Oregon Tech Launches Construction Management Degree and Mass-Timber Residence Hall

Klamath Falls, Oregon, October 3, 2025

News Summary

Oregon Tech announced two coordinated campus investments: a new Bachelor of Science in construction management beginning in the fall term and a $35-million, four-story mass-timber residence hall for 517 students. The degree emphasizes applied, hands-on learning with specialization tracks in heavy (horizontal) and general (vertical) construction, courses in estimating, law, scheduling, safety, MEP systems, and internships, and will be led initially by an interim director. The 86,710-square-foot residence hall uses prefabricated CLT panels to reduce waste and embodied carbon, sources local contractors and suppliers, and creates opportunities for students to gain real-world experience tied to campus construction.

Oregon Tech unveils new construction management degree and builds $35M mass-timber residence hall

Oregon Tech will offer a new construction management program beginning fall 2025. At the same time the campus in Klamath Falls is moving ahead with construction of a $35-million mass timber residence hall, a four-story building aimed at easing a shortage of on-campus housing and showcasing low-carbon building methods.

What’s happening now

The new program is a Bachelor of Science in construction management. The new residence hall will be four stories tall. The residence hall will have room for 517 students (capacity given). The residence hall will cover 86,710 square feet (specific figure given), an amount also described elsewhere as an 86-thousand square foot building in some reports. Construction of the residence hall has an estimated completion date of December 2025.

Program details and industry connections

The construction management program was developed in collaboration with the Beavers Charitable Trust, construction companies, donors, and community partners. The collaboration reflects a shared commitment to addressing growing workforce needs in Oregon and beyond. The construction management program will prepare students with technical, managerial, and leadership skills necessary to thrive in the construction industry. The program has a strong emphasis on applied learning and hands-on experience.

The program has a focus on applied, hands-on learning. The program will give graduates the ability to manage complex projects, collaborate effectively across disciplines, and contribute to the economic growth of their communities. The degree will offer two specialized options to match different career paths: The program will offer two specialized options: Heavy construction (horizontal) and General construction (vertical).

The Heavy construction (horizontal) option is focused on infrastructure such as highways, bridges, and utilities. The General construction (vertical) option is focused on buildings, facilities, and large-scale commercial and residential projects.

Courses and requirements include (but are not limited to): construction cost estimating and control; construction law; construction project scheduling; construction safety; equipment, methods and materials; internships; mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems; a senior project; structural analysis and design; and sustainable construction.

Oregon Tech announced that Professor Jared Emard will serve as the interim program director for the new construction management program. A school news release noted the importance of industry ties and community connections to help launch and grow the program. Dr. Neslihan Alp, dean of the College of Engineering, Technology, and Management, said the partnership and support of Beavers Trust, industry leaders, and the community have been invaluable in creating the program and that it will directly prepare students for rewarding careers in construction while helping meet critical workforce demand in this field.

For more information about Oregon Tech’s construction management program, the provided link is: www.oit.edu/academics/degrees/construction-management.

Residence hall design and construction

The facility was designed to showcase its mass timber construction. The mass timber design was chosen to reduce the building’s carbon footprint and to provide a warm, durable living environment. The mass timber design was described as a deliberate move toward reducing the building’s carbon footprint. The goal for the residence hall is to create a warm, high-quality, long-lasting space for students to relax and collaborate.

Students participated in a steering committee that guided the new space’s aesthetic. Oregon Tech President Dr. Nagi Naganathan said the new residence hall demonstrates how Oregon Tech continues to lead in sustainability and innovation while addressing the needs of our growing student community. The project received support from the Oregon Legislature and the Office of the Governor.

Oregon Tech said the residence hall will be one of the first in Oregon to utilize mass timber floors and roofs with panelized wood frame walls. The school said the building will serve as a landmark example of carbon-efficient construction in higher education and will use prefabricated CLT panels to reduce labor, waste, and carbon impact. The project will use prefabricated CLT (cross-laminated timber) panels; the release said using prefabricated CLT panels reduces labor, material waste, and the building’s carbon footprint while creating a high-quality, safe living environment for students.

Oregon Tech is partnering with Bogatay Construction, Inc., of Klamath Falls for the residence hall construction. The news release reported that 89% of the project’s work is coming from firms within a 100-mile radius of campus. Local involvement is part of the plan to support regional firms and provide hands-on learning opportunities for students in related fields.

Local reporting and campus connections

A Klamath Falls (local) version of the story reiterated Oregon Tech’s focus on student experience with the $35M mass timber residence hall and described it as a four-story, 86,000-square-foot building providing on-campus housing for more than 500 students. The Klamath Falls coverage said engineering, technology, and management students will have the chance to receive hands-on training from architects, preparing students for careers in architecture and construction. Local reports also described mass timber as a renewable building material that significantly reduces the carbon footprint.

The project design team included outside architects and local partners to ensure student needs and sustainability goals were central to planning. Students and campus programs in engineering, technology, and management are expected to benefit from proximity to this construction example.

Related industry and education news mentioned in the same reporting

Adolfson & Peterson Construction (AP) announced it has broken ground on two renovation projects for Austin Independent School District (AISD). The AP work at McCallum and Anderson High Schools totals 97,350 square feet. The AP renovation projects are scheduled for completion in January 2027.

Armstrong World Industries announced its acquisition of Canada-based Geometrik. Geometrik specializes in designing and manufacturing wood acoustical and wall systems.

The University of West Florida announced renovation work is complete on a new lab building (Building 80) for its Pensacola campus. Building 80 will serve as the home to the university’s civil engineering program and the Tyler Chase Norwood Construction Management Program.

The GearBoss High-Density Storage System is described in the text as designed to revolutionize storage and organization in athletic and educational spaces, offering efficiency, durability, and security.

Funding, hubs, and the wider construction picture

Two Oregon tech hubs — Corvallis Microfluidics and the Pacific Northwest Mass Timber Tech Hub (OSU-led projects) — were left out of a more than half-billion dollar federal funding announcement (they were not selected in that announcement). The Corvallis Microfluidics and Pacific Northwest Mass Timber Tech Hub projects had been named among 31 finalists last year out of 400 applicants. Those finalists were competing for grants up to $70 million.

The text states that Oregon construction work rebounded rapidly after the pandemic recession, driven to an all-time high by major public projects, industrial expansion, and housing developments that had been in the works for years. The text also states that much of that work is now complete and the state’s construction industry has shifted into reverse.

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Key features at a glance

Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic

Additional Resources

• Herald and News: Oregon Tech launches new construction management program
• Wikipedia: Construction management
• Spaces4Learning: Oregon Tech mass-timber residence hall
• Google Search: Oregon Tech mass timber residence hall
• KOBI5: Oregon Tech’s new $35-million mass-timber residence hall
• Google Scholar: mass timber cross-laminated timber student housing
• OregonLive: Oregon Tech hubs left out of federal funding blitz
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Oregon Institute of Technology
• OregonLive: Oregon construction jobs slip as homebuilding slides
• Google News: Oregon construction jobs 2025

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