Last week industry leaders came together in Maine to discuss the use of mass timber in future building projects and learn about the drive to bring mass timber production to New England. Hosted by the Portland Museum of Art, this event stimulated forward-thinking ideas and dialogue to blend creativity in design and construction to optimize the use of CLT, Glulam and other mass timber products within design and our day-to-day lives.
Fueled by innovative discussions and out-of-the-box thinking, this conference was packed with short “Timber Talks”, where we heard a variety of perspectives on the importance of sustainability, climate change action, passive house, and the supply chain of mass timber. The discussions also focused on sparking a mass timber economy here in Maine.
Maine is the most forested state in the U.S. with 89% forested lands. Over time, the pulp and paper industry has declined, leaving a loss of identity and community in many of our rural areas. Utilizing Maine’s natural resources to stimulate the economy and provide a healthier environment while doing so, is a unique opportunity.
It was exceptionally rewarding to attend part of the conference at USM’s McGoldrick Center, a mass timber project completed by PC Construction in 2023. PC strives to promote sustainable building practices on all our projects and are excited to see a future that incorporates more mass timber in building design.