Green Oak Initiative
This project focus was interdisciplinary research that explores the potential of an underutilized byproduct of the U.S. hardwood industry as a sustainable building material. The white oak “cant” is the center cut of a milled log and is typically sold “green” or un‐dried due to characteristics that limit its usefulness as a traditional dry lumber product.
Currently, cants are used in the manufacturing of shipping pallets, a low grade product with a short life. However, as cants are minimally processed, they could be used as a low cost building material with extremely low embodied energy. Yet, there are obstacles that prevent their introduction into the construction market, such as the lack of contemporary architectural and/or engineering knowledge about green oak in the building design field. The work consists of testing cants’ structural capacity, dimensional movement in assembled mockups, and weathering characteristics in exterior applications.
Most to the “Green Oak” Lumber is produced in the east United States. Mostly found in the appalachia region of the country, White Oak is a result of 97% of all hardwood production.
“Green Oak” is taken from the center of the milled log, since this is the part that has more limits than a regular lumber cut.
The typical wood pallet cant
Prefabricated bents consist of a 8’x8’ Modular System.
