San Antonio Express-News (Sunday)
MASS TIMBER
Globally, the number of mass timber construction projects is expected to reach more than 24,000 by 2034, according to an international mass timber report. Texas’ first mass timber project, a six-story building on Broadway in San Antonio called The Soto, was completed in 2020. Now, there are at least 134 mass timber projects in progress or completed, including in Frisco, Sherman and Houston. Projects range from university buildings to retail and office space.
The global mass timber market was valued at $857 million in 2021 and is expected to exceed $1.5 billion by 2031. If Texas can capture part of the growing mass timber market, East Texas’ regional economy could experience rapid growth. Texas grows about 30% to 40% more timber than is harvested each year, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service. Already, the forest sector contributes more than $41 billion to the state’s economy and supports about 170,000 jobs in the state, according to 2021 data.
“The fear is that if we don’t find new markets for the wood, forest landowners will change the use of their land,” said Rob Hughes, executive director of the Texas Forestry Association.
And because wood stores carbon and is renewable, the material is inherently more environmentally sustainable than concrete or steel. A University of Washington study found that a crosslaminated timber building would reduce global warming potential by 26.5%, compared with a concrete building.
“In the face of new growth in Texas, if we are interested in achieving greater sustainability, we need to be looking to the forest for this new
construction.”
Aaron Stottlemyer, forest analytics department head at the Texas A&M
Forest Service
“In the face of new growth in Texas, if we are interested in achieving greater sustainability, we need to be looking to the forest for this new construction,” said Aaron Stottlemyer, forest analytics department head at the Texas A&M Forest Service.
Mass timber comes in different forms, and the most popular is cross-laminated timber, which consists of layers of dried boards that are glued together in alternating directions to form wooden panels. The product is more expensive than steel or concrete, but it offers other advantages, foresters said. The material is prefabricated in a factory and comes to the construction site ready to be installed. Less time and labor is needed to complete the construction, and because the product is lightweight, the cost and emissions associated with transport are reduced.
Hughes estimates that mass timber projects have about 30% lower construction costs than alternatives.
Unlike light-frame wood construction used to build homes, mass timber products are built to sustain more weight. The wood is glued or nailed together in layers that are stacked together for added strength, comparable to the durability of steel or concrete.
Timber also offers aesthetic benefits. Biophilic design, or construction that uses natural materials, has been shown to improve well-being.
“These are beautiful spaces, and people like to live, work and learn in spaces that use mass timber,” said Mark Bartlett, regional director of WoodWorks, a nonprofit that supports wood construction.
In 2021, the International Building Code, which determines many cities’ building regulations, increased the permissible height of wooden buildings to 18 stories, opening the door to wooden highrises. But foresters say they still face hurdles in widespread adoption of mass timber. Some architects are hesitant to try new building models, while others are unaware of the product’s benefits. Concerns about fire safety also have limited its adoption.
Bartlett emphasized that cross-laminated timber panels produce a char layer that resists fire damage and ensures the structural integrity of a building during a fire.
To help expand adoption of mass timber, U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., introduced bipartisan legislation that would establish a grant program to fund construction with wood products, including mass timber.
Texas officials said they are considering legislative efforts for the 2025 session.
Texas does not have a facility that manufactures crosslaminated timber yet, so developers have had to source the product from other states. East Texas foresters are eager to entice a manufacturing company to Texas.
“Texas is ripe for it,” said Chris deMilliano, operations manager at Steely Lumber, a family-owned sawmill in Huntsville. “Not only do we have a lot of timberland, but we have sawmills and one of the best growth markets.”