Sansin Adorns Western Archrib Glulam Pieces on University of Oregon Track & Field Facility

The Sansin Corporation and Western Archrib, a leader in the design, manufacture, and custom fabrication of glued-laminated (glulam) structural wood systems, announced that their products are showcased on the track and field facility, Hayward Field, at the University of Oregon in Eugene.

The open and airy structure is funded by gifts from Penny and Phil Knight and more than 50 other donors. 

The newly reconstructed stadium, designed by SRG Partnership and constructed by Hoffman Construction, offers unobstructed views from all 12,650 seats. Elements of Hayward Field, where Phil Knight competed in track and field events while attending the university, were incorporated into the new facility, preserving the rich heritage of the original stadium. 

One of the main design objectives was to showcase Oregon history, culture and forest products. 

To that end, more than 462 Douglas Fir glulam structural wood pieces, sourced by Western Archrib and protected with Sansin’s low-VOC architectural finishes, were used to create 77 unique curves, each containing six pieces of curved wood. 

More than one million linear feet of Douglas Fir lumber were used in all the glulam pieces – equating to 830.5 laps around a 400-meter track.

“This is an incredible mass timber structure,” said Mark Wigston, senior manager of Projects and Technical Services at Western Archrib. “It was a massive undertaking, starting with detailed and solution-minded team collaboration with the design group and trade partners. With the plan from the design group, we effectively and efficiently created 462 unique glulam members which are seamlessly integrated and showcased throughout the stadium canopy. This ultimately ensured we exceeded the vision and high expectations set by the design group. We were thrilled to partner with Sansin to provide the stunning glulam members for the project. By applying two coats of the Sansin finish in our shop prior to shipment, we were able to ensure the glulam members were protected in transit and in situ during construction.” 

A three-coat KP-12UVW and Precision Coat ENS system in a custom tint was selected for its durability, beauty and environmental profile. The final coat of Precision Coat ENS was applied on the job site during construction.

“We are proud to be part of this iconic project,” said Caroline March-Long, director of sales and marketing at Sansin. “We worked with the architectural team to develop a coating system that would bring out the character of the glulam pieces while providing maintainable protection from UV and moisture.”