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California-based Sierra Pacific Industries, one of the largest lumber companies in the United States, has pledged $6 million to the College of Forestry at Oregon State University for its new advanced wood products laboratory.

In recognition of Sierra Pacific’s contribution, OSU officials said Monday, the laboratory will be named in honor of A.A. “Red” Emmerson who, with his father R. H. “Curly” Emmerson, founded the company.

The 20,000-square-foot laboratory is part of OSU’s 85,000-square-foot Oregon Forest Science Complex initiative, which will be the new home of the College of Forestry. The university hopes to use the laboratory to establish Oregon as an international leader in the way wood is used in tall commercial and residential structures, which could have a major impact on the state’s economy, particularly the rural areas, OSU President Ed Ray said.

The lab will be used to develop products such as cross-laminated timber, engineered wood panels that have been in the news lately as a substitute for steel and concrete in high-rise buildings, OSU officials said. “This gift will allow us to build the state-of-the-art facility we need to test new ideas, yielding sustainable and advanced wood products that can change the world we live in,” said Thomas Maness, dean of the College of Forestry, in announcing the gift.

A Southern Oregon timber company, Riddle-based D.R. Johnson, recently received the first U.S. certification to produce CLT panels.

From The Register-Guard: http://registerguard.com/rg/news/local/33581197-75/osu-receives-6-million-pledge-from-sierra-pacific-industries-for-wood-products-lab.html.csp