What is CLT?

Cross laminated timber is a wood panel product that is made by gluing together layers of lumber stacked in alternating perpendicular directions. The result is a lightweight, strong building material that is fire resistant, earthquake safe, and well-insulated. CLT (also often called mass timber) has been used in European construction for over twenty years.

Why CLT?

Washington’s urban communities are among the fastest growing in the nation. The Puget Sound communities along the I-5 corridor represent an international economic hub, home to strong industry clusters such as aerospace, information technology and health sciences. Consequently, the Puget Sound region is expected to continue to grow in employment and population into the foreseeable future.

As a region dependent upon its surroundings for resources, energy, clean water and natural services such as flood protection, we need to manage future population growth in a manner that ensures economic, social and environmental resilience. Housing people and jobs within our existing cities and towns is increasingly important if the region is to succeed in maintaining its quality of life and high functioning environment.

Simultaneously, Washington’s forest communities continue to experience hardships. Twenty-year declines in the timber industry, compounded by the national recession have resulted in considerable job loss. If rural timber communities are to flourish in the future, they need opportunities to rebuild robust economies resilient to economic and political change.

Forterra recognizes potential in CLT and mass timber products to address the diverse needs of the state’s communities: workforce and residential housing for a growing urban population, employment in rural areas and improved health in public forests through responsible sourcing.

As a result, Forterra is leading an effort with stakeholders to develop and implement a coordinated strategy to catalyze a CLT market in Washington State.