Michigan — The new Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Newberry Customer Service Center  is a 10,000-square foot building designed with nature in mind. Massive wooden columns and beams support the structure, while giant windows stretch nearly floor to ceiling. The DNR welcomed architects, engineers, and political representatives to the new building last Wednesday,  to celebrate one of Michigan’s first mass timber structures. …A public grand opening will be scheduled in the near future. …While mass timber is celebrated for its sustainability, it also brings nature indoors, promoting “biophilia” – the human desire to connect with nature. …Newberry’s mass timber building is part of a growing trend – both in Michigan and across the country. By the time the building was complete, several more mass timber buildings have gone up in Michigan. According to WoodWorks, the Wood Products Council, there were 2,427 mass timber buildings constructed or in progress in the U.S. as of March 2025.