Mass timber is transforming the construction landscape with its innovative design and eco-friendly features. Made from layered wood segments, mass timber is a renewable, prefabricated material, with a smaller carbon footprint than steel, that addresses key industry challenges. From minimizing environmental impact to streamlining timelines, the material is becoming popular in both commercial and residential spaces.

In this article, I’ll talk about mass timber’s rise in popularity, highlight recent projects, and share five key things you should consider when working on a mass timber job.

The Rise of Mass Timber Construction

Mass timber is a newer building material crafted from layered segments of wood glued or nailed together. For cross-laminated timber (CLT), sheets are stacked perpendicularly, creating a stable material that doesn’t expand or contract as much as typical wood. Glulam, another structurally engineered wood, is commonly used for beams or columns.

These mass timber building solutions offer two primary benefits: a smaller carbon footprint and a modern aesthetic. Its natural look complements modern building trends while providing structural functionality.

While mass timber can have higher initial design costs, prefabrication reduces installation time and labor on-site, offering cost savings during construction. With heightened durability, mass timber ensures that projects are long lasting and require less maintenance over their lifetime.

U.S. Engineering has been working with mass timber for a while. U.S. Engineering Construction in Colorado recently completed a project for the new Responsive Arts & STEAM Academy with Denver Public Schools (featured in our 2025 Sustainability Report). Further east in the Carolinas, U.S. Engineering Innovations is working on a pharmaceutical facility where mass timber accounts for 50% of the structure. Another USE Innovations project integrates mass timber as a key feature within a predominantly concrete design.

Through these experiences, we’ve gained some valuable insights, outlined below as five considerations teams should keep in mind when incorporating mass timber into their next project.

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Products are designed to be shown.

Unlike traditional materials that are commonly concealed, mass timber can have a significant visual impact within a project. Every cut on the product needs to look finished. Collaboration with the client and design team is critical to determine what should be exposed and what should be hidden, with the goal of aiming for a clean and intentional look. Pathways typically used in other projects might not work for exposed spaces, and careful planning is necessary to avoid placing pipes or ductwork near panel seams.

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Offsite is key.

Prefabricating the systems offsite allows for easier installation and higher-quality products. While it does require more upfront planning, mass timber reduces onsite manpower and installation times. Computer numerical control (CNC) experts use machines to make clean cuts and prevent delamination within the shop, so the product is fully ready for use. To simplify the prefab process, mechanical contractors should be prepped to provide clients with layouts of areas where plumbing and HVAC will penetrate the mass timber.

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Coordination is everything.

By collaborating early and often with other contractors during the design process, the possibility of needing onsite rework for mass timber products is minimized. Plumbing, sheet metal, process piping, and data contractors must determine what goes where early on, so matching their timeline helps everything move smoothly.

At U.S. Engineering our process begins by holding multiple coordination meetings. Each meeting focuses on a specific area of the project, breaking the work into bite size pieces. We also reach out to other trades individually to resolve issues. Tools like BIM and Revit make it easier to catch conflicts and find solutions.

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Watch your load restrictions.

Mass timber has lighter weight restrictions, which means it comes with specific considerations for system installation. Mechanical contractors must understand the available hardware options – and know how and when to use them. Equally important is a clear grasp of each product’s weight capacity to ensure safe installation.

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Mass timber brings unique benefits.

Mass timber solutions bring distinct advantages and considerations to the table. For example, the material offers higher fire ratings as compared to traditional light wood frame construction. CLT panels, available in three- or five-layer configurations, deliver fire performance similar to gypsum floor and wall construction.

The material also excels in regions with minimal temperature fluctuations and supports multi-story construction. However, these projects often involve higher design costs and strict regulations. With these initiatives, early planning is essential to balance scalability with design and compliance requirements.

Our team is ready to talk with you about your mass timber project. Contact Mike Walberg to learn more.

Max Finster is a Project Manager at U.S. Engineering Innovations. His career in construction spans over 30 years, with the last 13 years specializing in mechanical, plumbing, and HVAC. He graduated from Colorado State University in Construction Management with a desire to work on large and unique industrial/commercial projects.