{"id":1004738509,"date":"2024-12-04T13:40:35","date_gmt":"2024-12-04T21:40:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/?p=1004738509"},"modified":"2025-03-03T13:44:31","modified_gmt":"2025-03-03T21:44:31","slug":"mass-timbers-growing-appeal-for-builders","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/mass-timbers-growing-appeal-for-builders\/","title":{"rendered":"Mass Timber\u2019s Growing Appeal for Builders"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Mass timber construction is on the rise. Once a specialty product found mostly in the multifamily sector, mass timber is now expanding its profile in the commercial sector. The overall numbers are small but increasing steadily. According to a September 2024 estimate by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.woodworks.org\/resources\/mapping-mass-timber\/\">WoodWorks<\/a>, the number of projects using mass timber has increased nearly 10 times to 2,253, including 306 in the office, industrial and retail sectors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-fl-body-text-color has-text-color has-background wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/mydigitalpublication.com\/publication\/?i=837050\" style=\"background-color:#1bb1ae\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>READ THE DIGEST<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>What explains this uptick? It\u2019s a combination of engineering advances, domestic sourcing, plus critical building code changes that allow projects to get increasingly spacious. Mass timber buildings are widely regarded as considerably more sustainable than their concrete and steel counterparts. Developers have taken notice, seeing mass timber as an attractive option for meeting the challenges of construction efficiency, sustainability and tenant appeal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow aligncenter is-style-square\" data-effect=\"slide\"><div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_container swiper-container\"><ul class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_swiper-wrapper swiper-wrapper\"><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"801\" alt=\"T3 RiNo, a 235,000-square-foot office building in Denver\u2019s River North neighborhood developed by a joint venture of Ivanho\u00e9 Cambridge, Hines and McCaffery. The property was brought to the market faster than many of its concrete and steel counterparts and uses significantly less carbon in its operations\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-1004738572\" data-id=\"1004738572\" src=\"https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/46\/2024\/11\/T3RiNO.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/46\/2024\/11\/T3RiNO.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/46\/2024\/11\/T3RiNO.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/46\/2024\/11\/T3RiNO.jpg?resize=768,513 768w, https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/46\/2024\/11\/T3RiNO.jpg?resize=1024,684 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">T3 RiNo, a 235,000-square-foot office building in Denver\u2019s River North neighborhood developed by a joint venture of Ivanho\u00e9 Cambridge, Hines and McCaffery. The property was brought to the market faster than many of its concrete and steel counterparts and uses significantly less carbon in its operations. Photo courtesy of Brad Nicol Photography, <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"600\" alt=\"T3 RiNo, a 235,000-square-foot office building in Denver\u2019s River North neighborhood developed by a joint venture of Ivanho\u00e9 Cambridge, Hines and McCaffery. The property was brought to the market faster than many of its concrete and steel counterparts and uses significantly less carbon in its operations.\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-1004738573\" data-id=\"1004738573\" src=\"https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/46\/2024\/11\/T3RiNo2.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/46\/2024\/11\/T3RiNo2.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/46\/2024\/11\/T3RiNo2.jpg?resize=300,150 300w, https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/46\/2024\/11\/T3RiNo2.jpg?resize=768,384 768w, https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/46\/2024\/11\/T3RiNo2.jpg?resize=1024,512 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">T3 RiNo, a 235,000-square-foot office building in Denver\u2019s River North neighborhood developed by a joint venture of Ivanho\u00e9 Cambridge, Hines and McCaffery. The property was brought to the market faster than many of its concrete and steel counterparts and uses significantly less carbon in its operations. Photo courtesy of Mabry Campbell.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><a class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-prev swiper-button-prev swiper-button-white\" role=\"button\"><\/a><a class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-next swiper-button-next swiper-button-white\" role=\"button\"><\/a><a aria-label=\"Pause Slideshow\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-pause\" role=\"button\"><\/a><div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_pagination swiper-pagination swiper-pagination-white\"><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Concerns about fire safety and structural stability have historically limited the scale of mass-timber projects, and most projects are still relatively low-rise. But a landmark change in the 2021 International Building Code, which is widely used as the model for state and local building authorities, allows the use of mass timber in structures up to 18 stories tall. Some buildings are now exceeding that height. Ascent, a 25-story Milwaukee residential tower, set the world record when it opened in 2022.