Clemson University Unveils New Forestry and Environmental Conservation Building
Clemson University’s department of forestry and environmental conservation has opened a new building at the start of this academic year. Located off the intersection of Cherry Road and Perimeter Road, the 82,436-square-foot structure replaces Lehotsky Hall and features eight classrooms, multiple labs, and office spaces.
This new facility marks the third mass timber academic building on the Clemson University campus, joining the Andy Quattlebaum Outdoor Education Center and the Samuel J. Cadden Chapel. Moseley Architects assisted the College of Agricultural, Forestry and Life Sciences in developing the design for the building. Clemson’s Wood Utilization and Design Institute contributed to the research and development of the sustainable materials used in the project. Notably, 80% of the timber for the building was sourced from the Brosnan Forest near Charleston, South Carolina.
The site, formerly a parking lot, was chosen to minimize land impact as part of a broader sustainability effort. The building also incorporates energy-efficient windows etched with a design to prevent bird collisions. The department hopes this project will encourage other organizations to consider mass timber construction.
According to Kyle Barrett, chair of the department of forestry and environmental conservation, the new building provides a space for collaboration and interaction. Greg Yarrow, CAFLS associate vice president for strategic initiatives, stated that the building represents more than just its physical components. The department has grown to include 400 undergraduate students across three majors: environmental and natural resources, forest resource management, and wildlife and fisheries biology, along with 200 graduate students in its forest resources and wildlife and fisheries biology programs.
The new building underscores Clemson’s commitment to economic growth in South Carolina, where agribusiness, encompassing both agriculture and forestry, is the largest economic sector and one of the fastest-growing industries.
