Mass Timber Market Updates - Jan 2025 - Week Three

Discover the pulse of the mass timber industry with Paul Kremer as we showcase the transformative potential of sustainable building solutions. This week, we're honored to have Arnie join us for a deep dive into the upcoming International Mass Timber Conference in Portland, Oregon. Get a sneak peek into the exciting symposiums, innovative exhibitors, and enriching workshops, while also taking advantage of some enticing early bird offers. It's a can't-miss opportunity for anyone passionate about the future of construction and sustainable design. 

Join us as we explore some of the most groundbreaking projects making waves in the mass timber world. From Walmart's innovative corporate office in Bentonville to the ambitious Stockholm Wood City project in Sweden, these ventures are setting new standards in sustainable architecture. We also spotlight a reimagined community park on Norway's west coast and Melbourne's awe-inspiring Westgate Tunnel Project. Plus, get the latest scoop from BAU in Germany, where timber engineering innovations are taking center stage. Tune in for a comprehensive look at the projects and people shaping the future of mass timber construction.

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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 Ramos, yourhost.

(00:48):
Good morning, good afternoon orgood evening wherever you are
in the world today.
Welcome to the Mass TimberConstruction Podcast and welcome
to week three in 2025.
I hope that your new year isgoing smoothly and that your new
year's resolutions are stillintact.
I know I didn't make any, so Idon't have anything to complain
about.
Thank you for subscribing.

(01:10):
Make sure that you like commentor reshare any of our content.
Make sure if you've got ajournal manuscript, you can put
it into our academic arm.
And we have a very specialannouncement.
We had Arnie on the podcastthis week to talk about the
International Mass TimberConference in Portland, oregon.
25 to 27 in March in Portlandin Oregon, in the United States.

(01:31):
If you want to hear what'sactually happening some of the
great symposiums, some of theamazing exhibitors and some
workshops and the way that theprograms come together please
listen to that podcast episode.
Don't forget to get your earlybird rates in now.
There's still one, I thinkmaybe two special offers
beforehand before you get toomuch, and make sure that you

(01:54):
listen to that episode so thatyou can catch up on all the
goings on around theInternational Mass Timber
Conference.
Let's have a look at what'smaking news around the world
this week in mass timberconstruction land, and the first
news is that Walmart hascelebrated the opening of its
first phase of its 350-acre homeoffice campus in Bentonville

(02:16):
last Friday, which is justFriday just gone.
Walmart's corporate office wasactually produced from mass
timber construction, the globalretailer generating $468 billion
last financial year.
Campus design was focused oncomprehensive associated
wellness, which includes a360-square-foot Walton Family

(02:38):
Health Center and Fitness Center, as well as an on-site
childcare, which opened lastyear.
According to press releases,you can catch up with people
from Walmart on theInternational Mass Timber
Conference circuit when youlisten to one of the education
tracks where they're talkingabout that project.
Google are coming along,microsoft are coming along, so

(03:01):
if you want to hear about thesereal world big projects that
actually do happen, please getto Portland in March and we will
be able to speak more about itfrom there.
And Swedish property developerAtrium Ljungberg describes the
largest mass timber project inthe world on the outskirts of
Sweden's capital construction asthe Stockholm Wood City, which

(03:24):
began in October, several monthsahead of its schedule, and it's
going to provide 2,000 newhomes by 2027.
So the yellow cranes arehanging overhead.
The former industrial park isbeing transformed and this is
Stockholm's biggest real estateproject using mass timber
construction.
If you want to check out someof the latest news around the

(03:45):
wooden city, please head to theLinkedIn feed.
Wooden city please head to thelinkedin feed.
And the newly unveiled communitypark in norway's west coast is
redefining public spaces throughinnovative, sustainable design.
The collaborative effortbetween the architectural
studios in the region and the2000 square meter activity hub
epitomizes the rural schools andhow they can evolve into

(04:10):
vibrant civic centers.
The park is part of theVestlands County program aimed
at transforming public schoolsinto multi-purpose community
spaces using recycled aluminium,using mass timber and using
other components, and includinglocal hydro plant that generates
the building from a sustainableenergy source.

(04:33):
If you'd like to check out morearound this community park
that's unveiled in norway, youcan head to our linkedin feed
and to australia and melbourne.
Specifically, in a place calledyarraville in melbourne, and
cpb contractors Stag Timber andour good friends Mario Savva and

(04:53):
crew at Savcon have beenworking on the Westgate Tunnel
Project, which has theseimpressive glue laminated
structures which are beingassembled as part of this design
that sits on this particulartunnel project.
If you'd like to see someimpressive photos, you can head
to our LinkedIn feed or go toSavcon and have a look at their

(05:14):
project progression photos.
And, of course, what would theworld would be without BAU in
Germany that has been runningthis past week?
I don't know how many postsI've seen come through around
timber, timber engineering,connection systems, structural
systems, waterproofing systems.

(05:35):
There is just an abundance andway too much to report on this
podcast, but be sure to checkout all the posts coming from
BAL in Germany this year, fromthe big fairs, and make sure
that you head to our LinkedInfeed and you'll be able to see
many that we've shared as well,including the Dovetail X-Fix,

(05:56):
which is featured in our talkwith Jorgen in regards to the
way that they're designing andbuilding buildings without steel
fixings in Norway.
Okay, so that's it, folks.
That's all we've got time forthis week in mass timber
construction land.
Don't forget to get your ticketsbooked for the International
Mass Timber Conference.

(06:16):
I also are a reminder for alluniversity students who are
looking to create an impact withyour mass timber associated
research.
There is poster presentationsthat you can submit to.
They are closing this week.
So if you are listening and youare involved in education in
any way and you want to put aposter in, get them in as soon

(06:37):
as you possibly can, becausethey need to be assessed, then
they need to be accepted, thenyou need to create them, then
you need to get to Portland oryou need to send them on with
somebody else.
This is a great opportunity forpeople to showcase and I have
met many students who havebecome colleagues over the years
from being in the posterpresentation from the very first
International Mass TimberConference and the second one to

(07:00):
this very day, and you buildlifelong friends in the mass
timber community.
It is a fraternity of peoplewho have a vested interest in
transforming the way that webuild and build for the future
in a better way.
It is a pleasure to bring youthe news each week.
Don't forget to subscribe.
Don't forget to like, comment,share, post anything on our

(07:22):
LinkedIn or social media feed,get your journal manuscripts in.
For our academic journal, wehit 1.841 as an impact factor.
We keep growing.
We're going to break two nextyear.
I can tell we're getting there.
We're getting growing.
We're going to break two nextyear.
I can tell we're getting there.
We're getting close, we'recontinuing to move forward.
Good morning, good afternoon orgood evening.
It's Paul Kramer signing off onthe Mass Timber Construction

(07:43):
Podcast, so Thank you.