Mass timber is emerging all across North America. Beyond the benefits of natural materials and visible structures, the capabilities of industrialized offsite construction are beginning to change the model of delivery for an increasing range of buildings. When a California owner-developer proposed the first mass timber building in the state, they chose the experience, scope, and qualifications carefully, and the entire mass timber package was delivered on a train from Quebec, Canada.
California joined international code trends acknowledging the performance and safety of mass timber construction types in September of 2022. Mass timber may seem new, but it is a modern relative of historic mill and church buildings known to architects as Type IV Heavy Timber. This code category was created to recognize the building type’s resistance to fire and its ability to be adapted to new uses. The new Type IV code types (A, B & C) allow for purpose-built mass timber systems at three different scales, topping out at 18 stories.
