Sierra Institute for Community and Environment announces the completion of three cross-laminated timber homes as part of the effort to rebuild Greenville following the 2021 Dixie Fire, which destroyed more than 1,300 structures.
To recognize the contributions of partners and celebrate this milestone in the Indian Valley community, Sierra Institute is hosting a ribbon-cutting ceremony and public open house Saturday, Aug. 19, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. The event will take place immediately following the Dixie Fire Collaborative meeting held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Greenville Elementary School.
In the wake of the Dixie Fire and its destruction of Greenville, Sierra Institute reports teaming up with Steve Marshall of Mass Timber Strategy and the renowned Seattle-based architects of atelierjones to develop a new way of building homes in the region using cross-laminated timber. Local contractor Lights Creek Construction built the homes, which address the entwined needs of wildfire disaster recovery: re-housing people and hardening homes and the community against wildfire.
CLT is a mass timber product known for its fire hardiness and structural robustness — ideal for a region that faces both wildfire and seismic activity. Additionally, CLT can utilize smaller-diameter trees, turning a low-value material into a high-value product that, in turn, promotes forest thinning for increased wildfire resilience.
The event will begin with a few short speeches from 1:30 to 2 p.m. at The Spot, a commercial district in downtown Greenville, followed by a ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house at 105 Ayoob Alley. There is ample parking at The Spot and in the nearby Greenville High School parking lot. Visitors are invited to tour the CLT homes, and enjoy food at The Spot. For more information on the CLT house designs, visit https://sierrainstitute.us/mass-timber-housing/. For more information on the ribbon-cutting event, visit https://sierrainstitute.us/news-and-updates/ or call (530) 284-1022.
Information submitted by Sierra Institute for Community and Environment
