Swinerton and its mass timber subsidiary, Timberlab, have topped out Independence Hall, a 192,000‑square‑foot facility in Millersburg, Oregon that stretches the length of three football fields and, once completed, will stand among the largest and most innovative mass timber structures in North America.
Located just 20 miles south of the state capital, the project marks a significant step forward in expanding U.S. supply capacity for cross‑laminated timber and accelerating its adoption as a sustainable building component.
On track to open in 2027, the plant is being built in partnership with Lindgren Development and Lever Architecture and will eventually produce between 7 million and 9 million square feet of CLT every year, with panels ranging from 2 inches to 12 inches thick. “When the facility is at full capacity, Swinerton anticipates it will add about 100 jobs with an average total compensation of $80,000,” said Danielle Ridgeway, Lindgren Development’s communication manager.
Breaking ground in February, the project has relied on a tightly choreographed installation process using glue‑laminated timber. In less than five months, crews installed 192,000 square feet of GLT roof panels, 240 GLT columns rising to 45 feet, 260 GLT beams stretching up to 110 feet, and 72,400 square feet of structurally insulated wall panels. To accelerate delivery, the team created a digital twin of the structure, mapping every step of the process before work began. The model verified equipment layouts and machining specifications and coordinated oversized beam installation in Autodesk Construction Cloud, ensuring speed and accuracy without compromising quality.
Timberlab president Chris Evans said the Millersburg facility marks a turning point for the company and for Oregon’s timber industry. “This takes us one step back in the manufacturing process to be the producer of the CLT,” Evans explained. “Usually, we’re buying from other producers. We’re now able to bring that to the state of Oregon and produce local products.” He added, “Every mass timber project tells a story, and the story of this facility is no different. The products created here are going to ensure that Oregon is a leader in mass timber products throughout the country and are going to have a positive downstream ripple effect.”
In March, Wood Central reported that the site was strategically chosen for its proximity to Interstate 5 and nearby rail routes, giving Timberlab a direct line into California, which has more mass timber projects in the design pipeline than any other state. “There are no other CLT producers on the I‑5 corridor that can access that market effectively and efficiently,” Evans said. The facility is expected to press its first panels by Labor Day 2026, with full operations beginning in January 2027.
The new plant will also work in tandem with a sawmill in Philomath that Timberlab recently purchased, giving the company vertical integration and the ability to source timber material locally. Architectural renderings by Lever Architecture show a low‑slung, boxy exterior with a warm, airy interior dominated by CLT panels. Evans praised Lever principal Thomas Robinson as “a pioneer in the industry” who has been adept at tailoring design to manufacturing processes.
Independence Hall is situated within the Pacific Northwest’s federally designated Mass Timber Technology Hub and will catalyse innovation through partnerships with Oregon State University, the University of Oregon, and the Tall Wood Design Institute. Senator Jeff Merkley welcomed the milestone, saying, “Oregon’s timber industry has long been a cornerstone of our state’s identity. This facility represents an exciting new chapter in that industry—one where sustainability and economic strength work together. Timberlab is helping to build a cleaner future by accelerating the shift toward sustainable building practices, a testament to the innovation and craftsmanship that define Oregon’s timber communities.”
- To learn more about Timberlab – one of North America’s largest mass timber manufacturers – click here for Wood Central’s exclusive interview with Jared Revay, Director of Manufacturing, last year. To learn why mass timber construction is expected to grow 25-40 fold over the next 50 years, click here for Wood Central’s coverage of current research from the University of Georgia.
