Mass Timber Business Case Studies

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Mass Timber Business Case Studies

The mass timber business case studies prepared by WoodWorks – Wood Products Council and Conrad Investment Management address the financial performance of US developments constructed with mass timber. Created for the developer/investor audience, each case study discusses qualitative influences and provides quantitative data to examine investment success, challenges and lessons learned.

The goal of this WoodWorks initiative is to substantively communicate the business case of mass timber buildings across a series of building product sub-types. The first package, released on 12/09/2020, includes two speculative office developments.

WoodWorks is actively working to collect more data and provide additional business case studies, which will include multifamily and other building product sub-types. Check back in the future for updates.

These case studies would not have been possible without the support of the developers/owners who shared their data. We are grateful to these firms and individuals, who have supported this endeavor to promote a deeper understanding of mass timber’s value to investors, developers, the community, and occupants of mass timber buildings.

Download WoodWorks’ Mass Timber Business Case Studies (12/9/2020)

Cost and Value-Added Benefits

Cost estimating mass timber systems requires a holistic approach to compare costs and yield savings. A direct comparison of the price of a mass timber structural frame to the price of a steel/concrete frame will not provide an accurate overall project cost comparison. Mass timber has the potential to shave time off construction schedules and has other benefits that can impact the overall construction costs.

Mass timber is a custom prefabricated structural system and the costs can be optimized by close coordination between designers and builders. WoodWorks’ Mass Timber Cost and Design Optimization Checklists guides coordination between designers and builders as they estimate and make cost-related decisions on mass timber projects. The pre-design section of the checklists has tips for developers/owners related to assembling a design/builder team and contracts, as well as a list of potential benefits of building with mass timber. Mass timber has intangible value-added benefits, such as a differentiated aesthetic and environmental advantages, that can appeal to prospective tenants/ buyers, real estate investors and society at large.

Mass Timber Project Maps & Team Building

WoodWorks has two great resources to view mass timber projects in the US. The most comprehensive map of projects is our Building Trends: Mass Timber Map, which is updated quarterly and includes mass timber projects in design, under construction or built across the country.

For a deeper dive into select mass timber projects, visit the  WoodWorks Innovation Network (WIN). The WIN site includes details on the designers, builders and manufacturers involved in these projects, and offers developers/owners an easy way to connect with mass timber experts.

Other Resources for Developers/ Owners:

Wildfire Resiliency + Timber Innovations:

Sustainability:

Additional information on mass timber design topics and project examples can be found in our Case Studies, Wood Solution Papers, & Presentation Archives.