address the housing shortage. Timberlab believes that improving the speed and quality of construction through prefabrication is the key to alleviating some of the pressure. “We think there’s a great opportunity, especially in the Southeast, with cross-laminated timber (CLT) and prefabricated stick frame walls. It will accelerate construction timelines and help developers save on financing costs by shortening the construction period,” Evans says. One such project in Charlotte is already demonstrating the potential of this approach.“We’re in the process of starting our third CLT-on-stickframe-wall project in Charlotte,” Evans shares.These projects are not only helping developers deliver faster but also producing higher-quality results due to the controlled conditions of offsite production. What we’ve found is quicker turnover to the client, better quality control, and an overall faster speed of production,” he adds. Mass timber is also critical in this equation, particularly for multi-story residential projects. Timberlab is seeing significant advantages in urban infill developments, where maximizing density is vital. Evans points to a recent project in Seattle where Timberlab’s use of CLT allowed the developer to squeeze more units into a small lot. “They were able to get 14% more units because of the thinner floor systems with CLT versus conventional framing,” Evans says. TACKLING COMPLEX PROJECTS WITH SOCIAL IMPACT As Timberlab continues to scale, it finds itself in the enviable yet challenging position of balancing rapid growth with its mission to take on projects that align with its values. With fabrication facilities strategically placed on both coasts, in Oregon and South Carolina, and projects dotting the map nationwide, the company remains focused on choosing projects that offer more than just a technical challenge—they must 180 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 11, ISSUE 10 TIMBERLAB
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