State of Michigan DNR Customer Service Center
Newberry, Mich.
BEST PROJECT, GOVERNMENT / PUBLIC BUILDING, and EXCELLENCE IN SUSTAINABILITY
Presented by Walbridge
Owner: Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Main design company: Lord Aeck Sargent
General contractor: Walbridge
Civil Engineer: OHM advisors
Structural Engineer: SDI structures
MEP: Peter Basso Associates Inc.
In the heart of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, the new Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Customer Service Center in Newberry is a model of sustainable construction and community connection, bringing together field offices, administrative staff and public resources under one roof, symbolizing collaboration, innovation and the future of sustainable construction in the state.
For the DNR, this project was an opportunity to showcase Michigan’s timber heritage and the potential of solid wood as a renewable, low-carbon building material. Located in one of the most forested regions of the state, the facility features exposed wood interiors, a community meeting room, and a design that invites the public to experience firsthand the connection between people, nature, and sustainable construction.
The project fulfilled a long-standing DNR goal: ending reliance on leased facilities and consolidating teams into a single owned building. With multiple DNR functions in a modern, efficient space, the center improves collaboration among staff and expands public access to natural resource information. The addition of a community hall supports CPR and fire safety training, while informational kiosks highlight the environmental and economic benefits of Michigan’s forestry industry.
Photo courtesy of Walbridge
Achieving this vision required solving a unique challenge of how to build a solid wood structure in a region without local solid wood manufacturing. Michigan’s forests are rich in hardwoods, but the DNR’s sustainability goals required softwood suitable for cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels. Walbridge, Lord Aeck Sargent’s designers, and the DNR identified Michigan red pine as the ideal candidate, but no state facility could process it into CLT.
Washington State-based Vaagen Timbers was tapped to process Michigan-grown red pine into high-quality CLT panels that meet American National Standards Institute (ANSI) requirements. This partnership marked the first use of Michigan red pine in mass timber construction, setting a precedent for future projects and promoting a new market for the state’s softwood lumber industry.
Photo courtesy of Walbridge
Construction required precise planning and innovative coordination. Walbridge used 3D digital modeling to orchestrate the delivery, assembly and integration of the prefabricated CLT panels – 11 trucks delivered “just in time” over a 13-day period. Each panel arrived pre-cut for mechanical, electrical and plumbing penetrations, reducing on-site waste and increasing efficiency. The building’s structure replaced most of the concrete and steel with glulam beams and CLT panels, reducing embodied carbon while maintaining strength and durability.
Safety remained a central focus throughout construction. More than 34,000 hours were worked without a single injury, thanks to safety meetings, an apprentice mentoring program and Walbridge’s lessons learned system that applies best practices from previous projects.
The facility embodies the DNR’s mission of managing both natural and human resources. It promotes innovation, sustainable forestry, reduces emissions and serves as a living example of how local materials and advanced technology can shape a greener future for Michigan residents and others.
