Mass Timber Market Updates - Mar 2025 - Week Eleven

The world of mass timber construction continues to expand in exciting directions as groundbreaking projects push the boundaries of sustainable building. Paul Kremer delivers the latest innovations and developments from this rapidly evolving industry that's transforming our built environment.

Portland International Airport's Phase 2 construction is making headlines with spectacular timber roof modules being installed in a feat of engineering precision. These impressive structures, captured in stunning videos shared by Skanska's Business Development Manager, showcase timber's capabilities in large-scale infrastructure projects. Meanwhile, in London, renowned architects War Thistleton have unveiled "Treehouse" – a Norwegian-inspired timber-framed office building that combines natural materials with biodiverse landscaping to meet evolving workplace needs.

Canada's commitment to sustainable construction is evident with multiple timber projects underway. From a 2,000 square foot National Car Rental facility in Trenton built entirely with mass timber to a $6 million federal investment in green construction initiatives across Ontario, including a pioneering 8-story all-wood residential building in Toronto. Perhaps most surprising is the US military's embrace of mass timber and 3D printing technology for future facilities, recognizing benefits in cost reduction, logistics efficiency, and even specialized applications for "unconventional countermeasures."

Join us next week for more updates from the world of mass timber construction. The International Mass Timber Conference is just days away – secure your tickets now to connect with industry leaders and discover the latest innovations. Don't forget to subscribe, share, and submit your manuscripts to our International Mass Timber Journal to become part of this growing global community transforming construction through sustainable timber solutions.

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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 Mark Kramer,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 Kramer, yourhost.
Thank you, bruce Buffer, theveteran voice of the Octagon,
for your four and a bit years ofservice.
In our fifth year of the podcast, don't forget to hit subscribe,
like, comment, share, repostany of our content and, of

(01:09):
course, if you have a manuscript, submit it to our International
Mass Timber Journal, because wewill look after you.
As long as it fits theguidelines and fits within the
scope of the works, you're goingto be okay with us.
Let's have a look at what'smaking news around the world
this week in mass timberconstruction land and big news
coming out of Portland, oregon.

(01:31):
And it's not the InternationalMass Timber Conference.
It is Phase 2 of the PortlandInternational Airport, with roof
modules flying in.
Thank you to Debbie Hutchins,who is the Business Development
Manager at Skanska, for postingthese amazing videos If you want
to go and have a look at theseroof modules.
Flying in on these supportedsystems, you can head to our

(01:54):
LinkedIn feed.
And War Thistleton, the amazingarchitects out of London, have
introduced us to Treehouse aNorwegian for house of wood, and
this building reflects thepioneering use of timber frame
compared to steel buildings, and, coupled with natural stone

(02:14):
facade, biodiverse landscapingand excellent transport links,
treehouse is designed to meetthe evolving workplace needs
while contributing positively toMaidenhead's streetscape.
If you want to have a look atthese incredible renders,
drawings of the particularproject, then you can head to
our LinkedIn feed or head toWarthysselton Architects.

(02:36):
We're heading to Trenton now.
In Canada, a vehicle rentalfranchise is building a new
office building.
It's going to be built withSustainable Construction Company
.
The National Car Rental isconstructing a 2,000 square foot
building to be locating two carbay washers offices, a

(02:59):
reception room, meeting spacesfor staff.
It has been constructed by Cin,a brookville company focused on
sustainable net zero building.
The project is completelyconstructed with mass timber
construction.
If you have a look at thebuilding wrap, it's actually
rothoblast wrap on the outside.

(03:20):
If you'd like to see someimpressive photos, please head
to you guessed it our linkedinfeed.
And staying in canada now andthe federal government has
announced six million dollarsfor four green construction
technology initiatives acrossontario.
The funding includes more thannine hundred thousand dollars
for assembly court to deliver aseismic system for the design of

(03:41):
62 unit all wood residentialresidential buildings in Toronto
.
The eight-story mixed-userental building will serve as a
model for future projects acrossseveral sites, advancing
construction in a sustainableway and ensuring environmental
impact for the industry is keptat a minimum.
If you'd like to see the images, please head to our LinkedIn

(04:02):
feed and just heading down southto the us and mass timber and
3d printing are part of thefuture for the military for
their building facilities.
Traditional construction methodsin the us military have long
relied on concrete and steel.
Now that is all set to change.
3d printing uses digitaldesigns to create building

(04:23):
components layer by layer, whilemass timber uses bonds of
layered timber to constructstrong, sustainable material.
According to the press release,this additive construction has
the potential to reduce costs,manpower, logistics and time,
while opening the door forimproved new applications such
as inc.
Unconventional countermeasures.

(04:44):
Actually, there has been a lotof work that's been done on
explosives and the use of masstimber, and so there's an added
feature to using mass timberthat the US Army and Navy, et
cetera, have obviously tappedinto.
Congratulations to the team inthe US military for taking a

(05:05):
bold step in using mass timberproducts for your buildings.
And that's it, folks.
That's all we've got time forthis week, a very short week in
mass timber construction land.
Don't forget to get yourtickets, get on the plane and
head to the International MassTimber Conference only in less
than 10 days now, it's probablywell, maybe 11 days and get

(05:27):
there so you can learn moreabout mass timber.
Don't forget to like, subscribe, share, comment or post on any
of our content and, of course,put your manuscript into our
International Mass TimberJournal.
We look forward to catching upwith you next week on the
podcast for some more news fromaround the world.

(05:49):
A good morning, good afternoonor good evening.
This is paul kramer signing offon the mass timber construction
podcast.
Thank you.