Rendering Credit: LEVER Architecture
Lever Architecture rendering of the Oregon Acoustic Testing Laboratory
Research & Development

Oregon Acoustic Research Laboratory

The T2 Building Innovation Hub is a signature project of the Oregon Mass Timber Coalition, led by the Port of Portland.

Award Amount
$14,596,800
Non-Federal Match
$4,153,200

Why an acoustic lab?

Lack of acoustics testing is widely recognized as a barrier to the development of affordable mass-timber multi-family housing in North America. Certified acoustics tests need to be conducted for a large variety of mass-timber assemblies for jurisdictional code approval to further the adoption of carbon-sequestering mass-timber products in the residential construction market.

Download the original project PDF

Project Plans

1
The University of Oregon proposes to construct and operate OARL, a state-of- the-art facility for conducting acoustics tests of mass-timber assemblies to support the expansion of the mass-timber industry
2
The research team will provide input to UO’s Campus Planning and Facility Management (CPFM) team, who will oversee the Design-Build RFP, bidding, contractor selection, and construction process. The team will liaise with UO CPFM staff and contractors to ensure facility and acoustic chambers are constructed in accordance with design and engineering specifications.
3
The team intends to collaborate throughout the commissioning process to ensure acoustical performance thresholds are achieved and facility accreditation process is successfully completed.
4
OARL will provide the first West Coast NIST National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program for floor-ceiling testing chambers capable of delivering reliable and repeatable acoustical test results compliant with laboratory acoustic sound transmission, laboratory impact isolation and sound transmission, and for in-room impact sound.
5
The OARL acoustic chambers will be specifically designed to manage large-scale, heavy floor-ceiling assemblies associated with mass-timber construction. These new research and industry testing capacities will support increased utilization of mass-timber assemblies in low, mid, and high-rise housing and commercial buildings.

2025 Project Update

The absence of a dedicated acoustics testing facility on the West Coast is a significant barrier to advancing affordable mass-timber multifamily housing in the U.S.

Certified testing for a wide range of mass-timber assemblies is essential to meet jurisdictional code requirements and accelerate the adoption of carbon-sequestering mass-timber products in residential construction.

Download the 2025 Project Update PDF

Project Timeline

2022 - 2023
UO received approval from the EDA for the project to be designed and constructed via a Design Build process instead of a conventional Design Bid Build process
2023
UO developed guidelines and issued an RFP for a Design Build team
December 2023
UO selected Design Build team Andersen Construction with Lever Architecture for the project
2024
Work proceeded with the Design Build team
November 2024
Schematic Design completed with UO Design Advisory Board approval
February 2025
Design Development completed, Construction Documents begun
Spring 2027
Scheduled project completion
Oregon acoustic research laboratory construction