The 2026 International Woodworking Fair marks the debut of the Mass Timber & Prefab Showcase, featuring 32 exhibitors displaying products such as multi-axis CNC machines, high-capacity crosscut saws, gluing systems, and sanding machines. A series of educational sessions centered on mass timber will touch on topics like operational best practices,…
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The bipartisan Mass Timber Federal Buildings Act was recently introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives. The bill incentivizes timber construction in federal contracting with mass timber made within the U.S. and products that are sourced from restoration practices, fire mitigation projects, and forest owners. If enacted, the bill would…
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Once viewed as advanced, the integration of building information modeling (BIM) and digital fabrication has become a baseline expectation in modern mass timber construction and is deemed essential for delivering the precision and efficiency that timber projects demand. BIM is a set of technologies, processes, and policies that allow stakeholders…
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The exacting nature of mass timber engineering and fabrication means each step in the creation of individual components must be overseen by well-trained technicians to ensure accurate fitting and timely assembly at the build site. Today’s demand for mass timber, and in particular the growth of cross-laminated timber (CLT) manufacturing facilities…
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Recent updates to the International Building Code (IBC) have expanded what’s possible in mass timber design and construction. While these changes open the door to new building heights, many jurisdictions across the country have not yet adopted mass timber–specific provisions for Type IV construction. To bridge that gap, the American Wood Council…
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What a difference a few years can make. The 2021 IBC guidelines for buildings of Type IV construction divided the classification into three categories: IV-A (buildings up to 18 stories), IV-B (12 stories), and IV-C (nine stories). In IV-B buildings, the amount of exposed timber ceilings permitted was only 20%.However, in 2024, IV-B was updated…
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Recent research into timber-concrete composite (TCC) systems highlights their growing potential for sustainable, high-performance structures. In a study by the University of Santiago de Compostela in Spain, a simply supported beam was compared with a frame-connected TCC beam, with both beams measuring 370 millimeters (1.2 feet) wide and testing…
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In the years since the pandemic kept us all home and isolated, demand for outdoor living spaces has grown dramatically. Homeowners and developers alike are looking to counteract that sense of confinement with environments that extend daily life with outdoor living rooms, kitchens, fireplaces, bars, and entertainment systems. For architects,…
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There’s a new tool in timber’s toolbox, one that promises to revolutionize the efficiencies of the industry and produce astounding works of machine-assisted architecture. With the help of artificial intelligence, the heavy timber AEC industry is on the precipice of the extraordinary: computer-aided design that includes machine learning and…
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Hurricanes are Earth’s most intense storms, generating astounding winds and torrential rain. When a hurricane makes landfall, damage is often calculated in the tens of billions of dollars. Homes are destroyed, businesses are ruined, and floodwaters, widespread destruction, and utility interruptions paralyze entire towns. Building with sturdy…
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