Headlines change fast, but this week’s timber stories carry real weight. We start with a personal moment that grounds the show, then move into a tour of breakthroughs and big bets shaping the future of low-carbon construction. From a landmark conference to a new connection system and skyline-defining projects, the conversation is all about making mass timber faster, stronger, and more visible.

We share updates on the International Mass Timber Conference as it heads into a milestone year, reflecting on how a decade of shared research and community has pushed the industry forward. Then we break down Rothoblaas’ Radial connection system and why factory pre-installation, tighter tolerances, and rapid on-site assembly matter to developers and contractors chasing schedule certainty and cost control. If you care about embodied carbon and buildability, these details are the difference between an idea and a signed contract.

Our global tour continues with planning approval for a mixed use campus in Shoreditch, where creative retrofit meets new-build to strengthen the public realm. In Texas, a 212,000-square-foot Mass Timber Experiential Learning Hub at Texas A&M ties regional sourcing to a bold educational vision set to open in 2028. And in Sydney, Atlassian Central’s hybrid timber frame reveals lush “habitats” that make climate leadership tangible in a major commercial tower anchoring the city’s tech precinct.

We close with a major signal from Big Tech: Amazon’s full-scale mass timber trials for data centres. When logistics giants aim to cut embodied carbon without sacrificing speed or reliability, suppliers, engineers, and insurers all pay attention. That momentum, combined with Microsoft and Google exploring similar paths, suggests mass timber is moving from showcase to standard in mission-critical facilities. Subscribe, share with a colleague who needs a spark, and tell us: which project points most clearly to the future you want to build?

Send us a text

Support the show