September Newsletter: Projects, News & Events

Consultant Project Updates

Mass Timber Market Assessment

Leads: Kristin Slavin (Conifer Advising), Roy Anderson (Beck Consulting), Nicholas Sills (Whirlwind Consultants), and Erica Spiritos, LLC

Look for the full report this month! We’ll be sharing highlights, takeaways, and critical findings from this 100+ page study on a rolling basis, along with opportunities to engage more deeply with key insights.

Report is in the final stages - watch your inbox!

Governance Framework

Samantha Meysohn, Kearns & West, is leading a collaborative process to formalize key aspects of the Tech Hub’s leadership, decision making, and governance functions. This includes the organizational structure, mission, and vision.

Want to help shape the future governance of the Tech Hub? Reach out to our facilitator via email.

Capital Access Coordination

Noel Johnson, Conrad Investment Management, is focused on helping mass timber businesses access the capital they need to scale. From funding strategies to investor engagement and annual summits, this work is about connecting ideas to the dollars needed to make them real.

Timeline: Initiated; completion expected Summer 2026

Reach out to Noel to learn more.

Policy Engagement

Greg Wolf, Oregon iSector, is building the Hub’s collective policy voice—creating forums for engagement, developing relationships with legislators, and drafting a roadmap to support mass timber-friendly policy. Work is just starting to ramp up. Keep an eye out here for more insights as this project takes off.

Timeline: Initiated; completion expected Summer 2026

Reach out to Greg to learn more.

Events & Gatherings

Event Recap: Mass Timber Group Summit | August 20–22 in Denver, CO

The PNW Mass Timber Tech Hub showed up strong in Denver, joining hundreds of leaders from across North America to explore how mass timber is shaping the future of construction. The conversations reflected how far our industry has come in the past decade—while also underscoring the different conditions for manufacturing and market adoption across the country.

• Financial Capital — Noel Johnson helped open Thursday’s focus on how mass timber products create value. From discussions with global investment firm Principal to ongoing R&D with Prof. Shiling Pei, new questions emerged about how we can better welcome capital into the growing industry.
• Regional Leadership — Marcus Kauffman highlighted how Northwest voices were front and center, underscoring our region’s momentum and the importance of collaboration across states, sectors, and supply chains.
• Inspiration & Energy — Charles Gale reflected on the value of 3 days packed with learning, relationship-building, and a sense that we’re part of something bigger: a movement to create resilient, low-carbon communities with timber at the center.
• Relationships + Trust — Erica Spiritos emphasized that trust is key to collective progress. In-person conversations—personal and professional alike—help move us farther, faster than what we can accomplish alone.
  

Together, these experiences paint a roadmap of what’s possible when regions convene, share lessons, and build momentum. We’re energized by what we heard in Denver and are bringing those insights home to strengthen our work in Oregon and Washington.

Event: Mass Timber Industry Networking Mixer

Tuesday, Sept 17
2–5pm PT
Timberlab HQ, Portland

Colleagues from across the mass timber ecosystem are gathering for an afternoon of networking and connection. Co-sponsored by The Port, Prosper Portland, the Tech Hub, and Tallwood, this mixer is designed to broaden the tent—bringing together professionals from mass timber, metals, building products, development, and construction. The event is currently at capacity, but industry partners are encouraged to join the waitlist via Eventbrite to get connected and stay in the loop for future mixers.

Reports, Resources & Regional News

NEWS: PNW Mass Timber Innovation Engine Advances

The University of Oregon–led initiative has advanced as a semifinalist in the NSF Regional Innovation Engines program—a recognition that could unlock up to $160 million for the region’s innovation economy. This milestone underscores the strength of our mass timber ecosystem and the collaborative energy across Oregon and Washington.

PODCAST: Rethinking Industrial Design with Mass Timber

When industrial buildings fall short of operational needs, the issue often runs deeper than material choice—it’s embedded in the logic of their design. As Kyle Freres puts it: “If you think the case for mass timber industrial buildings is just carbon, you’re missing the real opportunity.” This discussion moves beyond environmental metrics, prompting a closer look at how mass timber can resolve longstanding issues of speed, adaptability, and lifecycle performance in industrial projects.  

Watch on YouTube or Listen to Podcast

VIDEO: Mass Timber in Motion

The Oregon Mass Timber Coalition recently released a new video showcasing how mass plywood homes can be built quickly and affordably, offering a scalable solution to the housing crisis. It’s an inspiring look at the practical power of timber innovation to meet urgent housing needs.

RESOURCE: Mass Timber Housing Part 8: Skyscraper Book

The Washington Mass Timber Accelerator (MASSTAC) recently released their 8th book,  exploring what mass timber housing looks like at the scale of skyscraper. This book is the final book in a series of eight (all books here if you missed them!)

REPORT: North Olympic Peninsula Fiber and Residuals Report

Mason, Bruce & Girard recently completed an analysis for Clallam County Economic Development Council (EDC) that identified up to 3.8M annual dry tons of biomass available annually via barge transport to support processing. The study points to opportunities for value-added wood manufacturing in Port Angeles, where reliable fiber supply could sustain new investment and additional chipping capacity. Read the full report.