Planting the seeds for industry innovation and growth
Washington has always been inspired by our forests. In an age where sustainability and stewardship are as crucial as yield, Washington continues to build on its legacy of innovation. At the beginning of the twentieth century, worker’s compensation programs began for loggers and sawmill workers. In the 1940s, Washington State created the world’s first tree farms. Today, Washington’s timber industry leads the world in sustainable forestry practices, with 87% of our state and private timberlands certified for complying with standards and rules set by the Sustainable Forestry Initiative Washington.
And the industry continues to discover new and innovative ways to diversify its portfolio of forest products in construction markets. The Washington State Department of Commerce exists to strengthen communities, and that includes investing in the diversification of the forest products industry.
What is Mass Timber?
This term represents a material, building system, and philosophy of construction that is climate-sustainable, durable, and as beautiful as it is efficient. Over the past 10 years, mass timber technology has been applied across market sectors, including multi-family housing, higher education, commercial office, civic and industrial buildings. While glue-laminated timber (glulam) and other engineered wood products have been around for nearly 100 years, a game-changing product is cross-laminated timber (CLT), offering a sustainable construction materials with low embodied carbon.
Mass timber is used as a replacement or in concert with concrete and steel construction. We recently blogged about Microsoft’s decision to use CLT for the floors and ceilings in their new data centers. As more industries begin using CLT in their construction practices, it will accelerate the rate of adoption for this method of construction and help Washington meet the climate crisis and the housing crisis head-on.
Washington Mass Timber Accelerator
To help meet this need, the Washington Mass Timber Acceleratorwas recently launched as the industry’s designated central hub for resources, funding and strategy in the state. The Washington Mass Timber Accelerator (MassTAc) advocates for state-produced manufactured mass timber, representing a cross-section of peoples and industry, from indigenous communities, government agencies, private industry, labor organizations, and forestry.
The Office of Economic Development and Competitiveness (OEDC) at the Washington State Department of Commerce is a key partner of MassTAc, along with the Seattle Office of Economic Development and many others. Together, we are connecting suppliers with contractors, architects, and others to help this industry be a catalyst for economic growth, community development, and environmental stewardship. The State of Washington is home to over 50 mass timber construction projects, a growing supply chain, and tremendous expertise in mass timber design, manufacturing, construction, and sustainable forest management. This reflects a tremendous expertise in mass timber design, manufacturing, construction, and sustainable forest management.
Mass timber matters for Washington. These materials will help reduce the carbon footprint of the built environment and help construct healthier and more resilient buildings. Mass timber products also lessen the impact of construction in neighborhoods throughout the state, create high-quality jobs in industrialized construction and support growth in rural communities, as well as forest ecosystems. Working as a central hub for mass timber activity in Washington, MassTAc will work to organize and amplify that bolsters Washington as a leader that helps align regional priorities in research, design, manufacturing, construction and forest management.
To learn more about the mass timber industry in our state, visit the Washington Mass Timber Accelerator website.