Design and Construction Report staff writer
Timberlab Inc. , a subsidiary of Swinerton Incorporated says it plans to construct and operate a cross-laminated timber (CLT) manufacturing facility in Oregon’s mid-Willamette region. This strategic initiative represents a significant milestone in the firm’s mission to accelerate the mainstream adoption of mass timber construction across the United States, providing a low-carbon and renewable material for the construction industry, the company says in a March 15 statement.
“Timberlab’s objective has been to remove pinch points in the mass timber industry so that timber structures are affordable and widely usable in the U.S. construction market,” said Timberlab President Chris Evans. “Over the last four years, we have added two CNC facilities in Portland, OR, and Greenville, SC, focused on expanding the supply chain for mass timber. The increase in mass timber demand, coupled with our successes over the last seven years, is driving us to continue to expand the supply chain by adding our new CLT manufacturing facility in Oregon.”
Supported by an investment from Swinerton, the 250,000-sq. ft. plant is expected to have annual output of 100,000 cubic meters of finished CLT products. It will integrate automated processes and is expected to create 100 manufacturing jobs at full capacity – becoming one of the largest in the U.S.
The mid-Willamette Valley is the heart of the Pacific Northwest Mass Timber Tech Hub designated by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) in 2023. Timberlab has ongoing collaboration with leading academic research programs at Oregon State University, the University of Oregon, and the Tall Wood Design Institute.
“As early adopters of mass timber construction, we swiftly recognized the importance of managing the entire supply chain to ensure timely delivery, exceptional quality, and competitive pricing for our clients. Our new CLT manufacturing facility and two existing fabrication facilities bring us significantly closer to our vision,” says Swinerton Chief Executive Officer David Callis. “These facilities and our turnkey in-house design, procurement, and detailing services have positioned Timberlab, Swinerton, and the industry to make significant strides toward a sustainable built environment. I am thrilled about what this move means for sustainable construction in the U.S.”
