This webinar is part of the Mass Timber Academy

This webinar will explore the growing use of mass timber in K-12 schools and its transformative benefits across four key areas: health, well-being, durability, and sustainability. Mass timber is a versatile and sustainable option for K-12 schools, balancing durability, environmental responsibility, and a positive learning environment. The material’s benefits make it an attractive and valid solution for modern school construction. In addition, mass timber is ideal for addressing embodied carbon goals in retrofits, additions, and renovations and is flexible enough to support a variety of student-centric design considerations. This webinar will also address the positive impact that surface texture and finish materials can have on students when exposed wood beams, wood ceilings, and natural elements are integrated into the design of educational buildings. Attendees will learn how mass timber supports sustainable building practices while creating environments conducive to student and teacher success.

Margaret Sledge of Bohlin Cywinski Jackson will present the Valdes STEM + Innovation Center at Greenhill School in Dallas, TX. This state-of-the-art facility for middle and upper school math and science epitomizes Greenhill’s creative ethos, offering an adaptive environment where teaching and learning are placed front and center.

Set within the context of Greenhill’s storied campus—marked by historic buildings, inviting outdoor spaces, and even roaming peacocks—the 67,400 square-foot center incorporates familiar materials such as brick, wood, and abundant natural light to establish a design rooted in its surroundings. The exposed mass timber structure not only serves as a tactile example of sustainable architecture but also provides a framework for modular classrooms, labs, and maker spaces that can adapt to evolving educational needs.

Rene Berndt from Mahlum Architects will present the design of Lakeridge Middle School, a warm and welcoming environment thoughtfully tailored to the unique needs of middle school students. Grounded in research on the positive emotional impact of natural materials, the design emphasizes biophilia and material expression. Exposed wood beams, wood ceilings, and White Oak tree trunks are central elements intended to evoke a sense of being in nature, fostering reduced stress, lower anxiety, and decreased aggression.

The traditional cafeteria has been reimagined as a distributed commons, offering a variety of zones that cater to both active and calm learners. Wood ceilings enhance warmth and acoustic comfort, while expansive glass walls bring in natural light and open onto a covered porch with additional courtyard seating. Lakeridge Middle School is a proud participant in the Energy Trust of Oregon’s Path to Net Zero Energy program.

HMFH Architect Suni Dillard, AIA, will delve into the innovative design process behind the Bristol County Agricultural High School, a 220-acre campus and working farm nestled along the Taunton River in Dighton, MA. This unique project is dedicated to advancing an agriculture and science-based curriculum while emphasizing sustainability and modern educational facilities.

Suni will share insights into the school’s design goals, which include fostering a cohesive school culture, promoting academic success through state-of-the-art facilities, and establishing a campus hub to bridge gaps between departments. A primary focus will be on integrating nature into the learning environment and showcasing the campus as a model of sustainability and energy efficiency.

The webinar will conclude with a Q&A session, allowing attendees to engage with the presenters and discuss the key themes and insights shared throughout the presentations.

Photo courtesy of Bohlin Cywinski Jackson

Greenhill School, Valdes STEM + Innovation Center Addison, Texas. A new home for middle and upper school math and science, the Valdes STEM + Innovation Center reflects Greenhill’s creative spirit and provides an adaptive environment that puts teaching and learning on display.

	Margaret Sledge, AIA, LEED AP BD+C is a Senior Associate and Sustainability Director at Bohlin Cywinski Jackson, an architecture practice of five studios focused on designing places that inspire connection and wonder. The firm is known for working with diverse clients to understand the nature of each unique circumstance—the people, place, and materials that inform a design—to translate collective aspirations into built environments greater than the sum of their parts. As Sustainability Director, Margaret leads efforts to advance BCJ’s sustainability objectives, building upon the firm’s history of thoughtful, holistic approaches to design that uphold its commitment to people and planet. Margaret served as project manager for the Rosa O. Valdes STEM + Innovation Center at Greenhill School.
	With 27 years of architectural experience, René Berndt, AIA LEED AP offers extensive knowledge of learning environments that address the specific needs of every age group of learners. Through an engaging process that is based on active participation by all stakeholders, Rene deepens his understanding of the social, emotional, and physical characteristics, goals, and dreams of learners, educators, and community members on each project. His proposed design solutions aspire to turn every building into a useful tool for all users, minimizing the ecological footprint and creating general well-being.
	Suni Dillard AIA, is a Senior Associate and Sustainability Leader at HMFH Architects. As an architect with a depth of experience in public educational projects, Suni applies a holistic design approach resulting in exceptional learning environments that integrate social, environmental, and economically sustainable solutions. In her recent work on Bristol County Agricultural High School, she implemented sustainable design strategies, from mass timber framing to integrated stormwater management systems, that reduce the project's environmental impact and create teaching opportunities that enhance the school's science and environmental-focused curriculum. Suni advocates for equitable and environmentally responsible design through volunteer efforts with community-based committees and professional organizations including the Carbon Leadership Forum where she is co-chair of the Boston | Northeast Hub.