The SLB continues to strengthen the future market for lumber by supporting hands-on education that connects postsecondary students directly to the lumber industry.
The SLB recently sponsored learning experiences at Texas A&M and Michigan Technological University (MTU), connecting students directly to forest, manufacturing, and construction environments. 

At Texas A&M, 32 architecture students enrolled in a senior design studio visited multiple facilities across the lumber supply chain during the two-day field trip. Stops across multiple Texas cities included the Steely Lumber sawmill in Huntsville, the Texas A&M Forest Service mass timber office building in Hudson, the Georgia-Pacific sawmill in Pineland, and the Sterling CLT manufacturing facility in Lufkin. At MTU, 30 construction management students visited active and completed mass timber projects, gaining firsthand insight into project delivery, sequencing, and coordination.

To scale these experiences, a new faculty resource page hosted under the Think Wood brand promotes field trip sponsorship opportunities to educators best positioned to influence future project decision-making. Four field trips are planned for 2026.
Investors interested in making their facilities available for field trips can contact Director of Education Reed Kelterborn.

MARKET IMPACT

• Prepare future architects to enter the profession with direct knowledge of
  wood products and real-world applications.

• Influence designers who will shape future demand.