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Today\u2019s designs also address concerns about fire safety. As the Wood Products Council <a href=\"https:\/\/www.woodworks.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/Wood_Solution_Paper-Fire-Design-of-Mass-Timber-Members-WoodWorks-Apr-2019.pdf\">notes<\/a>, large timber elements keep their load-carrying capacity longer than those with small cross sections. As a result, \u201ca char layer forms on the surface while the interior remains undamaged and structurally sound.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-streamlined-supply-chain\">Streamlined supply chain<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/46\/2024\/11\/Ascent-Completed-1_Courtesy-KAA-Design-Group-Nairn-Olker.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"1004738576\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/mass-timbers-growing-appeal-for-builders\/ascent-completed-1_courtesy-kaa-design-group-nairn-olker\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/46\/2024\/11\/Ascent-Completed-1_Courtesy-KAA-Design-Group-Nairn-Olker.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"900,1200\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;Nairn Olker&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;Canon EOS 5D Mark II&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1659370065&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;\\u00a92022, Nairn Olker : Alloy Photography&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;100&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Ascent Completed 1_Courtesy KAA Design Group Nairn Olker\" data-image-description=\"&lt;p&gt;Ascent, a 25-story mixed-use residential tower in Milwaukee, became the world\u2019s tallest mass timber building when it opened in 2022. the world\u2019s tallest mass timber building. &lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Ascent, a 25-story mixed-use residential tower in Milwaukee, became the world\u2019s tallest mass timber building when it opened in 2022. the world\u2019s tallest mass timber building. Changes to the 2021 International Building Code allow timber structures to rise to unprecedented heights. Photo courtesy of KAA Design Group&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/46\/2024\/11\/Ascent-Completed-1_Courtesy-KAA-Design-Group-Nairn-Olker.jpg?w=768\" height=\"1024\" width=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/46\/2024\/11\/Ascent-Completed-1_Courtesy-KAA-Design-Group-Nairn-Olker.jpg?w=768\" alt=\"Ascent, a 25-story mixed-use residential tower in Milwaukee, became the world\u2019s tallest mass timber building when it opened in 2022. the world\u2019s tallest mass timber building. \" class=\"wp-image-1004738576\" style=\"width:450px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/46\/2024\/11\/Ascent-Completed-1_Courtesy-KAA-Design-Group-Nairn-Olker.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/46\/2024\/11\/Ascent-Completed-1_Courtesy-KAA-Design-Group-Nairn-Olker.jpg?resize=225,300 225w, https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/46\/2024\/11\/Ascent-Completed-1_Courtesy-KAA-Design-Group-Nairn-Olker.jpg?resize=768,1024 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Ascent, a 25-story mixed-use residential tower in Milwaukee, became the world\u2019s tallest mass timber building when it opened in 2022. Changes to the 2021 International Building Code allow timber structures to rise to unprecedented heights. <em>Photo courtesy of KAA Design Group<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>One area to catch the eye of developers has been the construction process, which is significantly faster, less carbon-intensive and less disruptive for mass timber than conventional methods. Building with custom cross-laminated, dowel-laminated or glue-laminated panels is more akin to assembly from a kit than a large-scale construction site complete with concrete pouring and steel welding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Building with a smaller team may save time and money at a time when the U.S. construction industry is short <a href=\"https:\/\/www.abc.org\/News-Media\/News-Releases\/abc-2024-construction-workforce-shortage-tops-half-a-million\">more than 500,000 workers<\/a>. On average, mass timber projects go up 25 percent faster than concrete and steel buildings, leading to faster occupancies and less construction traffic. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That was a key takeaway from the development of 619 Ponce, part of Jamestown\u2019s Ponce City Market redevelopment in Atlanta. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/jamestown-delivers-atlanta-mass-timber-office-building\/\">Completed in early 2024<\/a>, the 120,000-square-foot office building rose at the same time as a neighboring 405-key hotel with a cast-in-place concrete frame.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe visual of the differences in what it takes to construct them was incredible,\u201d said Catherine Pfeiffenberger, managing director &amp; head of development and construction at Jamestown. On the site of the 21-story hotel, a dozen concrete trucks and a crew of 120 would gather. \u201cRight next door, there was one truck that would come in, loaded with CLT panels designed to go up in the way it was being installed,\u201d she recalled. \u201cIt would drop the panels, finish the floors and leave\u2014all with six people on-site.