Business View Magazine | September 2020

32 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE SEPTEMBER 2020 SWINERTON MASS T IMBER Mass timber is a term used to describe a number of large engineered wood products that typically involve the lamination and compression of multiple layers to create solid panels of wood. Mass timber construction uses those panels to frame a building’s walls, floors, and roofs and is seen as a sustainable and more carbon-friendly alternative to steel and concrete. “In late 2016, early 2017, we started to do internal research on the mass timber market,” explains Chris Evans, Swinerton Mass Timber’s Director. At that time, Swinerton was building the country’s largest cross-laminated timber structure in Hillsboro, Oregon - the First Tech Federal Credit Union. “We determined that mass timber structures in commercial construction wasn’t going to be a niche, but that it would take a significant market share, moving forward, and be a viable structural system that developers, architects, and everybody involved in the construction process would appreciate and like. So, we started our own group focused on bringing mass timber projects to life in the commercial construction market across the U.S.” “Our group has roughly 25 administrative staff ranging from detailers and superintendents to project managers and structural engineers,” Evans continues. “We focus on optimizing design and facilitating efficient procurement to make these projects viable. We have projects in various stages of procurement and construction throughout the country.” Regarding the company’s clients, Evans says there are three main types: “The first is the private developer that’s looking at either residential or office development; the second type is a build-to-suit type of corporate client, who’s building out a campus or facility and is going to be the ultimate occupant of the building; the third is the public/civic type, i.e. projects in the public realm - municipalities, universities, etc. So, we see a good mix between all three of those types of owners.”