With $41.4 million in funding from the federal “Build Back Better Regional Challenge” coming to the Oregon Mass Timber Coalition, a group of university researchers and state agencies in Oregon are seeing the potential of mass timber to help bridge the urban-rural divide.
News in offsite construction
Researchers Develop Transparent Coating for Fire-Proofing Wood
Currently, the timbers must be coated with a paint-like, fire-retardant coating. That is changing thanks to the new coating developed by NTU, which allow the timbers to remain exposed, while still providing a flame barrier when ‘activated’ by fire.
Sterling Structural’s TerraLam® Receives PRG 320-2019 Certification
Sterling Structural announced today that its CLT line, which is sold under the TerraLam® trade name, has been certified to the PRG 320-2019 (PRG 320) performance standard by the International Code Council – Evaluation Service (ICC-ES).
Australia’s Major City Skylines Could Soon Feature 50-Story Mass Timber Skyscrapers
In an effort to decarbonize and revitalize urban construction, Australia’s skylines may soon feature timber skyscrapers up to 50-stories tall. The proposed timber skyscraper buildings are made possible by using a hybrid construction and engineered mass timber around a concrete core.
Chicago Could Have Its First Mass Timber Tower if City Council Approves
Chicago’s first mass timber building, a nine-story apartment tower, is being proposed by developer Sterling Bay. If approved, the $50 million development could lead to widespread use of the building technique, which has become popular in many other North American cities.
Tallest International Hotel to Be Built From Cross Laminated Timber and Green Steel in Adelaide, South Australia
The Adelaide building will be constructed using cross laminated timber (CLT) and green steel. When complete the building will be the tallest international hotel in the world. It will reach a height of 31 stories, 100 meters, or just shy of 330 feet in height.
BC Government Funding Helps Company Convert Damaged Trees Into Engineered Wood Products
The BC provincial government has made funds available to Deadwood Innovations, a joint venture with the Nak’azdli Whut’en First Nation. Deadwood Innovations has received $200,000 (CAD) to support the creation of jobs and accelerate Indigenous participation in the forest sector.
Canadian Government Funding Hybridized Mass Timber Materials Development Study
The Government of Canada, through the Green Construction Through Wood Program, is funding a study of hybridized mass timber materials to be developed for achieving reduction in carbon emissions and expansion in design possibilities. Construction firms EllisDon and DIALOG have been the recipients of more than $550,000 (CAD) of the funding.
GP Lumber Business Collaborating With Mass Timber Industry Leader on New Ponce City Market Loft
Georgia Pacific’s lumber business is collaborating with a leader in the mass timber industry on a new four-story loft office building in Atlanta’s famous Ponce City Market. It will be the first application of southern yellow pine lumber in mass timber construction.
Icon Architects Reveals Its Design for North America’s Tallest Mass-Timber Building
On Friday, Canadian studio Icon Architects released its design for a 31-story tower in Toronto, that if completed would be the tallest mass-timber structure in North America. According to Icon Architects, the building is planned as a residential tower and will use cross-laminated timber (CLT) as the material for the tower’s floors and for some of its walls.