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The wooden frames allow for a much faster installation of finishes, which don\u2019t require caulking and paint. \u201cOnce you construct a floor you can get directly underneath it, and start putting in finishes<strong> <\/strong>and your fa\u00e7ade so that you can continue not just the structure but the rest of the building,\u201d said Jordan Komp, principal &amp; director at the Milwaukee office of Thornton Tomasetti. His team provided structural design, engineering and inspection services for Ascent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow aligncenter\" data-effect=\"slide\"><div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_container swiper-container\"><ul class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_swiper-wrapper swiper-wrapper\"><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" alt=\" One Bridgeland Green, the first mass timber office building to be built in the Houston area.\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-1004738579\" data-id=\"1004738579\" src=\"https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/46\/2024\/11\/BridgelandOffice_Exterior_Cam1_081122.jpg?w=1024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/46\/2024\/11\/BridgelandOffice_Exterior_Cam1_081122.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/46\/2024\/11\/BridgelandOffice_Exterior_Cam1_081122.jpg?resize=300,169 300w, https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/46\/2024\/11\/BridgelandOffice_Exterior_Cam1_081122.jpg?resize=768,432 768w, https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/46\/2024\/11\/BridgelandOffice_Exterior_Cam1_081122.jpg?resize=1024,576 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">Construction of One Bridgeland Green, the first mass timber office building to be built in the Houston area. Photos courtesy of Howard Hughes<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"720\" alt=\" One Bridgeland Green, the first mass timber office building to be built in the Houston area.\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-1004738581\" data-id=\"1004738581\" src=\"https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/46\/2024\/11\/BridgelandOffice_Interior_Lobby_cam2_062922.jpg?w=1024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/46\/2024\/11\/BridgelandOffice_Interior_Lobby_cam2_062922.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/46\/2024\/11\/BridgelandOffice_Interior_Lobby_cam2_062922.jpg?resize=300,180 300w, https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/46\/2024\/11\/BridgelandOffice_Interior_Lobby_cam2_062922.jpg?resize=768,461 768w, https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/46\/2024\/11\/BridgelandOffice_Interior_Lobby_cam2_062922.jpg?resize=1024,614 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">Construction of One Bridgeland Green, the first mass timber office building to be built in the Houston area. Photos courtesy of Howard Hughes<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><a class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-prev swiper-button-prev swiper-button-white\" role=\"button\"><\/a><a class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-next swiper-button-next swiper-button-white\" role=\"button\"><\/a><a aria-label=\"Pause Slideshow\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-pause\" role=\"button\"><\/a><div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_pagination swiper-pagination swiper-pagination-white\"><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Efficiency also characterizes fabrication of the building\u2019s components. \u201cThe connections are pre-engineered, pre-drilled and pre-designed so that when the material actually shows up on the site, there&#8217;s very little construction waste at all because all the pieces are coming together,\u201d said Anthony Markese, a principal at Pickard Chilton, which has designed more than 4 million square feet of mass timber projects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Among them is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/hines-mass-timber-office-building-tops-out-in-denver\/\">T3 RiNo<\/a>, a six-story, 220,000-square-foot building located in Denver\u2019s River North Art District. In 2025, Xcel Energy will relocate its regional headquarters to the property, which is being developed by a joint venture of Ivanho\u00e9 Cambridge, Hines and McCaffery. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Streamlined supply chains can also ease the path for mass timber development. Traditionally, mass timber projects outside of the Pacific Northwest were built using timber shipped from Canada or as far away as Central Europe. But that\u2019s changing. Jamestown sourced 619 Ponce\u2019s southern yellow pine from local forests owned and managed by the firm. The wood is milled in Albany and shaped into CLT panels in Alabama.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-start-to-finish-sustainability\">Start-to-finish sustainability<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The sustainable nature of mass timber construction is as big a factor in its selection as the time savings. It starts with harvesting, as it takes the average source forest 14 to 25 minutes to regenerate the wood used for a project, Komp noted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Local sourcing reduces energy consumption for transporting it to the site, and construction methods require less energy than concrete and steel buildings. That reduces the building\u2019s carbon footprint considerably compared to conventional construction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow aligncenter\" data-effect=\"slide\"><div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_container swiper-container\"><ul class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_swiper-wrapper swiper-wrapper\"><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" alt=\"Baltic Pointe, Utah\u2019s first mass timber commercial project, employs advanced engineering techniques that protect the five-story office building from fire and earthquake damage.