The built environment must innovate and adopt new materials and construction practices in order to meet current and forecasted environmental challenges, economic uncertainties and construction pressures. The specification of mass timber materials and building assemblies will play a major role in addressing these issues. The objectives of this research are fourfold: 1) Develop a deeper understanding among construction professionals of the role mass timber buildings can have in greatly reducing CO2 emissions through the use of renewable forest products and the storage of carbon in buildings; 2) Provide insights into the utilization of mass timber products for architectural application that advance environmental sustainability – while moving toward continued industry acceptance and parity with other well-known structural materials (steel and concrete); 3) Expand current knowledge among architects, builders and developers of mass timber construction by examining and addressing the real-life challenges and benefits of mass timber implementation – including the environmental impacts, economic drivers and construction practices that promote architectural adoption; 4) Educate the construction industry to better understand the real “value” of mass timber construction and how best to implement mass timber products. Furthermore, the outcomes of this research will convey valuable information for future research that explores the architectural and environmental benefits associated with the implementation of mass timber; and can serve as a valuable tool for additional studies on how the construction industry might further innovate and evolve to meet the pressing demands of building development. The accomplish these research objectives, this dissertation will be divided into five sections: 1) Introduction; 2) Carbon matters: Evaluating the aggregated impact of sequestered carbon from projects in a mass timber architecture design studio; 3) Pioneering mass timber in Mississippi: Lessons learned and the carbon story of the Lost Rabbit mixed-use development; 4) Pioneering mass timber in Utah: Best practices, lessons learned and the carbon story of the Baltic Pointe commercial office building; and 5) Conclusion.

abstract: Effective collection and dissemination of project information, including best practices, help increase the likelihood of project performance and are vital to organizations in the architecture-engineering-construction (AEC) industry. Best practices can help improve project performance, yet these practices are not universally implemented and used in the industry, due to the following: 1) not all practices are applicable to every project or organization, 2) knowledge lost in organizational turnover which leads to inconsistent collection and implementation of best practices and 3) the lack of standardized processes for best practice management in an organization. This research, sponsored by National Academy of Construction, the Construction Industry Institute and Arizona State University, used structured interviews, a Delphi study and focus groups to explore: 1) potential benefit and industry interest in an open repository of best practices and 2) important elements of a framework/model that guides the creation, management and sustainment of an open repository of best practices. This dissertation presents findings specifically exploring the term "Practices for Excellence", its definition, elements that hinder implementation, the potential value of an open online repository for such practices and a model to develop an open repository. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Engineering 2014