January 30, 2023
Considering construction trends and client priorities in 2023, mass timber continues to lead the shift toward more efficient, innovative, and lower-carbon construction. Its performance, durability, and natural aesthetics have already earned the confidence of architects and builders across Europe, North America, and Asia—and demand is growing as more owners request sustainable, high-performing building systems.
What Is Mass Timber?
Mass timber (short for “massive timber”) refers to a family of engineered wood products made by joining layers of lumber typically with adhesives, dowels, or fasteners into large structural elements. One of the best-known examples is cross-laminated timber (CLT), produced by stacking boards in alternating directions (often at 90° angles) and bonding them into solid panels. These products can be used as floors, roofs, walls, shafts, columns, and beams, providing long spans and structural capacity with excellent dimensional stability.
On the Rise.
Over the past decade, mass timber demand has expanded rapidly. In 2015, global production was approximately 500,000 m³. By 2020, it reached about 2.8 million m³ reflecting strong year-over-year growth. If adoption continues, mass timber could represent a meaningful share of new urban construction by 2050, especially in mid-rise and institutional building types where speed, carbon reduction, and occupant experience matter most.
Why Is It So Popular?
Mass timber has moved from “emerging” to widely accepted because the market is actively seeking practical ways to reduce embodied carbon. As Kristen Mosier notes, wood stores carbon, helping keep it out of the atmosphere for the life of the building. For owners and designers, mass timber offers a compelling combination of:
- Lower embodied carbon compared to many conventional structural systems
- Speed of installation through prefabrication and precise tolerances
- Strength-to-weight efficiency and long-span capability
- Warm aesthetics that elevate interior experience
At Cornerstone Timberframes, we’re proud to work with mass timber systems and the design thinking that’s changing how we build. If you’re considering mass timber for your project, reach out by phone at (204) 377-5000 or email info@cstf.ca.
