Peter Mackeith, left, and Matt Waller
The U.S. Forest Service recently awarded a $300,000 grant to faculty at the University of Arkansas' Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design and Sam M. Walton College of Business to identify and research the use of innovative wood construction products , to develop and promote business opportunities for the Arkansas forestry industry. This federal grant is doubled by the recipients.
Under the auspices of the fellowship, Matt Waller, dean emeritus and professor of supply chain management at Walton College, along with Peter MacKeith, dean and professor at the Fay Jones School, will work with associated project members to establish the Arkansas Wood Products Innovations Cooperative. The initiative will focus on applied design research, industry collaboration and economic development.
“Forestry is a $6 billion industry in this state,” Waller said. “If we can encourage companies to develop, expand and utilize specialty wood products, it will improve the state’s economy, environment and affordable housing options.”
“Arkansas is already a leader in national forestry and is now an epicenter for the emerging mass timber movement,” MacKeith said. “In parallel, there is an opportunity to develop innovative wood products for the construction of all types of buildings and to promote Arkansas as a location for new manufacturing companies.”
The goals of the grant funding include establishing the Arkansas Wood Products Innovations Cooperative to advance applied design research, industry collaboration and economic development. The research will focus on three key areas: developing new wood products; Integration of additive and advanced manufacturing (e.g. robotics, 3D printing); and design and construction of affordable housing prototypes made from Arkansas wood.
Several potential products have already been identified. Much of the cooperative's materials research and development will take place at the Fay Jones School's Anthony Timberlands Center for Design and Materials Innovation, which is scheduled to fully open in August 2025.
Additionally, this cooperative plans to engage industry and community stakeholders through surveys, working groups, and an annual regional/national conference; Create a five- to ten-year strategic plan to guide market expansion and workforce development. and document and share progress through websites, reports and publications.
About the Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design: The Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design promotes design excellence through multidisciplinary, place-based design education in service of Arkansas, the nation and the world, providing a vibrant design culture and educational environment based on critical design thinking and multidisciplinary collaboration and civic engagement within a framework of excellence professional design training.
The school was founded in 1946 with programs in architecture and was named in honor of Arkansas native Fay Jones, the 1990 AIA gold medalist. Today, the school consists of nationally recognized degree programs in architecture, interior design, and landscape architecture, as well as the award-winning University of Arkansas Community Design Center, the Anthony Timberlands Center for Design and Materials Innovation, and Garvan Woodland Gardens, a botanical garden in Hot Springs, Arkansas.
About the Sam M. Walton College of Business: Founded in 1926, the Sam M. Walton College of Business is considered one of the largest colleges at the University of Arkansas and serves over 9,800 students in bachelor's, master's and doctoral programs. The college has AACSB accreditation and is consistently ranked among the top business schools in the United States. Walton College ranks 25th among public colleges in the U.S. with its business bachelor's program US News and World ReportThe 2025 National Ranking. Additionally, its Bachelor of Supply Chain Management program is recognized by Gartner as the #1 program in North America. In 2024 The Princeton Review has named Walton's MBA program to its list of top business schools for on-campus MBA programs.
About the University of Arkansas: As Arkansas' flagship institution, the U of A offers an internationally competitive education in more than 200 academic programs. Founded in 1871, the U of A contributes more than $3 billion to the Arkansas economy by providing new knowledge and skills, promoting entrepreneurship and professional development, making discoveries through research and creative pursuits, and providing training in professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation ranks the U of A among the few U.S. colleges and universities with the highest research activity. US News and World Report The U of A is one of the best public universities in the country. Learn how the U of A is working to build a better world with Arkansas Research and Economic Development News.