Mass Timber Market Updates - Apr 2025 - Week Fifteen

The sustainable construction revolution continues to gather
momentum, with mass timber leading the charge toward a greener
built environment. Fresh research from Edinburgh Napier
University confirms what many in the industry have long
championed – mass timber buildings produce 50% less carbon
emissions than conventional construction methods, easily
exceeding RIBA's 2025 targets for whole-life carbon
performance.

Texas architecture firm Corrigan has stepped up with a
game-changing sustainability calculator specifically designed for
mass timber projects. This innovative tool helps architects
accurately estimate biogenic carbon emissions, providing crucial
data for environmentally conscious design decisions. Meanwhile,
in Toronto, an ambitious new residential tower is set to
demonstrate the remarkable efficiency of prefabricated timber
construction. The 230 Royal York project will rise approximately
30 metres in a mere 90 days – a testament to how advanced timber
engineering is transforming construction timelines.

The creative potential of engineered timber continues to evolve
in spectacular ways. We revisit the stunning Shigeru Ban-designed
Swatch headquarters with its 4,600 unique glulam elements forming
a sinuous, organic structure that defies conventional
expectations of timber architecture. Equally impressive is the
floating groin vault ceiling created by University of Bath
researchers using just four large CLT panels – showcasing how
mass timber can achieve complex architectural forms previously
considered impossible with wood. Don't forget to check our
LinkedIn feed for images of these remarkable projects and stay
tuned for next week's announcement about the Build the Impossible
Rothoblast competition for 2025!


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