Lansing Sun

Michigan State University MassTimber director Sandra Lupien was named a Notable Leader in Sustainability by Crain's Detroit Business.

In a news release from Mar. 23, MSU shared that Lupien, who joined the school back in July of 2021, was named a Notable Leader in Sustainability for her work with MassTimber, a new program specializing in emerging types of sustainable wood building materials.

“I’m honored that Crain’s has included me on this list of inspirational sustainability leaders – some of whose work I’ve been following for years,” said Lupien, according to the Lansing Sun. “And, I’m even more excited that this recognition will increase awareness about the opportunities to realize an array of benefits – forest health and resilience, lower-carbon-footprint buildings, and new economic development opportunities – by advancing sustainable mass timber manufacture and construction in Michigan.”

“Sandra’s passion for sustainable building practices, most notably, the use of mass timber, aligns with the purpose of the Crain’s Notable Leaders in Sustainability list,” said Bill Bofysil, senior project manager at Granger Construction. “Sandra excels at moving the needle from awareness to action. Her goal is to advance sustainable mass timber construction and manufacturing in Michigan, and I have no doubt she will achieve it.”

According to the news release, Mass Timber is an umbrella term that describes a variety of large-scale, engineered, panelized wood building materials often used decoratively or structurally in an array of building types, including skyscrapers, that is seeing increasing demand across the United States. 

"Sandra brings incredibly valuable expertise at the intersection of mass timber as a building material, policy, and sustainability and climate change,” said Richard Kobe, chairperson of the Department of Forestry. “Her work is demonstrating that we can have a triple win – for sustainable economic development, beautiful and healthful buildings, and climate and the environment.”

Lupien has pioneered relationships with key industries, state agencies, and legislators in the short amount of time she has been with the school and has been instrumental in leveraging mass timber at MSU. 

“Sandra is extremely knowledgeable about mass timber and has hit the ground running,” said Shannon Lott, natural resources deputy at DNR. “She has built relationships with key industries, state agencies and legislators in a very short amount of time. She has been instrumental in leveraging the new mass timber STEM building at MSU to tell the mass timber story, securing additional funding, promoting the need for a CLT plant in Michigan, and supporting updated mass timber building codes in Michigan. With her enthusiasm, mass timber conversations have exploded, and awareness has skyrocketed!”

Crain's Notables in Michigan series honors outstanding business leaders working to make significant contributions in their fields while continuing to give back to their communities and lift up the next generation of leaders.