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by Nella Letizia
Washington State University assistant professor of architecture Robert Barnstone and 10 architectural design students recently completed what is essentially the world’s first wood-plastic building. The project is a demonstration for the U.S Navy to show that wood-plastic products can be used wherever wood comes into contact with the elements, Barnstone says. The result is a structure at WSU’s Wood Materials and Engineering Laboratory (WMEL) that represents the ultimate in “reuse and recycle,” built entirely by undergraduate students from the architecture and engineering programs. The overall project engaged students, professionals, and professors, who guided graduate students in tackling problems in structural engineering, code compliance, materials engineering, and design. The building will be used for storage and materials testing. Students’ labor was paid through a grant from the Navy. Barnstone and his third-year architecture students utilized many materials invented at the WMEL, such as laminated veneer lumber, I-joists, and oriented strand board.
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