Mass Timber Market Updates - Mar 2025 - Week Ten

The future of sustainable construction is unfolding right before our eyes as groundbreaking mass timber projects transform skylines across the globe. From university campuses to international airports, innovative architects and forward-thinking organizations are embracing wood as their material of choice.

Boston University leads the charge with an impressive 70,000 square foot timber building designed by celebrated architects Diller Scofidio + Renfro. This interdisciplinary hub will focus on sustainable futures while transforming a former parking lot into a vibrant campus center. Meanwhile, the Canadian government demonstrates serious commitment to green building with a $4.5 million investment supporting multiple timber construction projects throughout Ontario.

Global construction giant Skanska continues to cement its position at the forefront of sustainable building, securing three major contracts worth a combined $139 million. Their projects span continents and sectors – from a nine-story office in Sweden to a school in Norway and a healthcare facility in California. Equally impressive is BIG's design for the new Galafoo International Airport in Bataan, which showcases stunning glulam timber structures set against subtropical forests and mountain ranges. Not to be outdone, New Zealand contributes to the timber revolution with a new Christchurch office building featuring 114 eight-meter timber columns that prove wood isn't just sustainable – it's structurally superior, with almost double the strength-to-weight ratio of steel.

Want to be part of this exciting movement? The Mass Timber Conference in Portland, Oregon is approaching quickly. With over 200 exhibitors and numerous expert speakers (including past podcast guests), it's the premier event for anyone passionate about the future of sustainable construction. Subscribe to our podcast for weekly updates on the most significant developments in mass timber worldwide, and join us in building a more sustainable future – one timber structure at a time.

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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,

(00:22):
the undisputed heavyweightpodcast in the world the Mass
Timber Construction Podcast.
And now here's Paul Ramblin,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 week number 10 in 2025.
We are already significantlyinto the new year and Portland,
oregon don't forget the MassTimber Conference is coming up.
Get your tickets, pack yourbags, head along and see some

(01:11):
amazing over 200 exhibitors andmany, many guest speakers,
including people who've been onthis podcast.
An amazing event if you want tolearn more about Mass Timber.
So get your tickets and getalong.
Don't forget to hit subscribe,like, comment, share, repost any
of the content, and we thankyou all for contributing to our

(01:31):
wider sphere of media influence.
We really do appreciate yoursupport.
Let's have a look at what'smaking news around the world
this week in mass timberconstruction land and to Boston
now, and specifically, bostonUniversity is about to become
the home to a global leader ofinterdisciplinary collaboration.

(01:52):
Designed by renownedarchitecture studio Della
Scofidio and Renfro, the 70,000square foot timber building will
act as a central hub forresearch and strategy
development, focusing onsustainable economic, social and
environmental futures.
Positioned on a former parkinglot in the heart of the
university campus, the school'snew home will increase urban

(02:16):
density and enhance open space.
If you'd like to have a look atsome impressive graphics
renders of the project, pleasehead to our linkedin feed and to
.
Canada and the new minister forenergy and natural resources,
along with the parliamentarysecretary, announced a federal

(02:37):
contribution of more than 4.5million canadian dollars for a
four green construction, greentechnology projects across
Ontario which will be supportedwith low carbon and processed
wood.
In the Canadian constructionsector, the funding goes to
$900,000 to Assembly Corp, $1million to Sean Mason Homes, $1

(02:59):
million to the Post OfficeLimited Partnership and $3
million to Trimmerman Timber,and there's a few more on the
list, and you can go and have alook at the particular winners
of this particular grant schemeto find out more details.
Impressive work by the Canadiangovernment, great to see them
supporting initiatives tosupport mass timber, and our

(03:22):
friends at Skanska have beenannounced as the winners of
three contracts a 47 milliondollar office in sweden, a 37
million dollar school school innorway and a clinic in
california worth 55 million.
In sweden, the company willbuild a nine-story structure
with 16 000 square meters ofleaseable space, and this this

(03:45):
includes a gym, a conferenceroom, lounge, restaurant, cafe,
bicycle area, as well as theconstruction contract they have
been.
Scansi has already invested 99million in the first phase of
the largest office projectthat's underway in Northern
Stockholm.
In Norway, the company willbuild a 9,400 square meter

(04:06):
school and sports hall, and thecompany has also signed a $55
million contract for a localnot-for-profit for a 1,900
square meter ambulatory surgerycenter with 3,700 square meters
of specialty clinic inCalifornia.
Congratulations to the team atScanScout.

(04:26):
Certainly leading the way withmass timber, and all of these
projects are contributing to abetter built, sustainable
environment.
And some impressive renders forthe new Galafoo International
Airport in Bataan by BIG, whohave been announced as the
architectural firm, too, isproviding this amazing

(04:47):
innovation.
These images are not to bemissed.
You will be able to see thecountry's airport in subtropical
forests and mountain ranges,with 60 000 square feet of
airport.
A key to the master plan was todevelop this particular building
using amazing wood structures,using wood carvings and mainly

(05:14):
glue laminated timber.
Please head to our linkedinfeed and have a look at these
impressive renders for theproject.
It really is quite impressive,and across the ditch from me in
Australia is Christchurch in NewZealand.
The 100 large wooden columnsfor a new four-story central
building in Christchurch, whichis an office block, is set to

(05:37):
open later in the year.
The 114 eight-meter-long timbercolumns are being used in the
construction of the building at211 high street.
Ignite architects said thatglulam was almost double the
strength to weight ratio steeland not only was sustainable but
also allowed for the uniquedesign opportunity for this

(06:00):
particular building.
And you can see these.
There's one good, impressivephoto for this particular
building.
And you can see there's onegood, impressive photo for this
particular project.
So head along to our LinkedInfeed if you want to have a look
at that.
So that's it, folks.
That's all we've got time forthis week.
Lots of news coming out.
Now Don't forget to get to theInternational Mass Tumor
Conference in Portland, oregon.
We'll bring you another episode, uh, for week 11 next week, and

(06:25):
I hope you have a great weekbetween now and then.
This is paul kramer.
Don't forget to subscribe tolike, share, comment, repost and
submit your journal manuscriptto our academic arm.
Signing off for the mass timberconstruction podcast.
Good morning, good or goodevening.
Wherever you are in the worldtoday, see you next week.

(06:47):
Thank you.