Peggi Clouston

Dr. Peggi Clouston is a trailblazer in sustainable construction materials and wood product innovation. As a professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, she inspires future architects, engineers, and builders through courses in material mechanics, bio-based laminates, and structural timber design. Her teaching bridges disciplines and empowers students to rethink how we build with natural, renewable materials.

Dr. Clouston’s research pushes the boundaries of what’s possible with advanced composites made from wood, bamboo, and straw. Her lab has introduced technologies like laminated bamboo lumber, mass timber T-beams, and notably wood-concrete floor systems, which were instrumental in the award-winning J.W. Olver Design Building. One of her more impactful studies demonstrated the structural viability of underutilized northeastern U.S. trees for use in cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels. This breakthrough led to the commercialization of Eastern Hemlock CLT and its first-ever use in buildings, marking a strong step toward climate-smart construction and local economic revitalization.

Beyond the lab, Dr. Clouston is co‑author of the new textbook Mass Timber: Materials, Design, and Construction (John Wiley & Sons). Originally from Canada, she is a registered professional engineer in British Columbia (now non‑practicing) and serves as an Associate Editor for the ASCE Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering. She has also contributed extensively to the field through her work on national review panels, scientific advisory boards, and conference steering committees across North America.