Mass timber construction continues its remarkable global ascent as sustainable building practices gain momentum across continents. This week's roundup captures the pulse of an industry transforming our built environment through innovation and environmental consciousness.

The United Nations Human Settlements Program has taken a significant step forward by advocating for green building codes that prioritize biobased materials—particularly mass timber—alongside circular construction principles and nature-based design elements. This global endorsement amplifies what practitioners have long understood: timber construction represents one of our most powerful tools against climate change.

Australia celebrates a milestone with the ACT government's unveiling of the new Canberra Institute of Technology wooden campus. Designed by Grey Poxon, this stunning facility seamlessly integrates education with community life through thoughtful design that eliminates traditional barriers between learning and civic participation. Meanwhile, Canada's housing shortage is driving unprecedented interest in mid-rise mass timber buildings (7-12 stories), perfectly positioned to address urban density needs while meeting sustainability goals.

We spotlight several breathtaking projects that showcase timber's versatility: McCallum Sather's Passive House certified affordable building in Hamilton; Vancouver's PNE Amphitheater with its innovative acoustic-controlling wooden roof design; and Western Arch Rib's record-breaking storage facility featuring a 160-foot curved glulam beam spanning an astonishing 233 feet. Each project demonstrates how mass timber continues to push boundaries of what's possible in modern construction.

Don't miss the Build the Impossible competition from Rathoblast and start planning now for the landmark 10th International Mass Timber Conference coming to Portland in 2026. Have research to share? We welcome manuscript submissions to help advance industry knowledge. Subscribe, like, and join our growing community of timber enthusiasts shaping a more sustainable built environment.

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The latest Mass Timber Construction Podcast delivers breaking news from around the globe, celebrating groundbreaking achievements in sustainable wooden architecture. Host Paul Kramer highlights several milestone projects reshaping our built environment through innovative timber solutions.

Utah's Baltic Point has just made history, becoming the state's first mass timber building to reach 100% occupancy. Located in the heart of Silicon Slopes tech hub, this sustainable structure has attracted venture capital firms, consumer retail companies, and defense manufacturers, proving the market's growing appetite for eco-conscious workspaces. Meanwhile, the newly completed Kilowana International Airport terminal showcases British Columbia's leadership in timber design and construction, demonstrating how large-scale infrastructure can embrace sustainability without compromise.

Scientific validation continues to power the mass timber revolution, with Nature Communications publishing comprehensive research confirming what industry leaders have long advocated: widespread adoption of engineered timber products positively impacts carbon storage while potentially expanding forests. This research aligns with projects like the Ruby Falls headquarters and Skanska's AI Research Building at New York's Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory—both exemplifying how timber construction meets rigorous performance standards while delivering environmental benefits. The podcast also highlights the Rothoblast Build the Impossible competition, challenging designers to explore hybrid steel-timber combinations that represent the future of construction: using "the right material in the right place for the right purpose, at the right time, in the right amounts."

Ready to join the sustainable building revolution? Check out the Build the Impossible contest and follow the podcast's LinkedIn feed for striking images of completed projects mentioned in this episode. Subscribe to stay informed about global developments in mass timber construction and be part of the movement transforming our built environment one wooden building at a time.

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Exciting developments are taking shape across the global mass timber landscape, with remarkable projects making headlines from Toronto to Oakland, Massachusetts to Colorado. The University of Toronto's academic tower has reached an impressive milestone—ten floors complete with five more to go—showcasing the structural ingenuity of timber construction with its striking bracing elements and advancing façade work.

The affordable housing sector continues embracing mass timber, with OWAL requesting approval for an 11-story development in downtown Oakland that would bring nearly 300 affordable units to the heart of the city. This project builds on OWAL's successful completion of a 19-story mass timber tower nearby, demonstrating how engineered wood can address critical housing needs while enhancing urban sustainability. Meanwhile, Toronto's innovative residential project at Halsap on Royal York blends a reinforced concrete core with mass timber structural elements in a 9-story building that started construction in March 2025.

Perhaps most fascinating are the emerging applications for mass timber. The newly opened Doris Duke Theater at Jacob Pillow represents an architectural phoenix, rising from the ashes of the original venue destroyed by fire in 2020. This 400-seat performance space combines the warmth of timber with cutting-edge technical capabilities. Similarly groundbreaking, recent research reveals engineered wood demonstrates superior microbial resistance compared to plastic—even after getting wet—potentially revolutionising hospital design approaches. Add to this CU Boulder's groundbreaking on a mass timber Chemistry and Applied Mathematics facility designed to be one of the university's most energy-efficient buildings, and it's clear that mass timber continues pushing boundaries across sectors and applications.

Subscribe, share, and join us each week for more inspiring developments from around the world of mass timber construction. Have an academic manuscript? We welcome submissions for review and possible publication in our journal!

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