Mass Timber Market Updates - Feb 2025 - Week Seven

Could mass timber be the future of sustainable construction? Join us as we uncover the transformative projects reshaping the architectural landscape with this eco-friendly material. From the groundbreaking North Academic Complex at Central Washington University to the awe-inspiring Gothenburg Grand Central in Sweden, our latest episode takes you on a journey through some of the most ambitious mass timber projects globally. We'll explore how these developments are not just architectural marvels but also pioneers in sustainability, utilizing innovative combinations of materials like recycled brick and climate-improved concrete to redefine the boundaries of modern construction.

Our conversation doesn't stop there. We dive into the world of biophilic design with a spotlight on the new headquarters of the Advertising Agency Thesis in Portland, illustrating the profound impact of natural materials on workplace well-being. Stay updated on the U.S. mass timber movement with insights into the latest International Building Code adoption across 39 states, and celebrate a stunning architectural feat as Danish architect Group Big unveils its winning design for an opera and ballet theater in Kosovo. This episode promises to leave you inspired and informed about the future of sustainable architecture.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:01):
Ladies and gentlemen, we are live.
This is the moment you all havebeen waiting for.
It's time for the globalsensation, the one, the only the

(00:22):
undisputed heavyweight podcastin the world the Mass Timber
Construction Podcast.
And now here's Paul Rammer,your host.

(00:48):
Good morning, good afternoon orgood evening wherever you are
in the world today, welcome tothe Mass Timber Construction
Podcast.
It is the 7th week of Februaryand my how the weeks are flying.
Not too long now until theInternational Mass Timber
Conference.
Don't forget to hit subscribeand make sure you like, like,
share or comment on anything onour social media feed.

(01:09):
Thank you for sending in thejournal manuscripts to our
academic journal.
We're getting a few of themcoming through now.
We greatly appreciate yoursupport.
We know you have a choice whereyou can publish and we're glad
that you're choosing our journalpublication.
Let's have a look at what'smaking news around the world
this week.
In mass timber construction landand on Central Washington

(01:31):
University campus in Ellenburgin Washington, a new mass timber
complex is under constructionand scheduled for completion in
2026.
The massive 106,000 square footNorth Academic Complex, the NAC
construction project, includesfour-story LEED Leadership in
Energy, environment, design,gold building funded by the

(01:53):
university state legislator in2023.
That will become the home tothe large number of classes for
first and second year studentsand will soon be regarded as
CWU's preeminent academicfacility.
If you'd like to see some morephotos of this impressive, very
large structure they are amazingHead to our LinkedIn feed.
And to Sweden now andconstruction of Gothenburg Grand

(02:17):
Central and Gothenburg, sweden,has begun, featuring a new
station building in the newlydeveloped district.
Sodra, in partnership withHighbridge, is supplying 9,100
square metres of CLT and fourparts of the building structure.
According to a news report bySodra, the new station building
prioritises sustainability andmost of its structural framework

(02:40):
is made from timber combinedwith recycled brick, climate
improved concrete and recycledsteel.
The building will be nearly 120meters long and more than 20
meters high, with exposed timberelements to promote sustainable
construction.
The project will be deliveredin the first quarter of 2025.
The station building isexpected to be completed in 2026

(03:03):
, with the upper floors finishedin nearly 2027.
If you want to see someimpressive images, please head
to our LinkedIn feed and thereis a concept design for the
particular station.
It looks impressive.
Well done to everyone on theproject, and Advertising Agency
Thesis has its new headquartersin Northwest Portland as one of

(03:24):
the favorite offices of the teamat Timber Lab.
If you want to have a look atsome photos of this beautiful
exposed mass timber columns andbeams and elevated floor system,
the four-story buildingfeatures exposed mass timber,
open interiors and a space fornatural light to come through,
with very large windows.
The company's aim was to tryand retain talent, and the

(03:47):
biophilic materials like exposedwood and the elevated work
environment show that the datafor improving the health and
well-being of employees isvalidated, including research by
yours truly, and Timberlab hasdetailed, fabricated and
installed all the system forthesis hq 40 000 square foot

(04:08):
building, which is ultimatelyone of the fastest mass timber
projects they delivered in themarket.
During the installation process, the building finished each
floor within the mass timbersystem within six days.
Congratulations to everyone attimber lab and everyone on the
project and an update fromWoodworks and according to them

(04:28):
in a report in December 24 of USstates that have adopted the
IBC the International BuildingCode, there is now 39 states
that have adopted the 2021version for mass timber project
provisions, which is growing,and the codes are now having an

(04:52):
impact on constructed projects,with 2,338 multifamily,
commercial or institutionalprojects in progress or built in
the US, so congratulations toeveryone who's been involved in
getting those code changes.
It's an impressive undertakingand I'm glad to see that's
taking a foothold in the UnitedStates.
And the Danish architect GroupBig have won a competition for
design for an opera and ballettheater in Kosovo.

(05:15):
The 42,394 square meter timberstructure is located underneath
an undulating exterior skin ofphotovoltaic cells which then
capture the solar energy forlight use and for energy use and
the bell-shaped skirt, and theproject will contain around

(05:37):
1,200 people capacity within thehall in terms of seating with
interlocks, and a thousandcapacity three-tiered theater
with 300 seat auditoriums forone recital on another.
The venue will maintain itsmatte timber aesthetic that
contrasts with the velvetupholstery and curtains.

(05:57):
It is an impressive building.
Please go and have a look atthis award-winning entry and
congratulations to all the teamat big.
And japanese giant car makertoyota has signed one of the
largest leases in the greaterdallas fort worth region in
years with its deal to occupythe area's first mass timber

(06:19):
office building.
Toyota financial services hassigned the lease, taking over
the seven floor 242 000 squarefoot mass timber building
developed by Dallas-based CrowHoldings and offering the lease
in the market and the buildingat 4401 Cirrus Way in Frisco,
texas, a northern suburb with 30miles from downtown Dallas,

(06:44):
sits in a part of the regionwith more than 8.1 million
residents, has become a maturingoffice destination with lower
vacancy rate compared to therest of northern Texas.
If you'd like to have a look atthis impressive photo for the
Toyota Financial Services officebuilding produced from Mass
Timber, you can head to ourLinkedIn feed.

(07:06):
And that's it, folks.
That's all we've got time forthis week in Mass Timber
Construction Land.
We hope you have a great weekahead.
Thank you for tuning in again.
We'll look forward to bringingyou more news next week.
Don't forget like, subscribe,share, comment any of our
content, submit to our academicjournal and don't forget to get
your tickets for portland.

(07:26):
The early bird finishes very,very soon.
However, it's just over a monthaway and you can still get
tickets and you can still getdown there.
Take care of yourself.
This is Paul Kramer signing off.
Good morning, good afternoon,good evening, wherever you are
in the world today, thank you.