TL:DRThe Portland State University’s Gateway Center in Portland, Ore., which Timberlab and Swinerton are working on. Permission granted by FLOR ProjectsAmid the chaos of tariffs and economic uncertainty, Chris Evans is feeling deja vu with regards to the construction supply chain.
Evans, the president of Swinerton-owned mass timber firm Timberlab, has helped the company through the process of building up a domestic supply chain. Evans said the company noted a lack of domestic supply, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.That led company leaders, in 2021, to work toward helping the firm become more vertically integrated,
with its own fabrication facilities and domestic supply, and a sawmill coming online in 2027.Timberlab brought its first fabrication facility online in 2020 and a second in 2022, employing computer numerical control fabrication techniques to create cross-laminated timber and glulam , critical mass timber components.Here, Evans talks with Construction Dive about the effects of tariffs on material pricing and availability, why staying even-keeled is important and how he sees mass timber as an opportunity amid material pricing uncertainty.
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I think it’s no different,
if steel prices go up and tariffs caused that throughout the whole system, then what that will really do is help make mass timber cost neutral or better in more markets across the U.S.[..]
My Thoughts 💭
Economics on display. This business saw the tea leaves with COVID and the pivoted to bring its production on shore. Then the Trump Tariffs come about which impacts steel prices which means timber can become a cheaper alternative. I find mass timber fascinating and now it might get a push during all this economic uncertainty.