Mass Timber Market Updates - Jan 2025 - Week Five

Unlock the secret to revolutionizing urban landscapes with mass timber as we explore the groundbreaking developments shaping cities worldwide. This episode features New York-based investor Tony Cheng's ambitious project to erect Australia's tallest timber tower in Sydney's bustling CBD, showcasing a harmonious blend of mass timber and hybrid steel design. Join us as we dive into the collaborative research efforts of Built by Nature and BEST in Scotland, aiming to enhance fire safety in mass timber buildings across the UK. With contributions from the University of Edinburgh Fire Research Centre and Timber Development UK, this initiative is set to redefine our understanding of safe and sustainable timber construction.

Get the inside scoop on industry leaders Arnie, Craig, and Tom's dedication to steering the International Mass Timber Conference, maintaining its status as a pivotal event for professionals across the globe. Discover the latest architectural wonders as Building Design and Construction editors unveil innovative office projects that push the boundaries of sustainable design. Plus, celebrate a milestone in Mexican architecture with PPAA's introduction of the country's first mass timber structure. This episode promises to be a treasure trove of insights and inspiration for anyone passionate about the future of construction and sustainable urban development.

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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,

(00:28):
the undisputed heavyweightpodcast in the world the Mass
Timber Construction Podcast.
And now here's Paul Brammer,your host.

(00:48):
Good morning, good afternoon orgood evening wherever you are
in the world today, welcome tothe Mass Timber Construction
Podcast.
My name's Paul Brammer, yourhost, and welcome to another
weekly update in 2025.
Happy Chinese New Year toanybody who is celebrating New
Year's based on the lunarcalendar, and I hope that you

(01:09):
have a prosperous and joyous NewYear for all people around the
world who celebrated New Year'sjust recently.
Don't forget to hit subscribe,don't forget to like, comment,
share, repost anything of ourcontent and if you've got a
manuscript that you want to putinto an academic journal for

(01:29):
research publication, pleaseconsider our humble little
journal with an impact factor of1.841.
Let's have a look at what'smaking news around the world
this week in mass timberconstruction land, and the big
news this week is coming out ofSydney, australia, with New
York-based investor Tony Cheng,who is set to build Australia's

(01:50):
tallest timber tower, a 13-storyboutique office at 4-6 York
Street in Sydney's CBD, designedby Tenzance Cheng's NGI
Investments.
The building will feature 11stories of mass timber and
hybrid steel timber design forthe top two floors to support

(02:10):
large counter levers over therailway tunnels.
You can have a look at theamazing concept drawing which we
have reported on previously onthe podcast, but you can have a
look again on our LinkedIn feed.
A look again on our LinkedInfeed.
And to Scotland now.

(02:30):
And Built by Nature has awarded219,000 euros as a grant to
Glasgow-based Built Environment,smart Transformation, or BEST,
to spearhead critical researchinto fire safety in mass timber
buildings across the UnitedKingdom.
The research grant is a directresponse to the UK government's
2023 request in that timber inconstruction roadmap be

(02:51):
identified and actions needed toimprove an understanding in how
timber can be used safely inconstruction be delivered.
As part of the program,partners include the University
of Edinburgh Fire ResearchCentre, adding to BEST's
academic host, which isEdinburgh Napier University, and
the Timber Development UK,confor and the Structural Timber

(03:14):
Association, all workingtogether to ensure the best
outcome for BEST.
If you'd like to read moreabout that, you can head to
BEST's website or you could headto our LinkedIn feed, and the
three founding partners of theForest Business Network, the
International Mass TimberConference.
Arnie, craig and Tom havecommitted to staying on in their

(03:38):
executive leadership roles forthe foreseeable future for the
International Mass TimberConference.
Roles for the foreseeablefuture for the International
Mass Timber Conference.
There's a beautiful photo ofthem sitting there with their
wonderful hard hats on with anemblazed logo of the
International Mass TimberConference.
But great to see them stickingaround.
It will be great for TrifectaCollective and it will be great

(04:00):
for everyone who attends theconference.
And don't forget March 25th,27th this year, portland, oregon
.
Get your tickets, be there orbe square.
And the editors of buildingdesign and construction have
collected over 40 recent officeand office to residential
projects, including misusedestination lead certified

(04:21):
buildings and mass timber builtheadquarters, and they have
published them and they're goingto continue to publish them in
little groups over time as partof their expose for these 40
projects.
So stay tuned.
We'll be publishing them asthey come to hand, but if you
want to keep up to date withsome projects that are happening
in your space, head to ourLinkedIn feed.

(04:43):
There are some impressiveinternal shots coming from the
Microsoft Silicon Valley campus,which has achieved two
significant sustainabilityrecognitions the International
Well Building InstituteCertification and Well
Certification Platinum forHealthy Building Strategies and
the International Living Futurechallenge zero carbon

(05:05):
certification.
These two importantcertifications are a testament
to the sustainability and thesupport for employee experience,
which is to create a healthier,more equitable and sustainable
built environment.
If you want to read more abouthow silicon valley campus has
achieved these, you can go toour LinkedIn feed and have a

(05:26):
look at the article.
And Mexico has now got a foot inthe door for mass timber
construction with architecturestudio PPAA has unveiled the
first building in the countrywith the structure constructed
mainly of mass timber, claimingit is a milestone for mexican
architecture.
Located in an industrialcomplex in mexico, the building

(05:48):
has a structure made almostentirely of engineered wood
products, and they told designthat they chose mass timber for
its sustainability, reducedlabor costs, speed of
construction and, noted, themass timber is currently more
expensive in mexico than othercommon materials.
However, this will change witha greater adoption over time.
So if you want to read more onthis article about mass timber

(06:10):
projects in Mexico, head toDazeem's website or head to our
LinkedIn feed.
And that's it, folks.
That's all we've got time forthis week in mass timber
construction land.
We hope that you're doing well.
We look forward to catching upwith you next week.
Make sure you hit like,subscribe, repost, share any
comments that you want toprovide us.

(06:31):
We really appreciate thefeedback.
We really appreciate theprojects coming through.
Do not forget to submit yourmanuscript to our academic
journal.
Don't forget to get yourtickets to portland and we will
speak to you again next week.
Good Good morning, goodafternoon or good evening,
wherever you are in the world.
Today, this is Paul Kramersigning off on the Mass Timber

(06:51):
Construction Podcast.
Thank you,