This project responds to the embodied energy consumed in the production ofstructural wood framing used in a single-family house through the extraction,transportation, milling and drying and production of standardized dimensionallumber. The project demonstrates how dimensional lumber offcut ‘waste’ streamsfrom manufactured housing can be re-used to advance a cost-effective circularmaterial construction that reduces carbon emissions. Through research anddesign, the project transforms the conventional wood stud structure of anexisting passive house typology (under production by GO-Logic passive homebuilders in Maine). 2x6 wood stud cut offs of varying lengths are configured ininnovative, efficient wood framing structures paired with wood cellulose insulation.The architectural design of wall and roof construction details enables the woodstructure to be exposed, creating a contemporary low carbon scrap woodaesthetic that reduces the use of drywall and maintains all criteria forpassive house certification.

This collaboration between the MIT Building Technology Team, KVA Matx andindustry partner Go-Logic engages computational design tools, integrated woodinventory matching and Finite Element Analysis to allocate wood stud scrapmaterial according to structural demand. This approach supports the use oflocal timbers for dimensional lumber production and accommodates thedimensional variation found in multi-species low-value timber that is abundantin Maine and across forests in the United States.

Date: 2025-
Status: Ongoing
Industry Collaborator: GoLogic, Panelized Home Builders
Location: Belfast, ME
Design Team:
Rachel Blowes, MIT Building Technology
Jabari Canada, MIT Architecture
Sheila Kennedy, FAIA; MIT Architecture
Caitlin Mueller, PhD; MIT Structural Engineering
Oliver Moldow, MIT Computation /Automation  
Sam Ratanarat, MIT Architecture
Sam Sundstrom, KVA