Mass Timber Market Updates - July 2024 - Week Thirty

Can sustainable construction revolutionize our world? On this week's Mass Timber Construction Podcast, we uncover the transformative projects making a global impact. From RAD+ar's Perisian Ocean Deck on a private Indonesian island, crafted entirely from reclaimed ironwood, to the rapid CLT housing initiative in Kitchener, Ontario, discover how innovative designs are setting new benchmarks in eco-friendly construction. These projects aren't just about building structures—they're about fostering marine conservation, providing affordable housing, and blending education with entertainment.

We'll also transport you to Ottawa, where an off-grid forest retreat boasts a breathtaking cantilever design that defies conventional engineering. Plus, enrich your timber knowledge with book recommendations like "Innovations in Mass Timber: Sequestering Carbon with Style in Non-Residential Buildings" by Boyce Thompson. Finally, hear from Mike Ross, Executive Chief of the Wood Processors and Manufacturers Association in New Zealand, as he discusses the growing momentum of mass timber in Kiwi construction. Don't miss this episode brimming with the latest trends and groundbreaking innovations in the mass timber sector!

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:59

Ladies and gentlemen, we are live. This is the moment you all have been waiting for. It's time for the global sensation, the one, the only, the undisputed heavyweight podcast in the world the Mass Timber Construction Podcast. And now here's Paul Kramer, your host. Good morning, good afternoon or good evening, wherever you are in the world today, welcome to the Mass Timber Construction Podcast. My name's Paul Kramer, your host, and thank you for joining us again on another exciting episode for the Mass Tim construction industry. Don't forget to hit subscribe. Please do like, share, comment on our posts on our social media feed and get involved in the mass timber sector. Don't forget that we are also the proud media partners for the international mass timber conference in Portland, oregon, in March next year, in 2025. So get your tickets, get your accommodation early so that you can get along to that amazing event. Let's have a look at what's making news around the world this week in mass timber construction land and while strictly not mass timber in the way that you would expect.

Speaker 1: 2:34

The perisian ocean deck, designed by rad plus ar, is an innovative project located on a private island in indonesia. The structure is an experiment project located on a private island in Indonesia. The structure is an experiment of constructing sustainable pieces of ocean using reclaimed ironwood, preserving the natural marine environment. The client aimed to expand their existing shark observation pool into a tourist-friendly area, despite the challenges of building on-site, generally unsuitable for traditional construction methods. However, the uh paracian, meaning whirlpool in bahasa in indonesia, uses locally sourced timber to create multi-level activity areas to minimize disturbance in the water, and the observatory deck is a offering a diverse view of activities such as diving, water sports, sunbathing and a prayer deck. The concept prioritizes both entertainment and education, while preserving the local environment. You can have a look at this amazing, fully produced out of timber, reclaimed timber whirl style shark tank education area and entertainment area in Indonesia by visiting our LinkedIn feed.

Speaker 1: 3:50

And a project in Kitchener and Ontario using sequential construction sequence of CLT is making a speedy erection of urgently needed housing in the area. A speedy erection of urgently needed housing in the area. Located on the formal warehouse site at 55 Franklin, this will consist of a four-story, 60-unit, side-by-side hybrid building. Half of the 240 units will be market rental rate and the other half below market rental rate. There's also a ground floor retail and commercial premises attached to the building. Building 1 was completed in the summer of 2023 and is now occupied, and the construction of the second building is nearing completion, while the erection of the third building will start in mid-August next month, by following the groundbreaking fourth structure around Christmas time. It's unusual to have four buildings on the same infill site. However, this particular product and the design and the prefabrication and modular construction approach allows for this to occur. If you want to have a look at this incredible little community of buildings, you can head to our linkedin feed and view it.

Speaker 1: 4:57

We don't normally give lakeside cabins a bit of airing on the podcast, but they feature heavily in the social media feed. I do not believe I've seen a larger counter lever structure with very simple support column systems working on a post and plate scenario than the ottawa-based forest retreat project, which is a new off the grid project and it is an impressive building. So if you'd like to go and see it, head to our LinkedIn feed. It is the Canadian practice blog cabin in a distinct area where you have this dramatic architecture of this incredible overhanging retreat.

Speaker 1: 5:40

And if podcasts are boring you and LinkedIn feeds are making you very much sleepy, you might want to engage in a good book, and there are several books that feature timber. Timber construction, sustainable timber construction and mass timber, and one of those is Innovations in Mass Timber Sequestering Carbon with Style in Non-Residential Buildings by Boyce Thompson. And if you'd like to see this, plus a number of other books, you can head to our LinkedIn feed and get yourself a couple of copies of some incredible books that are coming out focusing on timber, timber sustainability and mass timber construction. And the Executive Chief, mike Ross, of the Wood Processors and Manufacturers Association in New Zealand says that there's a significant upsurge in mass timber awareness and the application in the building and construction industry. Based on a recent brand, which is Building Research Association of New Zealand survey of construction industry experts, the WPMA chief executive says that the finding is encouraging as a signal that the increased adoption of engineered products in New Zealand by builders, designers and architects is a sustainable way forward for our built environment. If you'd like to learn more, you can head to the Wood Processors and Manufacturers Association website or head to our LinkedIn feed.

Speaker 1: 7:03

And so that's it, folks. That's all we've got time for this week in Mass Timber Construction Land. I hope that you have an impressive week moving forward. We'll catch up with you next week as we bring you more news from around the world. Don't forget to hit subscribe. Don't forget to get your tickets to Portland for next year. Make sure you book in for your hotel accommodation as soon as you can, because it will be gone by Christmas time. I can guarantee you flights are good if you book them ahead of time. And don't forget we are a media partner for 2025. So good morning, good afternoon or good evening. Wherever you are in the world today, see you later. From the mass timber construction podcast. My name is Paul Kramer signing off, so Thank you.