[COMING SOON] Mass Timber and the Future of Building: A Conversation with Timberlab’s Chris Evans
Mass timber is pushing the limits of design, cutting carbon while speeding up construction. Bold projects and local investments are turning it from an emerging trend into the future of building.
[COMING SOON]
Mass timber is doing more than just making headlines—it’s reshaping skylines. In this episode of Stoel Rives | Deeply Rooted, host Derek Larson sits down with Chris Evans, President of Timberlab, to unpack how mass timber is moving from niche to mainstream in commercial construction. From Timberlab’s bold growth strategy to the sustainability promise of wood over steel and concrete, Chris shares how his team is leading the charge in transforming how we build.
The conversation traces Timberlab’s evolution from an internal experiment at Swinerton to an independent, vertically integrated powerhouse. Chris highlights flagship projects like the Portland International Airport expansion and Milwaukee’s Ascent Tower, while offering a candid look at Timberlab’s investments in rural Oregon and innovations that are strengthening the domestic supply chain.
Episode Highlights:
- Mass Timber’s Climate Advantage: Timberlab champions mass timber as a sustainable alternative to concrete and steel, helping to lower the built environment’s carbon footprint.
- Building Bigger, Faster: With advanced prefabrication and CNC technologies, mass timber allows for faster, quieter, and less disruptive construction—something even local neighbors notice.
- Investing in Local Supply Chains: Timberlab’s expansion into Oregon’s rural communities aims to bolster the U.S. mass timber supply chain and reduce dependence on international materials.
- Iconic Projects as Catalysts: Projects like Portland Airport and Ascent Tower are setting new benchmarks, inspiring similar builds across the U.S. and pushing building codes forward.
- Looking Ahead: Chris envisions a future rich with innovation, new mass timber products, and career growth for Timberlab’s team—while continuing to influence sustainable construction at every scale.
Listen to the full episode for an inside look at how Timberlab is shaping the future of construction, one timber beam at a time.
