Advancing the Mainstream Adoption of Mass Timber
Timberlab's mission to advance the mainstream adoption of mass timber is rooted in the belief that sustainable building practices can transform the construction industry, benefiting both the planet and its people. By leveraging advanced manufacturing and fabrication technologies, Timberlab is driving innovation in the mass timber sector. Our team was born out of the necessity to reduce the amount of carbon in buildings while also accelerating the shift toward renewable, efficient building materials, ultimately creating healthier communities and a greener future. From sustainable sourcing to manufacturing and finished installation, Timberlab is here to be your full-service provider of mass timber.
EARLY ADOPTERS OF MASS TIMBER CONSTRUCTION
Timberlab was born out of and is a subsidiary of Swinerton, a company known for excellence and innovation for over 135 years. As the first mass timber buildings were being built in the Pacific Northwest, Swinerton’s Portland office recognized the opportunity to reduce their impact on the natural environment, deliver projects with improved quality and safety outcomes, support rural economies, and create beautiful spaces by bringing the outside in. Some of the earliest projects in the region, including First Tech Federal Community Credit Union, Wingspan Event Center, and Beaverton Public Safety Building, emerged as a part of this team and would later become Timberlab.
NEW FRONTIERS IN TIMBER DESIGN + INNOVATION
Timberlab was launched as a separate business entity with a mission to advance the mainstream adoption of mass timber. As a team of architects, engineers, and builders, we see every project from multiple vantage points. We provide solutions that result in the highest value for the owner and occupant and offer services to support your team throughout the project life cycle. We’re driven to test new ideas and reach new heights through transparency, collaboration, and creativity – breaking boundaries and pushing forward with inspired motivation.
MASS TIMBER FACILITY EXPANDS SUPPLY CHAIN
In 2020, our team opened its first location in Portland, Oregon, where it produces timber annually to build an estimated 800,000 sq. ft. of fabricated glulam components for projects throughout the United States. This facility helped support the Pacific Northwest as a regional powerhouse for mass timber construction by providing value-add fabrication services for glulam production. The intention was to expand the supply chain and, thereby, reduce the cost of mass timber structures, ultimately promoting the deployment of timber across many applications.
In 2023, Timberlab launched its second fabrication facility in Greenville, SC to assist the growing market along the East Coast. Timberlab uses its facilities to create custom mass timber mock-ups and conduct industry innovation to advance our mission and vision for mainstream adoption of mass timber construction. Between both facilities, Timberlab is able to serve the entire domestic U.S. market with premium engineering wood products through sophisticated CNC machine programming.
MASS TIMBER AIRPORT USHERS NEW ERA OF SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION
Phase I of the Portland International Airport Terminal Redevelopment opened in August 2024 and is a testament to the beauty and versatility of mass timber construction. Spanning 9 acres and comprised of 3.3 million board feet of locally-sourced Pacific Northwest lumber, the project will usher a new era of mass timber design and construction. The PDX Airport Terminal is our largest project to-date, with Timberlab's Portland, Oregon facility fabricating over 35,000 individual pieces for the structure.
CROSS-LAMINATED TIMBER FACILITY
The facility, set to produce a staggering 100,000 cubic meters of CLT products each year, promises to be a marvel of modern manufacturing. With cutting-edge automation and an efficient design, the plant is projected to create 100 new living-wage manufacturing jobs at peak operation, positioning it as one of the largest CLT producers in the nation. This isn’t just a boon for the economy; it’s a potential game-changer for sustainable building practices nationwide.
TIMBERLAB ACQUIRES OREGON SAWMILL
In 2024, our team made additional investments toward vertical integration by acquiring a sawmill and planing mill in Philomath, OR. The mills will support Timberlab’s cross-laminated timber (CLT) and glue-laminated timber (glulam) operations. Previously owned by Interfor, the mills ceased production in early 2024. The facilities include approximately 80 acres of equipment for milling, planning, and kiln drying.
