# @ucberkeleyofficial on Instagram

- **Type:** Video
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/Dd4X0dvBKh2
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/70995402-ucberkeleyofficial-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/e05474a9e7.jpg
- **Posted:** 2026-09-29T18:15:15.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** UC Berkeley (@ucberkeleyofficial) — https://gondola.cc/ucberkeleyofficial

## Caption

California has a wildfire problem and an affordable housing problem.

Paul Mayencourt, assistant professor of cooperative extension at @ced_berkeley and @natureatcal, is teaching people and businesses to manufacture mechanically laminated timber (MLT) as an alternative, eco-friendly construction material.

Currently, the forest thinning that can help prevent wildfires results in small trees being cut down but going unused. MLT is an inexpensive way to repurpose this salvaged wood as well as sustainably harvested timber. Wood products like MLT are also far more environmentally friendly than concrete and steel, whose production is responsible for 11% to 15% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Dowel-laminated timber, a type of MLT, is even recyclable.

Mayencourt’s efforts at the @berkeley.woodlab have helped a Humboldt County company become the first in the nation to produce dowel-laminated timber commercially. In June, the company shared plans to hire 30 more employees as it expands.

You may see more MLT construction in the future. Mayencourt and his collaborators have also designed affordable housing using MLT, including barracks for the same hotshot firefighters who battle wildfires.

More at the link in our bio: https://bit.ly/4dd2aI3 

[Video description: A college student and lab director walk through a building full of wood and other construction materials, showing off the processes for repurposing wood. Other clips appear throughout further illustrating the process.]

#Construction #Wildfire #BornAtBerkeley

## Stats

- **Views:** 73,671
- **Likes:** 1,563
- **Shares:** 0
- **Comments:** 19

## Tags

construction, wildfire, bornatberkeley

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