of the Paci c Northwest. This proposal aims to strike a balance between the demands of the construction industry, the needs of forest communities, and the health and stability of the region’s ecosystems. The design of the proposed CLT production facility and Center for Wood Innovation will be located on the site of the recently defunct Interfor mill near Forks, Washington. The thesis will explore how architecture can support and express the functions of production, collaboration, and education on this site, and how such a facility could act as a bridge between resource extraction and the surrounding landscape.