🏭CommercialBuildings & Built Environment • Alternative Building Materials

Cross-Laminated Timber Construction

Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) is engineered wood made from layers of lumber boards stacked crosswise and bonded with adhesives, enabling construction of buildings up to 18 stories while storing 0.8-1.0 tons of CO₂ per cubic meter. CLT construction reduces embodied carbon by 25-50% compared to concrete and steel while offering faster construction times. Companies like Stora Enso and KLH produce CLT panels with costs of $8-12 per square foot and growing adoption in Europe and North America.

How It Works

CLT panels are manufactured by layering dimensional lumber perpendicular to adjacent layers and bonding with structural adhesives under pressure. The cross-grain configuration provides structural strength in both directions, enabling use as walls, floors, and roofs. Prefabricated panels are cut to precise specifications using CNC machinery, allowing rapid on-site assembly. CLT structures use mechanical connections including screws, bolts, and metal brackets for assembly.

Advantages

Stores carbon throughout building lifetime while using renewable wood resources, enables 25-50% faster construction compared to concrete and steel, and provides excellent seismic performance and fire resistance. CLT offers superior thermal and acoustic insulation properties. Manufacturing creates rural economic development opportunities in forest regions. The material is recyclable and biodegradable at end of life.

Challenges

Higher upfront costs than conventional construction materials in many markets, requires specialized design expertise and construction techniques, and faces building code restrictions limiting height in some jurisdictions. Moisture management is critical to prevent degradation and mold. Limited manufacturing capacity constrains supply in some regions.