As part of the Spring 2026 studio Waste+1: Unwanted Wood, MIT Architecture students traveled to New Hampshire to visit Timberdoodle and Index Packaging, learning about undervalued local wood species and wood pallet recycling and handling.
Studio
The first stop of the Waste+1 studio field trip was Timberdoodle, a family-run logging and sawmill business specializing in high-quality local lumber. Guided by Miles and Katrina, students learned about logging practices in the New England region, including common methods and the forms of waste generated in the process. During the visit, students shared their research on specific wood species and discussed with Miles and Katrina the defects, characteristics, and potential applications of these materials. The group also brought back greenwood planks sawn at the mill during the visit, which will be used in the studio to experiment with design ideas.
The second stop of the trip was Index Packaging, a company that manufactures, handles, and recycles wood pallets and other shipping crates. Experts at Index Packaging gave students a comprehensive tour of the facility, covering wood processing, pallet manufacturing, pallet repair and recycling, and waste handling. Students observed pallet fabricators at work and saw a range of specialized machines in operation, including a large grinder that processes leftover material into biomass.
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