\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-1004738625\" data-id=\"1004738625\" src=\"https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/46\/2024\/11\/Gardner_Office_Baltic-Pointe_P-5.jpg?w=1024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/46\/2024\/11\/Gardner_Office_Baltic-Pointe_P-5.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/46\/2024\/11\/Gardner_Office_Baltic-Pointe_P-5.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/46\/2024\/11\/Gardner_Office_Baltic-Pointe_P-5.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/46\/2024\/11\/Gardner_Office_Baltic-Pointe_P-5.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">Baltic Pointe, Utah\u2019s first mass timber commercial project, employs advanced engineering techniques that protect the five-story office building from fire and earthquake damage. Photo courtesy of Gardner<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"756\" alt=\"Baltic Pointe, Utah\u2019s first mass timber commercial project, employs advanced engineering techniques that protect the five-story office building from fire and earthquake damage.\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-1004738626\" data-id=\"1004738626\" src=\"https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/46\/2024\/11\/Gardner_Office_Baltic-Pointe_P-13.jpg?w=1024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/46\/2024\/11\/Gardner_Office_Baltic-Pointe_P-13.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/46\/2024\/11\/Gardner_Office_Baltic-Pointe_P-13.jpg?resize=300,189 300w, https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/46\/2024\/11\/Gardner_Office_Baltic-Pointe_P-13.jpg?resize=768,484 768w, https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/46\/2024\/11\/Gardner_Office_Baltic-Pointe_P-13.jpg?resize=1024,645 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">Baltic Pointe, Utah\u2019s first mass timber commercial project, employs advanced engineering techniques that protect the five-story office building from fire and earthquake damage. Photo courtesy of Gardner<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><a class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-prev swiper-button-prev swiper-button-white\" role=\"button\"><\/a><a class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-next swiper-button-next swiper-button-white\" role=\"button\"><\/a><a aria-label=\"Pause Slideshow\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-pause\" role=\"button\"><\/a><div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_pagination swiper-pagination swiper-pagination-white\"><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Sustainability goals justified the premium <a href=\"https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/power-tools-for-cre-energy-efficiency\/\">costs<\/a> of Baltic Pointe, Utah\u2019s first mass timber commercial building, according to Gardner, the project\u2019s developer. Located in Draper, Utah, a Salt Lake City suburb, the 136,000-square-foot office building opened in 2022.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWhen we began, we started assembling our pro formas in numbers, and it would cost us somewhere in the neighborhood of 5 to 10 percent more to do this,\u201d said David Denison, a senior development manager at Gardner. \u201cBut at the time, we felt that the additional costs were worth the sustainability initiative.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>During operation, mass timber buildings are more efficient to heat and cool by way of their natural insulation. They also offer reduced water consumption and can even actively sequester carbon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThey have a total carbon footprint up to one-third smaller than that of traditionally used steel and concrete structures and the ability to largely enhance energy efficiency, reducing heat flow rates by 400 times when compared to steel and 10 times when compared to concrete,\u201d said Michael Caracciolo, vice president of asset management at Ivanho\u00e9 Cambridge. Because timber continues to capture carbon as it ages, he added, the building has 38 percent less embodied carbon than a comparable concrete and steel structure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow aligncenter\" data-effect=\"slide\"><div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_container swiper-container\"><ul class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_swiper-wrapper swiper-wrapper\"><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" alt=\"Construction of 619 Ponce, a 100,000-square-foot office building in Atlanta. The wood for the project was sourced from forests in Georgia that are owned by Jamestown, and was manufactured into the cross laminated panels in Dothan, Ala. Photos courtesy of Jamestown.\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-1004738631\" data-id=\"1004738631\" src=\"https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/46\/2024\/11\/PCM_1.jpg?w=1024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/46\/2024\/11\/PCM_1.