April 2026 Newsletter: Projects, News & Events

Dear Friends and Partners,

Earlier this month, the global mass timber community gathered in Portland, Oregon, to celebrate a decade of progress at the International Mass Timber Conference (IMTC). Over the past ten years, we’ve worked together to build the foundation of a modern mass timber industry—normalizing new methods, proving performance, and expanding partnerships. The decade ahead must be about scale: evolving into efficient, resilient industrial systems supported by strong, aligned public-sector leadership.

For me, IMTC has always felt like a kind of pilgrimage—a return to a place where early believers came together around the idea that building could be done differently. What began as hope has matured into a data-driven, globally recognized industry.

So where do we go from here? And how do we move from a solid foundation to the full potential we know mass timber can achieve? One theme echoed throughout the conference: regional coalitions are now essential to the industry’s next chapter. This isn’t just about the Tech Hub—though its role is critical. It’s about a broader recognition that coordinated regional action is now an engine of industry growth.

Consider the evidence—admittedly anecdotal, but powerful. More than 75 Tech Hub members carved time out of busy conference schedules to join our luncheon. Your turnout, energy, and optimism underscore the value of this collaborative approach. The momentum is real.

Across the country, similar coalitions are emerging. Shared commitment is driving shared opportunity. This has been described as the “coalition imperative”—the understanding that mass timber thrives when its inherently interconnected ecosystem moves in concert.

We saw this imperative on full display at IMTC:

• Michigan Mass Timber and the Great Lakes Mass Timber Collaborative articulating a bold regional vision.
• The Colorado Mass Timber Coalition expanding their market and strengthening organizational sustainability.
• The California Mass Timber Coalition navigating early hurdles and hosting a successful inaugural convening.
• A strong, diverse delegation from Alabama, including the Auburn Mass Timber Coalition.
• Continued strategic engagement from the New York City Economic Development Corporation in shaping their regional mass timber industry.
  

Each example reinforces the same truth: public and private partners working together can achieve what no single entity can accomplish alone. This collaborative spirit helped propel mass timber to where it is today—and will be even more important in shaping what comes next.

Just beneath the surface, beyond the plenary sessions and keynote stages, sits a growing network of people solving problems together. That quiet, persistent collaboration is what will define the industry’s next decade.

Thanks again for being a part of the PNW Mass Timber Tech Hub.

IMTC 2026: Key Takeaways

• Market maturity. The conversation has shifted from “why mass timber” to “how do we deliver at scale.” This transition was evident across sessions and conversations, signaling that the industry is entering a deployment phase, where success depends on aligning supply chains, capital, and delivery systems.
• ‍Design evolution + hybrid systems. Innovation is moving beyond flat panels, with designs like last year’s Campfire Coil and this year’s Curved Pavilion installation exploring curvature, modularity, and material efficiency. These advancements expand both design potential and application range. Timber is also increasingly being deployed alongside steel and concrete as a pragmatic pathway to near-term scale.
• ‍Capital alignment. Capital is interested, but still looking for clarity. Investor-focused programming like IMTC’s “Boardroom” sessions highlighted the need for standardized underwriting frameworks and performance data.
• ‍Supply + workforce are emerging bottlenecks. Industry dialogue is coalescing around supply chain coordination as the next critical challenge to address. Labor and training pipelines are quickly becoming limiting factors. Workforce development is now a parallel priority to manufacturing scale. (Reminder → These are key to our Grow and Train EDA project components!)

With funding provided by the US Economic Development Administration to Oregon State University, we are laying the foundation for our shared vision of a globally competitive industry in mass timber.

— The PNW Mass Timber Tech Hub Team

Marcus Kauffman, ODF, Tech Hub Regional Innovation Officer (RIO)

Iain Macdonald, OSU, Hub Director

*A reminder that the Tech Hub is open to organizations, agencies, educational institutions, and nonprofit partners across OR, WA, ID, and MT.  With a full value chain focus across forest management, harvest, and milling to design, manufacturing, and construction and including those providing products, services, innovation, or infrastructure, members share a commitment to collaborative efforts to expand sustainable wood use, strengthen the regional mass timber industry, and position it for global competitiveness.