Hobbs State Park-Conservation Area to Host Peter MacKeith, Dean of the Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design at the University of Arkansas

“Innovative design and construction with Arkansas wood – Cross-laminated timber”

(ROGERS, Ark.) – Hobbs State Park-Conservation Area will host a free program on the design and use of Cross-laminated timber in construction at 2:00 pm September 15, 2024, in the park’s visitor center.  Mark your calendar.

Dean Peter MacKeith will be speaking to us about innovative design in wood, and valuable implementation of new wood products, specifically CLT, short for cross-laminated timber, which is now in production at Conway, Arkansas.   Cross-laminated timber is a form of mass timber, also known as engineered wood, created from a range of wood products and adhesives that is stronger and more durable than regular lumber.

In large part due to MacKeith's enthusiasm and advocacy for mass timber -- Walmart Inc. chose to use it as its main building material on the 350-acre home office under construction right now.  No fewer than 1.1 million cubic feet of cross-laminated timber will be used in the construction of offices for an estimated 15,000 employees – timber harvested from Arkansas forests and finished in Arkansas mills.

Dean MacKeith is an advocate for sustainable forestry supporting a “forest-centered” economy and culture, one that enables a wood-centered approach to architecture, engineering and construction.  Usage of mass timber is rapidly changing the architecture, engineering and construction industries, with both major economic and environmental benefits.

Referring to Dean MacKeith, the Arkansas Democrat Gazette says: “He's really like a Mozart with dimension lumber as the notes of the musical scale.” 

For more information, contact the park’s visitor center at 479-789-5000.