The 45,000ft2, four-storey facility showcases how locally sourced, sustainably certified timber can transform both the built environment and the educational landscape.
At the core of the project is 1,079m3 of southern yellow pine cross-laminated timber (CLT), manufactured at Mercer’s Conway, Arkansas, facility – just hours from the Fayetteville site. By sourcing regionally, the project supports Arkansas’s working forests, economy, and 52 local jobs.
“Our contribution to the Anthony Timberlands Center reflects the potential of regionally sourced mass timber,” said Nick Milestone, chief operating officer at MMT.
“With CLT manufactured at our Conway factory, just a few hours from the site, we’re proud to support a project that aligns closely with our values: sustainability, regional impact, and purpose-built design. This project stands as a showcase of forward-thinking architecture – and a powerful case for what’s possible when material and intent are in sync.”
The Anthony Timberlands Center (ATC) marks MMT’s first chain-of-custody-certified project, with 30% of timber SFI-certified under CoC protocols and the remainder sustainably sourced. This milestone underscores MMT’s commitment to transparency, traceability, and responsible forestry practices – ensuring that sustainability claims are verifiable from forest to final installation. The project is also targeting LEED Gold certification and integrates biophilic design, daylighting strategies, and ecological landscaping that connects the campus to the Ozark landscape.
“Through early design-assist, our team collaborated closely with the architects and engineers to tailor the CLT system for constructability, performance, and fabrication efficiency,” said Ricardo Brites, director of engineering and VDC at MMT.
“The ATC is a breakthrough in how regional timber and advanced fabrication can deliver both innovation and measurable sustainability. It reflects our commitment to advancing mass timber design in North America.”
