Mass Timber Buildings Cut Carbon 26.5% Per Square Foot

Buildings pump nearly 40% of the world's greenhouse gases into our atmosphere, but a quiet revolution in construction is changing that equation.

Mass timber—engineered wood that's as strong as steel—is letting architects build greener without compromise. When developers swap concrete for timber, each square foot of building saves 26.5% of carbon emissions. That's like taking thousands of cars off the road with every office tower.

The DLR Group helped real estate firm Hines build the first multi-story timber office in the U.S. in more than 100 years. The project proved that sustainable buildings don't have to look or feel like compromises.

The benefits go beyond saving the planet. Construction crews assemble timber buildings faster because parts arrive prefabricated, reducing on-site noise and debris. Inside, exposed wood beams create spaces that actually lower stress and boost well-being compared to cold concrete and steel.

Steven McKay, CEO of DLR Group, says the biggest challenge wasn't the material itself. It was convincing an industry stuck in its ways to try something different.

His team cracked the code by reframing timber as the answer to what young tech workers actually wanted. Instead of sterile glass towers, they offered the warm character of historic loft spaces with modern efficiency.

When they expanded timber into hotels, McKay's team brought Marriott and other hospitality brands to the table. Together they discovered that a 180-room timber hotel goes up two months faster than concrete. Faster construction means lower costs and quicker returns.

The Ripple Effect

The mass timber movement is building momentum across industries. Universities are partnering with architecture firms to turn academic theory into construction reality. Competitors are sharing research instead of hoarding it. Manufacturers, designers, and developers are collaborating like never before.

This shift required champions at every level willing to test, measure, and prove that doing things differently could work. Early adopters took risks on pilot projects that paved the way for others to follow.

Now timber buildings are rising in cities across America, each one proof that construction can heal the planet instead of harming it. The material that built our first homes is becoming the foundation of our sustainable future.