PROPOSED Projects
Our work in mass timber will be the catalyst for transformation in the built environment.
Photo credit: Marcus Kauffman, Oregon Department of Forestry
The PNW Mass Timber Tech Hub, led by Oregon State University, is a transformative, four-state initiative (OR, WA, ID, MT) designed to scale the U.S. mass timber industry into a globally competitive sector.
Mass timber—engineered wood with the strength of steel and concrete—offers faster, more sustainable construction and is growing at 37% annually. Yet, it remains under 1% of U.S. construction. The MTTH strategy addresses this gap through three synergistic components:
Together, these components aim to triple regional output to $10.6B, create 22,000+ jobs, and eliminate the 30% price advantage held by foreign competitors.
Why It Matters: The Taxpayer Bargain
Regional Impact
- Revitalizes rural economies and retools legacy forest products industry.
- Supports wildfire resilience and forest health on national forests.
- Creates 22,000+ jobs and strengthens the $23B/year forest products sector.
National Competitiveness
- Positions the U.S. as a leader in important global market.
- Reduces reliance on imported steel, concrete, and foreign-sourced mass timber.
- Enhances military readiness and disaster response through rapid-deploy housing.
Return on Investment
- Leverages $1B+ in private investment and $4M+ in match funding.
- Uses existing infrastructure and labs to minimize cost and maximize impact.
- Delivers durable, scalable benefits across the U.S. construction and
manufacturing sectors.
