Oregon’s Mid-Willamette Valley to Get Sustainable Construction Boost with New CLT Facility

Timberlab Inc., the leading national provider of holistic mass timber systems, has announced intentions to build and manage a cutting-edge cross-laminated timber (CLT) production facility in Oregon’s mid-Willamette region.

This strategic project is a key step forward in the firm’s objective to promote the widespread adoption of mass timber building in the United States, bringing a low-carbon and renewable material to the construction sector.

“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,” Chris Evans, President of Timberlab said.

“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.”

Swinerton’s investment supports plans for the 250,000-square-foot CLT production facility, which is positioned to meet the growing demand for sustainable construction alternatives nationwide.

With a projected yearly output of 100,000 cubic meters of completed CLT products, the plant will incorporate automated processes and is expected to provide 100 manufacturing jobs at full capacity, making it one of the largest operations in the United States.

This undertaking, as well as the job opportunities it creates, will help the region’s economy grow while also developing a competent workforce committed to promoting sustainable construction methods.

The mid-Willamette Valley is the core of the Pacific Northwest Mass Timber Tech Hub, as defined by the United States. The Economic Development Administration (EDA) of the Department of Commerce will be established in 2023.

Timberlab is currently collaborating with top academic research programs at Oregon State University, the University of Oregon, and the Tall Wood Design Institute.

Building this cutting-edge manufacturing facility among these resources would spur innovation and place Timberlab, Swinerton, and the State of Oregon as leaders in mass timber building.

Swinerton, initially through another company, Swinerton Builders, has been a pioneer in mass timber building since 2014, pushing industry boundaries with innovations in structural design, engineering, and material sourcing.

The firm’s commitment to sustainability and innovation resulted in the opening of its first mass timber fabrication plant in Portland, OR in 2020, followed by the formal debut of Timberlab in 2021.

As mass wood construction grew in the United States in 2023, Timberlab expanded its operations by building an East Coast mass timber fabrication facility in Greenville, South Carolina.

The move into manufacturing meshes perfectly with both companies’ strategic objectives and missions.

“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,” David Callis, Chief Executive Officer of Swinerton stated.

“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.”