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/46\/2024\/11\/PCM_1.jpg?resize=300,169 300w, https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/46\/2024\/11\/PCM_1.jpg?resize=768,432 768w, https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/46\/2024\/11\/PCM_1.jpg?resize=1024,576 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">Construction of 619 Ponce, a 100,000-square-foot office building in Atlanta. The wood for the project was sourced from forests in Georgia that are owned by Jamestown, and was manufactured into the cross laminated panels in Dothan, Ala. Photos courtesy of Jamestown.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" alt=\"Construction of 619 Ponce, a 100,000-square-foot office building in Atlanta. The wood for the project was sourced from forests in Georgia that are owned by Jamestown, and was manufactured into the cross laminated panels in Dothan, Ala. Photos courtesy of Jamestown.\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-1004738632\" data-id=\"1004738632\" src=\"https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/46\/2024\/11\/PCM_2.jpg?w=1024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/46\/2024\/11\/PCM_2.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/46\/2024\/11\/PCM_2.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/46\/2024\/11\/PCM_2.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/46\/2024\/11\/PCM_2.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">Construction of 619 Ponce, a 100,000-square-foot office building in Atlanta. The wood for the project was sourced from forests in Georgia that are owned by Jamestown, and was manufactured into the cross laminated panels in Dothan, Ala. Photos courtesy of Jamestown.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"960\" height=\"1200\" alt=\"Construction of 619 Ponce, a 100,000-square-foot office building in Atlanta. The wood for the project was sourced from forests in Georgia that are owned by Jamestown, and was manufactured into the cross-laminated panels in Dothan, Ala. Photos courtesy of Jamestown.\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-1004738633\" data-id=\"1004738633\" src=\"https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/46\/2024\/11\/PCM_3.jpg?w=819\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/46\/2024\/11\/PCM_3.jpg 960w, https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/46\/2024\/11\/PCM_3.jpg?resize=240,300 240w, https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/46\/2024\/11\/PCM_3.jpg?resize=768,960 768w, https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/46\/2024\/11\/PCM_3.jpg?resize=819,1024 819w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">Construction of 619 Ponce, a 100,000-square-foot office building in Atlanta. The wood for the project was sourced from forests in Georgia that are owned by Jamestown, and was manufactured into the cross laminated panels in Dothan, Ala. Photos courtesy of Jamestown.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><a class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-prev swiper-button-prev swiper-button-white\" role=\"button\"><\/a><a class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-next swiper-button-next swiper-button-white\" role=\"button\"><\/a><a aria-label=\"Pause Slideshow\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-pause\" role=\"button\"><\/a><div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_pagination swiper-pagination swiper-pagination-white\"><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Ascent, the 25-story Milwaukee tower, could absorb an estimated 70 to 100 metric tons of carbon over its lifetime. As Komp noted, \u201cThat\u2019s the benefit of taking 2,400 cars off the road for a year, or powering 11,000 homes for a year.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Since timber is typically about five times lighter than concrete or steel, it also allows for faster upgrades. \u201cIf you\u2019re renovating and expanding, you are not turning down the carbon that has already been expended,\u201d Pfeiffenberger said. And at the end of a building\u2019s life cycle, timber is less likely to end up in a landfill than concrete.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The sustainable aspect of mass timber is an intangible element that can help win over tenants in a challenging office market, its proponents say. \u201cNot only is the product differentiated and meets our sustainability commitments but there is an operational benefit that they can see in their business and bottom line,\u201d said Travis Guinn, vice president of development and construction at Howard Hughes, the developer of One Bridgeland Green. Timber\u2019s aesthetic quality and power to evoke nature adds to that intangible tenant appeal. As Caracciolo noted, \u201cBy fostering a more natural and calming environment, it has been shown to reduce stress and lower heart rate and blood pressure, which plays a large role in elevating the overall quality of life in the workplace.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em><a href=\"https:\/\/mydigitalpublication.com\/publication\/?i=837050\">Read the December 2024 issue of CP<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/mydigitalpublication.com\/publication\/?i=837050\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">E.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Though still small in number, projects using this innovative technique offer a sustainable and efficient solution.