A 12,480-square-foot, two-story facility setting a national first for mass timber acoustic testing.
Located at the Port of Portland’s Marine Terminal 2, the OARL Building is under construction and is poised to become the first full-scale acoustic testing facility in the United States dedicated specifically to mass timber. The 12,480-square-foot, two-story structure features a purpose-built acoustic chamber, with the lower portion constructed below grade to support high-precision testing.
The laboratory is being equipped with specialized instrumentation and control systems designed to conduct detailed acoustic testing between the upper and lower sections of the chamber. The building envelope enclosing the acoustic chamber is being constructed primarily of mass timber products, reinforcing the project’s focus on advancing research and innovation in this emerging construction sector.
In support of testing operations, the OARL Building includes office space, storage areas, and dedicated truck access to accommodate the delivery and offloading of mass timber panels, acoustic assemblies, and finish materials used in testing. Once complete, the facility will serve as a critical national resource for the evaluation and advancement of mass timber construction technologies.