New Report Highlights ‘Revolutionary’ Building Material to Ease U.S. Housing Crisis

Today, Chamber of Progress released a new report calling on lawmakers to embrace mass timber to accelerate housing construction. The report, authored by Chamber of Progress Senior Advisor Gary Winslett, outlines the benefits of mass timber, including reducing construction time by 25 percent, reducing labor costs, and sequestering carbon emissions.

Mass timber is an engineered wood product that has been cross-laminated to increase its collective strength and has remarkable structural properties. As America grapples with the housing affordability crisis, it’s clear the nation needs more housing units. Mass timber presents a powerful solution that increases housing stock and lowers costs. 

Read the Report

“Democrats need to embrace new technologies and bold ideas to finally end the housing crisis. Mass timber could be a huge part of the solution,” said Winslett. “Mass timber offers a faster, cheaper, greener way to build, and this is the kind of solution that Democrats need to promote to lower costs and regain the trust of the middle class.”

The benefits of mass timber include:

• Increased Supply of Housing: Mass timber is particularly advantageous in a height range (6-18) where other building materials have important drawbacks and thus helps build more multifamily housing and fill a crucial gap in urban housing development. 
• Cost-Effectiveness: Faster construction (up to 25% quicker than traditional methods), reduces labor costs and time investments. 
• Environmental Advantages: Each cubic meter of mass timber sequesters approximately one metric ton of CO2. 
• Superior Structural Properties: Mass timber has a 20% higher strength-to-weight ratio than steel and 4-5 times that of nonreinforced concrete. 
• Safety: Mass timber is more fire-resistant than conventional lumber, creates cleaner work environments, and performs well in earthquakes.

The report also outlines detailed policy recommendations to fast-track mass timber adoption across the country, including:

• Forest Management: Pass the bipartisan “Fix Our Forests Act” to streamline environmental reviews, improve forest management, and create sustainable timber supply chains.
• Manufacturing Capacity: Implement targeted tax credits for R&D and facility construction to help with the substantial upfront capital investment requirements ($60-75 million).
• Transportation Regulations: Create a standardized, streamline multi-state permitting system to replace the current patchwork of state requirements for oversized loads.
• Building Code Adoption: Encourage the remaining 22 states that have not done so to adopt the 2021 International Building Code that allows mass timber construction up to 18 stories.
• Workforce Development: Establish tax incentives and educational partnerships to develop specialized skills needed for mass timber manufacturing and construction.

The report is the latest in Chamber of Progress’ efforts encouraging the Democratic Party to take bold action to tackle the cost of living by increasing the supply of critical goods and services. You can read more about these efforts on our substack, The Rebuild.