Just a few years ago, mass timber projects were essentially nowhere to be found on the East Coast. Unfounded fears about cost, sustainability, and performance dominated much of the conversation surrounding these projects. Fast forward to today, and mass timber construction is sprouting up nearly everywhere you look as businesses recognize the many benefits this type of construction has to offer.
Selecting timber as the material for a building’s structural foundation is nothing new, especially to builders on the West Coast. But today, mass timber projects are quickly gaining momentum on the East Coast in areas like Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, and beyond.
Industries of all kinds are branching into mass timber construction, from education and healthcare to residential and civic projects. According to WoodWorks, there were 2,338 mass timber projects in design and constructed in the U.S. as of the end of 2024.
In Philadelphia, our team is witnessing this rising demand in our own portfolio, and recently completed construction on a six-story, 110,000-square-foot mass timber building in Philadelphia – the only such building in the entire city, in fact. However, this project type is still largely misunderstood, and plenty of myths continue to circulate about the world of mass timber.
Here are six myths that need to end for leaders to finally see the full potential of mass timber across the U.S.:
MYTH: Timber is not as sustainable or renewable as other building materials
Timber offers many sustainability advantages and is equal to and sometimes even less carbon intensive to manufacture than other building materials. Properly sourced timber is a fully renewable resource when produced by a responsible supplier.
Building with timber also produces less greenhouse gas emissions. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, building with mass timber can reduce emissions by more than 13%. Another study from the Journal of Building Engineering estimates that mass timber projects provide a 26.5% reduction in global warming potential on average. Additionally, mass timber buildings offer carbon storage benefits. Trees naturally store and sequester carbon from the environment. When they’re used in a mass timber project, some of that carbon continues to be stored and not released to the atmosphere.
MYTH: Mass timber is not preferred by builders and the public
Mass timber buildings offer a timeless aesthetic that building visitors and tenants love. While mass timber projects may be new to many construction workers, trainings are becoming more readily available for workforces to get up to speed on mass timber techniques. Gilbane recently participated in a three-day training program put on by the Eastern Atlantic States Carpenters Technical College for local union contractors to obtain the certification necessary to work on mass timber projects. Training topics in the program included instruction on rigging, signaling, and creation of mock-ups.
MYTH: Strength and performance are compromised
Mass timber offers comparable performance to other widely used building materials or structural systems. Mass timber buildings are designed to last for centuries and are incredibly resilient. Due to their lighter weight and inherent flexibility, these buildings can resist high winds and are better equipped to handle earthquakes. There is little-to-no evidence showing that mass timber buildings sacrifice strength and durability compared to other structural systems.
MYTH: Mass timber projects have long, extended build times
Many in the industry believe that mass timber projects require longer build times due to a perceived high complexity of working with this material. However, the opposite is typically true. Mass timber projects are often quieter, less temperature-sensitive, and faster than other builds. As a result, not only are project times shorter, but mass timber construction produces less neighborhood disturbance and often safer construction sites.
MYTH: Wood comes with serious fire risks
Contrary to popular belief, mass timber has inherent fire resistance and buildings made with it are no more prone to a disastrous fire than a property made with other widely used building materials. Because of the fire protection technologies that mass timber and engineered wood products are exposed to, during a potential fire, the outer layer of the timber chars and forms an insulating layer that protects the interior wood from fire damage without the need for fireproofing coatings needed on other types of building materials. For this reason, mass timber construction meets, and in some cases exceeds, building fire safety codes – all while maintaining the visual beauty that these projects provide.
MYTH: Mass timber is more expensive
Many builders and property owners overestimate the cost of a mass timber project. In fact, mass timber construction is often more cost-effective than alternative forms of construction for mid- and high-rise buildings. However, reaping these cost benefits requires solid planning and partnering with builders and designers who fully understand the mass timber space. Project owners seeking to minimize costs should secure multiple cost estimates and bring in a general contractor early in the process for procurement. To further keep costs down, it is important to look into early design-assist opportunities with a mass timber vendor.
The need for mass timber expertise
Despite being somewhat misunderstood, mass timber offers many benefits to property owners in a wide range of industries. Leveraging this renewable resource will likely continue to rise in popularity as organizations seek to build aesthetically pleasing and more sustainable buildings. However, these projects often come with some additional upfront planning and require a builder with knowledge and expertise in mass timber in order to maximize success. For this reason, working with an experienced builder and designer is crucial to success.
