A recent study co-authored by PCL Construction, DCI Engineers, and Weber Thompson reveals that building a hybrid mass timber high-rise is now nearly as cost-effective as constructing a comparable concrete tower. The Hybrid Tall Timber: Mass Timber Residential High-Rise Study emphasizes how mass timber could be a game-changer for residential development in crowded urban settings.
The research highlights that mass timber—a renewable resource made from fast-growing lumber—could enable the construction of more intermediate-height towers, which are often limited by cost and building codes. With mass timber, constructing such towers may become more economical under certain conditions.
The study points out that prefabricated mass timber components in a separate facility and then assembling them on-site can significantly reduce project timelines and improve material efficiency. This approach could bring down the cost of building an 18-story residential high-rise with a mix of mass timber and concrete to approximately $74.45 per square foot. While this is slightly higher than the $71.09 per square foot for a comparable concrete building, the study suggests that the cost difference could encourage developers to consider mass timber for its distinctive advantages, especially in a competitive leasing market.
The hybrid construction method not only offers potential cost savings but also contributes to reducing embodied carbon. An 18-story hybrid building could sequester around 3,350 metric tonnes of CO₂ over its lifetime, aligning with the industry’s growing focus on low-carbon construction practices in response to new carbon taxes and mandates.
Additionally, the study discusses the biophilic benefits of mass timber, which can positively impact urban density and housing affordability. These findings come on the heels of PCL Construction’s recent collaboration with Document Crunch, an AI-based contract intelligence platform. This partnership aims to leverage AI to enhance project management and compliance risk mitigation.
Overall, the study positions mass timber as a promising alternative for high-rise construction, combining cost efficiency with environmental and aesthetic benefits.
