Just over two weeks before the opening of the Portland International Airport expansion—one of the world’s largest mass timber projects—the US government is doubling down on its investment in mass timber, one of the Biden-Harris administration priority fixes for the housing crisis.
Yesterday, Department of Commerce Deputy Assistant Secretary Cristina Killingsworth toured the Pacific Northwest Mass Timber Tech Hub, one of 31 “Tech Hubs” funded by the US $10 billion bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act.
The Biden-Harris Administration, through the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA), designated the Pacific Northwest Mass Timber Tech Hub, led by Oregon State University, as a Regional Technology and Innovation Hub (Tech Hub) in October 2023.
US Economic Development Administration, a bureau of the US Department of Commerce, July 26, 2024.
The Pacific Northwest Mass Timber Tech Hub aims to be a global leader in mass timber design, manufacturing, and construction to lower the industry’s carbon footprint and increase housing affordability. According to the Department, the Pacific Northwest Mass Timber Tech Hub is part of America’s push to become a global timber leader, advancing US national security and international competitiveness over the next decade.
“The 31 Tech Hubs Designees exemplify place-based economic development strategies at their best: combining federal resources with regional assets, expertise, and coalitions to implement transformational opportunities,” said Deputy Assistant Secretary Cristina Killingsworth.
“I am thrilled to visit Oregon to see firsthand how this Hub is not only bolstering America’s competitiveness but will ultimately ensure the industries and jobs of the future start, grow, and remain in the Oregon and Washington region.”
How the Mass Timber Hub is Driving Adoption Across America
Administered by Oregan State University, the Mass Timber Hub builds on the region’s wood products research and development expertise and “its abundance of experienced architectural, engineering, and construction firms.”
“Ten years ago, mass timber construction was essentially just a concept in the US, but with its collaborators and partners, the TallWood Design Institute has led the way in turning concept into reality through interdisciplinary research, education and outreach,” according to Tom DeLuca, Cheryl Ramberg-Ford and Allyn C. Ford dean of the Oregon State College of Forestry, who spoke ahead of the announcement last year.
“The Mass Timber Tech Hub will build on this, advancing the College of Forestry’s goals of equitably promoting sustainability and innovation to drive economic growth and policy change while also meeting the natural resource demands of a growing population.”
According to Iain Macdonald, the director of the TallWood Design Institute, “This Tech Hub designation recognises, validates, and builds on the collaborative work that Oregon State University has done over the last three years with theOregon’sity of Oregon and our other Mass Timber Coalition partners.”
US Congress is debating the Mass Timber Buildings Act.
In April, Wood Central revealed that thousands of ‘public buildings’ across the US, including schools, colleges, office buildings and military installations, could be built from ‘innovative wood products’ after a new bill, which would see the establishment of the Mass Timber Federal Buildings Act, was read before Congress.
In announcing the Bill, Senator Merkley said, “Mass timber from here in Oregon is already a key piece of the puzzle to solving our nation’s affordable housing crisis and tackling climate chaos.” Before adding, the Act “will ensure we build federal projects using mass timber products, helping the nation’s biggest challenges while creating good-paying jobs in Oregon and across the United States.”
Senator Risch added, “Idaho’s forest products industry supports rural economies, reduces wildfire risk, and produces high-quality building materials.” The new Act “opens opportunities for Idaho’s timber industry and ensures our government offices are built with the best of the best.”
Should it pass, the Act will mandate a preference in federal building contracts for mass timber products. According to a joint statement from the two senators, “This will give mass timber companies the ability to compete for federal construction, renovation, or acquisition of public buildings and military construction.”
- To learn more about the Bill, visit Wood Central’s special feature.
