Simpson Strong-Tie Research and Testing Laboratory at WSU Words: Monica AltieriIn 2016, Simpson Strong-Tie established the Simpson Strong-Tie Excellence Fund at the Voiland College of Engineering and Architecture at Washington State University (WSU). The fund provides an annual gift of $100,000 per year over the next eight years and will be used to establish the new Simpson Strong-Tie® Research and Testing Laboratory in the PACCAR Environmental Technology Building (PETB) on the WSU Pullman campus. The Simpson Strong-Tie® Research and Testing Lab includes high-capacity reaction floor and wall, central hydraulic pump, overhead crate and concrete mixing station. Adjoining the lab is an outdoor reaction slab that allows for project display and natural weather exposure testing. The lab is part of the Composite Materials and Engineering Center (CMEC), an International Code Council accredited testing facility. Simpson Strong-Tie and WSU have a longstanding, productive partnership dating over 20 years. The two institutions have worked together in a number of areas, including new product testing, deck safety, seismic risk mitigation and other projects. “We believe this partnership will drive our research innovations and lead to safer and more cost-effective buildings and structures,’’ said Candis Claiborn, dean of the Voiland College of Engineering and Architecture. “We are so grateful to Simpson Strong-Tie for their generous support that will help us discover these next-generation engineering practices while educating our future design and construction leaders.’’ In addition to the lab, the Excellence Fund will be used to support fellowships for professors and graduate students to present research findings, brainstorm about future research and conduct continuing education training.