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 to Launch New Construction Management Degree and Build $35M Mass-Timber Residence Hall
Quick take: A Bachelor of Science degree in construction management begins fall 2025 while a four-story, mass-timber residence hall for 517 students is under construction with an estimated December 2025 completion.
The most significant developments for the campus were announced together: Oregon Tech will offer a new construction management program beginning fall 2025, and Oregon Institute of Technology in Klamath Falls, Ore., announced construction of a new $35-million mass timber residence hall. Both moves are positioned to expand educational capacity and increase on-campus housing while linking curriculum and campus construction as workforce-preparation and sustainability measures.
What the program is
The new program is a Bachelor of Science in construction management. 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 program has a focus on applied, hands-on learning. It will prepare students with technical, managerial, and leadership skills necessary to thrive in the construction industry, giving graduates the ability to manage complex projects, collaborate effectively across disciplines, and contribute to local economic growth.
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. Program development and local industry connections are part of the launch plan. For direct program details and admissions information, For more information about Oregon Tech’s construction management program, the provided link is: www.oit.edu/academics/degrees/construction-management.
Residence hall: design, size, schedule
The new residence hall is being designed to showcase mass timber construction and to reduce embodied carbon compared with typical concrete-and-steel construction. 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). The project has an estimated completion date of Construction of the residence hall has an estimated completion date of December 2025.
The project will use prefabricated CLT (cross-laminated timber) panels; the release said 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. The mass timber approach is described as a deliberate move toward reducing the building’s carbon footprint and creating a warm, long-lasting space for student interaction and study.
The residence hall project received multiple sources of local support. The project received support from the Oregon Legislature and the Office of the Governor. The campus is partnering with a local construction contractor for the work, and the release noted that a high percentage of the project’s work is being sourced locally to support nearby firms and labor markets.
Connections between the program and the building
The timing of the new degree and the mass-timber residence hall opens opportunities for hands-on learning and internships tied directly to real-world projects. Students in engineering, technology, and management fields are expected to have increased exposure to mass-timber methods, prefabrication processes, and sustainability-focused building techniques.
Local economic and industry context
The project emphasizes local contracting and supply chains; a majority of the work is planned to come from firms within a 100-mile radius of campus. Use of prefabricated panels is intended to reduce on-site labor needs, cut material waste, and shorten construction schedules while maintaining safety and quality. The combined academic and building investments aim to respond to evolving workforce demand in construction and related trades.
What happens next
Enrollment planning, curriculum finalization, and coordination between the university, industry partners, and contractors will continue through the lead-up to fall 2025 and the residence hall’s scheduled December 2025 completion. Interested students and employers can follow program and construction updates at the program page: www.oit.edu/academics/degrees/construction-management.
FAQ
Q: When will the new construction management program begin?
A: Oregon Tech will offer a new construction management program beginning fall 2025.
Q: What degree will the new program grant?
A: The new program is a Bachelor of Science in construction management.
Q: Who helped create the construction management program?
A: The construction management program was developed in collaboration with the Beavers Charitable Trust, construction companies, donors, and community partners.
Q: What is the program’s teaching approach?
A: The program has a focus on applied, hands-on learning.
Q: Are there specialization tracks?
A: The program will offer two specialized options: Heavy construction (horizontal) and General construction (vertical).
Q: What does the heavy construction option focus on?
A: The Heavy construction (horizontal) option is focused on infrastructure such as highways, bridges, and utilities.
Q: What does the general construction option focus on?
A: The General construction (vertical) option is focused on buildings, facilities, and large-scale commercial and residential projects.
Q: What core courses and requirements are included?
A: 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.
Q: Who will lead the program initially?
A: Oregon Tech announced that Professor Jared Emard will serve as the interim program director for the new construction management program.
Q: Where can I find more information about the program?
A: For more information about Oregon Tech’s construction management program, the provided link is: www.oit.edu/academics/degrees/construction-management.
Q: What was announced about student housing?
A: Oregon Institute of Technology in Klamath Falls, Ore., announced construction of a new $35-million mass timber residence hall.
Q: How tall and large will the new residence hall be?
A: 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).
Q: When is the residence hall expected to be complete?
A: Construction of the residence hall has an estimated completion date of December 2025.
Q: What construction methods will the residence hall use?
A: 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.
Q: Who supported the residence hall project?
A: The project received support from the Oregon Legislature and the Office of the Governor.
Key Features at a Glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| New degree | Bachelor of Science in construction management |
| Program start | Fall 2025 |
| Program specializations | Heavy construction (horizontal); General construction (vertical) |
| Key courses | Estimating, law, scheduling, safety, MEP, senior project, structural analysis, sustainable construction |
| Residence hall cost | $35-million |
| Residence hall size | 86,710 square feet |
| Residence hall capacity | 517 students |
| Residence hall height | Four stories |
| Residence hall completion | Estimated December 2025 |
| Construction method | Prefabricated CLT (cross-laminated timber) panels |
This article is informational and summarizes announced plans, program elements, and project details as released by the institution and project partners.
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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