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3012,"featured_media":1004738570,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21782,1521,21786,21787,51037],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1004738509","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-development","category-digital","category-sustainability","category-technology","category-trends"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v23.4 (Yoast SEO v24.6) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Mass Timber\u2019s Growing Appeal for Builders - Commercial Property Executive<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/mass-timbers-growing-appeal-for-builders\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Mass Timber\u2019s Growing Appeal for Builders\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Though still small in number, projects using this innovative technique offer a sustainable and efficient solution.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/mass-timbers-growing-appeal-for-builders\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Commercial Property Executive\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/CPExecutive\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2024-12-04T21:40:35+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-03-03T21:44:31+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/46\/2024\/11\/featured.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"800\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"620\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Gabriel Frank\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@cpexecutive\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@cpexecutive\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/mass-timbers-growing-appeal-for-builders\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/mass-timbers-growing-appeal-for-builders\/\",\"name\":\"Mass Timber\u2019s Growing Appeal for Builders - Commercial Property Executive\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/mass-timbers-growing-appeal-for-builders\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/mass-timbers-growing-appeal-for-builders\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/46\/2024\/11\/featured.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2024-12-04T21:40:35+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-03-03T21:44:31+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/#\/schema\/person\/cf1bfd2d6753f6ea305911ffd020862c\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/mass-timbers-growing-appeal-for-builders\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/mass-timbers-growing-appeal-for-builders\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/mass-timbers-growing-appeal-for-builders\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/46\/2024\/11\/featured.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/46\/2024\/11\/featured.jpg\",\"width\":800,\"height\":620,\"caption\":\"Featured. 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He has a background in journalism, and is the editor of MHN's Daily and Weekly newsletters. He lives in New York City.\",\"birthDate\":\"2000-05-11\",\"gender\":\"Male\",\"jobTitle\":\"Editor\",\"worksFor\":\"Yardi Systems\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/author\/gabriel-frank\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Mass Timber\u2019s Growing Appeal for Builders - Commercial Property Executive","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/mass-timbers-growing-appeal-for-builders\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Mass Timber\u2019s Growing Appeal for Builders","og_description":"Though still small in number, projects using this innovative technique offer a sustainable and efficient solution.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/mass-timbers-growing-appeal-for-builders\/","og_site_name":"Commercial Property Executive","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/CPExecutive","article_published_time":"2024-12-04T21:40:35+00:00","article_modified_time":"2025-03-03T21:44:31+00:00","og_image":[{"width":800,"height":620,"url":"https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/46\/2024\/11\/featured.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Gabriel Frank","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@cpexecutive","twitter_site":"@cpexecutive","schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/mass-timbers-growing-appeal-for-builders\/","url":"https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/mass-timbers-growing-appeal-for-builders\/","name":"Mass Timber\u2019s Growing Appeal for Builders - Commercial Property Executive","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/mass-timbers-growing-appeal-for-builders\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/mass-timbers-growing-appeal-for-builders\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/46\/2024\/11\/featured.jpg","datePublished":"2024-12-04T21:40:35+00:00","dateModified":"2025-03-03T21:44:31+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/#\/schema\/person\/cf1bfd2d6753f6ea305911ffd020862c"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/mass-timbers-growing-appeal-for-builders\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/mass-timbers-growing-appeal-for-builders\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/mass-timbers-growing-appeal-for-builders\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/46\/2024\/11\/featured.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/46\/2024\/11\/featured.jpg","width":800,"height":620,"caption":"Featured. 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