Straw Construction
Straw construction as we know it today began with the invention of the baling machine over 100 years ago, and some of the earliest buildings are still standing in Nebraska. Straw is a byproduct of the grain industry, making it a renewable, low-embodied-carbon building material that is widely available.
Straw systems offer remarkable flexibility in how they are designed and built. Bales can be laid flat, on edge, or on end, and used as full bales or in prefabricated panel systems. Structurally, lateral loads from wind and earthquakes can be resisted through reinforced plaster, plywood, or prefabricated shear walls, while gravity loads can be carried by load-bearing bales, post and beam, or conventional stud framing.
VSE has engineered straw buildings across every method in use today, including projects internationally, and has played an active role in the continued code and product development of straw as a construction material. We have no favorites and are happy to help you find the straw system that is the right fit for your project.