Mass Timber Construction Podcast
Mass Timber Construction Podcast
Mass Timber Market Updates - Mar 2025 - Week Ten
The future of sustainable construction is unfolding right before our eyes as groundbreaking mass timber projects transform skylines across the globe. From university campuses to international airports, innovative architects and forward-thinking organizations are embracing wood as their material of choice.
Boston University leads the charge with an impressive 70,000 square foot timber building designed by celebrated architects Diller Scofidio + Renfro. This interdisciplinary hub will focus on sustainable futures while transforming a former parking lot into a vibrant campus center. Meanwhile, the Canadian government demonstrates serious commitment to green building with a $4.5 million investment supporting multiple timber construction projects throughout Ontario.
Global construction giant Skanska continues to cement its position at the forefront of sustainable building, securing three major contracts worth a combined $139 million. Their projects span continents and sectors – from a nine-story office in Sweden to a school in Norway and a healthcare facility in California. Equally impressive is BIG's design for the new Galafoo International Airport in Bataan, which showcases stunning glulam timber structures set against subtropical forests and mountain ranges. Not to be outdone, New Zealand contributes to the timber revolution with a new Christchurch office building featuring 114 eight-meter timber columns that prove wood isn't just sustainable – it's structurally superior, with almost double the strength-to-weight ratio of steel.
Want to be part of this exciting movement? The Mass Timber Conference in Portland, Oregon is approaching quickly. With over 200 exhibitors and numerous expert speakers (including past podcast guests), it's the premier event for anyone passionate about the future of sustainable construction. Subscribe to our podcast for weekly updates on the most significant developments in mass timber worldwide, and join us in building a more sustainable future – one timber structure at a time.
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 Ramblin, your host. Good morning, good afternoon or good evening wherever you are in the world today, welcome to the Mass Timber Construction Podcast. It is week number 10 in 2025. We are already significantly into the new year and Portland, oregon don't forget the Mass Timber Conference is coming up. Get your tickets, pack your bags, head along and see some amazing over 200 exhibitors and many, many guest speakers, including people who've been on this podcast. An amazing event if you want to learn more about Mass Timber. So get your tickets and get along. Don't forget to hit subscribe, like, comment, share, repost any of the content, and we thank you all for contributing to our wider sphere of media influence. We really do appreciate your support.
Speaker 1:Let's have a look at what's making news around the world this week in mass timber construction land and to Boston now, and specifically, boston University is about to become the home to a global leader of interdisciplinary collaboration. Designed by renowned architecture studio Della Scofidio and Renfro, the 70,000 square foot timber building will act as a central hub for research and strategy development, focusing on sustainable economic, social and environmental futures. Positioned on a former parking lot in the heart of the university campus, the school's new home will increase urban density and enhance open space. If you'd like to have a look at some impressive graphics renders of the project, please head to our linkedin feed and to. Canada and the new minister for energy and natural resources, along with the parliamentary secretary, announced a federal contribution of more than 4.5 million canadian dollars for a four green construction, green technology projects across Ontario which will be supported with low carbon and processed wood. In the Canadian construction sector, the funding goes to $900,000 to Assembly Corp, $1 million to Sean Mason Homes, $1 million to the Post Office Limited Partnership and $3 million to Trimmerman Timber, and there's a few more on the list, and you can go and have a look at the particular winners of this particular grant scheme to find out more details.
Speaker 1:Impressive work by the Canadian government, great to see them supporting initiatives to support mass timber, and our friends at Skanska have been announced as the winners of three contracts a 47 million dollar office in sweden, a 37 million dollar school school in norway and a clinic in california worth 55 million. In sweden, the company will build a nine-story structure with 16 000 square meters of leaseable space, and this this includes a gym, a conference room, lounge, restaurant, cafe, bicycle area, as well as the construction contract they have been. Scansi has already invested 99 million in the first phase of the largest office project that's underway in Northern Stockholm. In Norway, the company will build a 9,400 square meter school and sports hall, and the company has also signed a $55 million contract for a local not-for-profit for a 1,900 square meter ambulatory surgery center with 3,700 square meters of specialty clinic in California. Congratulations to the team at ScanScout. Certainly leading the way with mass timber, and all of these projects are contributing to a better built, sustainable environment. And some impressive renders for the new Galafoo International Airport in Bataan by BIG, who have been announced as the architectural firm, too, is providing this amazing innovation. These images are not to be missed. You will be able to see the country's airport in subtropical forests and mountain ranges, with 60 000 square feet of airport.
Speaker 1:A key to the master plan was to develop this particular building using amazing wood structures, using wood carvings and mainly glue laminated timber. Please head to our linkedin feed and have a look at these impressive renders for the project. It really is quite impressive, and across the ditch from me in Australia is Christchurch in New Zealand. The 100 large wooden columns for a new four-story central building in Christchurch, which is an office block, is set to open later in the year. The 114 eight-meter-long timber columns are being used in the construction of the building at 211 high street. Ignite architects said that glulam was almost double the strength to weight ratio steel and not only was sustainable but also allowed for the unique design opportunity for this particular building.
Speaker 1:And you can see these. There's one good, impressive photo for this particular building. And you can see there's one good, impressive photo for this particular project. So head along to our LinkedIn feed if you want to have a look at that. So that's it, folks. That's all we've got time for this week. Lots of news coming out. Now Don't forget to get to the International Mass Tumor Conference in Portland, oregon. We'll bring you another episode, uh, for week 11 next week, and I hope you have a great week between now and then. This is paul kramer. Don't forget to subscribe to like, share, comment, repost and submit your journal manuscript to our academic arm. Signing off for the mass timber construction podcast. Good morning, good or good evening. Wherever you are in the world today, see you next week. Thank you.