UNBC welcomes its first Master of Engineering, Integrated Wood Design class. Pictured are students David Hanna, Stephanie Wall, Christian Willing, Chelsea Olson, and Associate Prof. Dr. Guido Wimmers.

The first cohort of UNBC’s Master of Engineering in Integrated Wood Design begins classes on Tuesday, Jan. 5 at the Wood Innovation and Design Centre.

Stephanie Wall, who grew up in Prince George, just completed her Bachelor of Applied Science in Environmental Engineering at UNBC in December. She’s looking forward to applying the sustainability principles she learned during her undergraduate degree.

In July 2013, Wall spoke at the news conference that launched the new program.

At the time she didn’t know what her plans would be after earning her undergrad degree. But after learning more about the program, she applied and is now part of the first class.

Her favourite part of engineering is the design work and got really involved in design competitions. She was a member of the team that won a B.C. competition and placed third at an international competition.

She’s excited to be part of the first class and she likes the idea of the small class sizes.
The one-year UNBC’s Master of Engineering in Integrated Wood Design program is designed to enhance the students’ understanding of wood as a versatile and sustainable building component.

The program has been developed to meet the emerging needs of a rapidly globally growing market for engineered wood products, tall timber buildings and sustainable constructions. For the past 100 years, steel and concrete construction has dominated large building construction. It has only been in the last few decades that the industrial construction sector has started returning back to wood.