Unlocking the Potential of Mass Timber

Construction productivity in the United States has been stagnant for decades, falling well behind other sectors of the economy. Though multifamily construction productivity has been a lone bright spot in the construction industry, it hasn’t improved enough to lift the sector as a whole. 

The effects of this slowdown are tangible, as people struggle to find homes amid housing shortages and price increases. So, what is the solution? Part of the answer may lie in mass timber construction using panelized and modular construction methods. 

Benefits of mass timber construction

Mass timber construction involves using engineered wood products to build structures. It is a sustainable, renewable, cost-effective alternative to traditional building materials like steel and concrete. The most popular engineered wood products used in mass timber construction include cross-laminated timber (CLT) and glued laminated timber (glulam), which both layer wood to increase the strength of a larger element. 

These products have strength-to-weight ratios comparable to other building materials, making them ideal for constructing tall buildings. Mass timber construction is also more sustainable than traditional construction methods, as it requires less energy, produces fewer emissions, and functions as a carbon sequestration method. 

How mass timber can improve construction productivity rates

Where mass timber really shines is in its potential to improve construction productivity. 

Mass timber construction is a capital-intensive process, with much of the work being done on the front end, and everything, down to the last screw, is pre-planned. The lamination and millwork are then done at offsite factories and shipped to the final destination ready for assembly. This offsite prefabrication in controlled factory environments means that this construction method captures some of the “productivity magic” of assembly-line mass production.

Once at the worksite, mass timber components are assembled by workers like a large Lego set, with each piece secured in a predetermined location. Since there is no need to wait for concrete to cure, installing systems like plumbing, electrical, and climate control can begin almost immediately on finished floors. 

These factors substantially increase the speed at which a building is constructed, with studies finding mass timber is over 25% faster than traditional methods.

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