The Rise of Timber: How Wood is Rebuilding the Future of Our Cities
On a rainy afternoon in Portland, Oregon, students at a local elementary school walk through a warm, honey-colored hallway filled with the scent of fresh wood. Their school is built almost entirely from cross-laminated timber (CLT)—a material that’s stronger than steel pound for pound and stores carbon rather than emitting it. As parents tour the space, they marvel not just at its aesthetics, but its climate-positive impact. For these families, the future is rooted in trees.
Why Timber Is Making a Comeback
Timber, particularly engineered wood products like CLT and glue-laminated beams, is reemerging as a leading sustainable construction material. Unlike concrete and steel, which are responsible for a significant portion of global carbon emissions, timber can actually sequester carbon, locking it away in building structures for decades.
Modern mass timber is:
Fire-resistant due to its density and charring behavior
Lightweight, reducing foundation requirements
Prefabricated, allowing faster, quieter construction
Renewable, when sourced from responsibly managed forests
These benefits make it ideal for high-performance buildings, from schools and offices to multi-story residential towers.
Case Study: Mjøstårnet, Norway
The Mjøstårnet building in Brumunddal, Norway, stands at over 280 feet, making it the tallest timber building in the world. Completed in 2019, the mixed-use structure combines offices, a hotel, and apartments—all framed in timber.
The project not only proved that timber can be used in tall buildings, but also that it can meet strict structural and fire safety standards. It generated less construction waste, shortened the build schedule, and showcased how wood can bring warmth and wellness into large-scale developments. Visitors frequently remark on the natural ambiance and air quality inside.
Mjøstårnet is a powerful example of how timber construction can challenge conventions while delivering real sustainability gains.
The Blueprint for Tomorrow
As cities grapple with carbon reduction targets, timber offers a path forward. Studies show that if even a portion of new buildings were constructed with timber, global carbon emissions could drop significantly. When paired with passive design and renewable energy systems, timber structures can achieve net-zero or even net-negative performance.
Mass timber also supports local economies and forestry practices. By creating a market for sustainably harvested wood, communities can maintain working forests, reduce wildfire risk, and preserve biodiversity.
The future could include timber skyscrapers, affordable housing built offsite from prefabricated panels, and biophilic urban neighborhoods rooted in regenerative materials.
Call to Action: Build with Wood, Think with Forests
Want to be part of the timber revolution?
Learn about mass timber projects in your region
Advocate for code updates that enable tall timber construction
Support organizations like the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)
Timber isn’t just a material—it’s a movement. And it’s reshaping how we design, build, and live.