The Rise of Mass Timber in a Volatile Market

Mass timber—especially cross-laminated timber (CLT)—has captured the imagination of designers across North America. From biophilia to jobsite safety to the promise of ultra-low embodied carbon, this relatively new structural material has made its way into the International Building Code (IBC) and the National Building Code of Canada (NBCC) as an acceptable system for taller and taller buildings. But how much is the market really growing? And can growth continue—sustainably—in a market where lumber prices have surged and are unlikely to come back down?

Demand: do people really want it?

“Market demand and market interest are two different things,” points out Chris Carbone, P.E., technical project specialist for the U.S. at Nordic Structures, a manufacturer of engineered wood products, including CLT. “People are interested in it but not demanding of it.”