Huntsville (January 3, 2025)— HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology and Auburn University will collaborate on a project to advance the development of biobased construction materials and promote sustainable practices in the state. This comes after Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey awarded the Institute and university $325,000 through the Alabama Research and Development Enhancement Fund (ARDEF). This award, when coupled with the match provided by HudsonAlpha, brings the total project to $650,000.
HudsonAlpha and Auburn are already collaborating on several initiatives to support agriculture in the state of Alabama, drive rural economic development, and create a green bioeconomy that relies on perennial grasses for bioproducts.
The manufacturing of building construction materials is responsible for more than 10 percent of global CO2 emissions annually. To increase sustainability, alternative construction materials must be developed and commercialized to replace or improve existing carbon-intensive building materials, such as plastics, asphalt, and concrete. This replacement will create significant market opportunities for farmers and more jobs in rural areas in biobased manufacturing.
“In order for the bioeconomy to be successful, consumers must have access to biobased materials that perform as well or better than today’s products at similar pricing,” said Sam Jackson, PhD, project lead for HudsonAlpha. “This project will bring tangible construction materials to consumers with side-by-side comparisons to materials they are familiar with, with the goal of educating architects, engineers, builders, and consumers about the potential of these innovative materials.”
“This project will bring tangible construction materials to consumers with side-by-side comparisons to materials they are familiar with, with the goal of educating architects, engineers, builders, and consumers about the potential of these innovative materials.”
Sam Jackson, PhD
HudsonAlpha, along with the Auburn University College of Architecture, Design and Construction (CADC) and College of Forestry, Wildlife and Environment (CFWE), will design and construct a mobile showroom to demonstrate new innovations in biobased construction materials. The mobile showroom will be showcased at industry events and trade shows throughout the Southeastern U.S.
The mobile showroom will have two halves: one designed with conventional construction materials common in residential homebuilding and the other constructed using biobased sustainable alternatives. It will be completed primarily on Auburn’s campus.
Architecture students in a seminar course in the CADC, led by Assistant Professor David Shanks, will design the showroom. Students will research and select biobased materials for the design in consultation with colleagues in the CFWE, led by Associate Professor Maria Soledad Peresin, founder of Auburn’s Sustainable Bio-based Materials Laboratory.
“It is incredibly exciting to formalize the longstanding collaboration with CADC faculty through this multidisciplinary project, which holds tremendous potential to benefit the state and its stakeholders,” said Peresin. “Additionally, it paves the way for advancing workforce development within sustainable material construction.“

The designed assembly will be constructed as part of a service-learning course in the McWhorter School of Building Science, led by Professors Paul Holley and Alan Bugg. The students will also design marketing materials to showcase the cost and efficiency of biobased materials compared to traditional construction materials.
“Funding from ARDEF and HudsonAlpha provides an exciting opportunity for Auburn students to gain hands-on experience with cutting-edge biobased construction materials and lead the way toward decarbonizing the built environment while contributing to the economic development in the region,” said Shanks.
The project is expected to positively impact Alabama’s economy by creating new jobs and stimulating growth in the agricultural, construction, and materials industries. It also has the potential to position the state as a leader in sustainable building practices.
“This project represents a significant step forward in our efforts to create a more sustainable future,” said Jackson. “By developing biobased construction materials, we can reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and protect our environment.”
The project team includes industry partners SmartLam North America, Russell Lands Inc., Sierra Pacific Windows, Westervelt, and Stacy Norman Architects; academic collaborators from the University of Tennessee and USFS Forest Products Laboratory; and faculty and students from Auburn University’s College of Architecture, Design and Construction and the College of Forestry, Wildlife and Environment.
In addition to the money awarded to HudsonAlpha, Gov. Ivey also awarded grants to three other Alabama universities and research institutions, including the University of Alabama, Auburn University, and Southern Research Institute.
“Our universities and research institutions consistently produce innovations that have the potential to positively impact not only Alabamians but people worldwide,” Gov. Ivey said. “The breadth and significance of this research is far reaching and profound for both our economy and our environment, and I am proud to support these projects through these grant awards.”
Read the full announcement from ADECA.