In the United States, softwood cross-laminated timber (CLT) accounts for 100% of the structural grade cross-laminated timber market and its utilization has experienced a high growth rate since its first major multi-story application in the United States in 2016. As sustainable forestry practices can simultaneously benefit forest health through selective harvesting while also providing wood for increased mass timber production, researchers have focused on how timber supply can be diversified beyond softwoods. Such diversification can provide a greater variety of mass timber products while also benefiting a wider range of forest types collectively under threat from the emerging challenges of climate change. For hardwood dominant regions of the Eastern United States, this focus on species diversification is particularly beneficial as Yellow Poplar hardwood CLT is widely expected to be incorporated into the ANSI/APA PRG-320 Standard for Performance Rated Cross Laminated Timber in 2025, thereby increasing the availability of hardwood utilization in cross-laminated timber production. In anticipation of the 2025 PRG-320 code change, this paper presents collated, qualitative interview data from architectural practitioners and timber industry experts across the United States regarding both their preferred use of, and expectation for, hardwood and hybrid hardwood-softwood use in cross-laminated timber products. The research results indicate that hardwood and hardwood-softwood hybrid mass timber products can be utilized by architects in a wide range of applications and for a wide range of reasons. According to the interview data, local market conditions, aesthetic preferences of the design team and client, and project budget are the three most important factors determining use. The research results make evident a highly nuanced mass timber market where the architectural diversification of hardwood mass timber use, from purely structural to purely aesthetic applications, could engender unique design solutions that benefit the built environment, forest health, and associatively the human condition.

The global housing crisis, driven by rapid urbanization, rising economic inequality, and increasing environmental challenges, demands innovative solutions that address the needs of underserved populations. Shipping containers, originally designed for durable and standardized transportation of goods, have emerged as a promising alternative for addressing housing shortages, particularly in urban areas. This study explores the feasibility of using shipping containers as a solution for multifamily affordable housing, critically examining their economic, environmental, and social implications. Although container-based housing offers notable advantages, such as modularity, cost efficiency, and material reuse, significant challenges limit their widespread adoption. Hidden costs associated with retrofitting, thermal inefficiencies, and social acceptance remain critical barriers. The research employs a mixed-methods approach, combining a literature review with case studies from Southeast Dallas, Texas; San Antonio, Texas; and London, UK. The findings highlight the importance of addressing economic feasibility through cost-saving strategies like prefabrication and modular construction. Environmental analysis underscores the need for design innovations to improve thermal performance, such as roof gardens and renewable energy integration. Social considerations, including participatory design and community engagement, are crucial for overcoming stigmatization and fostering acceptance among residents. This study proposes a framework that integrates these dimensions, offering architects, urban planners, and policymakers a comprehensive guide for leveraging container housing to meet the growing demand for sustainable and inclusive urban housing. By addressing these challenges, shipping container housing can evolve into a transformative tool for mitigating global housing shortages while aligning with sustainability and equity objectives.

Resilient building design has become a growing need recently due to the increasing natural disasters worldwide, such as hurricanes, floods, and wildfires. Although concrete is known to be more resistant to natural disasters than other materials, the higher construction cost and longer construction time have been a barrier to a broader application in the US. The current advancement of 3D-printed building technology using additive manufacturing (AM) of concrete may help deal with these emerging environmental challenges and contribute to disseminating more resilient buildings. Due to this potential, there have been active studies on the material and structural issues of 3D-printed concrete (3DPC), while the thermal performance of 3DPC wall assemblies has not been sufficiently addressed in the literature. This paper aims to identify the thermal performance of various 3DPC wall assemblies, which highly affects the energy efficiency of the buildings, based on case studies. To achieve this, typical construction strategies for insulating 3DPC walls were identified through a literature review, and the thermal conductivity of the mixed concrete and U-value of the identified wall types were found to compare the thermal performance of each mixing and wall composition strategy. The result showed that the thermal conductivity of the printable concrete tends to be in the lower range of traditional concrete. In contrast, the U-value of the selected 3DPC walls tends to be higher than conventional wood-stud walls. The present study may be expanded into a creative architectural design project and physical experiments, and future studies may include other 3D-printed materials and building envelope assembly methods. These studies will ultimately contribute to enhancing the sustainability of 3DPC buildings and a more resilient community.