What is mass timber, and why is it gaining traction in construction?

In this video, Victor walks you through the exciting rise of mass timber – from engineered wood products like CLT and glulam to full‑scale multi‑story buildings. Learn how mass timber:

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- Offers 4–5× the strength-to-weight ratio of concrete

- Enables faster, Lego-style offsite construction (18-story Brock Commons built in just 70 days!)

- Provides natural fire safety through char-layer protection

- Reduces carbon footprints by storing CO₂ and cutting embodied emissions

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Whether you're curious about eco-friendly skyscrapers, modern architecture, or climate solutions, this beginner-friendly guide explains everything in plain terms.

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What you’ll learn:

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• The basic definition of mass timber (CLT, glulam, etc.)

• Strength, seismic, and fire benefits over concrete

• Case studies like Brock Commons and UBC Forestry Building

• Health + well-being perks: stress reduction with wood interiors

• Tips on building with mass timber — resources from the Mass Timber Group

Client satisfaction in mass timber projects often comes down to what you don’t hear.

Acoustics are one of the top post-occupancy complaints in buildings, especially when exposed systems amplify the problem. And with mass timber - this can’t be ignored.

In mass timber buildings, acoustics are often overlooked until it’s too late - when the client is frustrated, complaints start piling up, and your team is asked to explain why a premium building sounds like a budget one.

The irony? The very things that make mass timber so desirable, its sustainability, openness, and exposed finishes, also make it harder to control noise.

This isn’t just a minor inconvenience, it’s a design liability.

“What you don’t want is to be hearing everything going on outside your walls,” says Aedan Callaghan with Pliteq.

And neither do your clients. Solving for sound requires remembering, and maybe a bit of rethinking, of the fundamentals - all without compromising the architectural or environmental intent that brought you to mass timber in the first place.

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Breaking Down the Basics: Airborne vs. Structure-Borne Sound

Not all noise is created equal - distinguishing between its sources is fundamental to effective acoustic design. Callaghan clarifies the two principal categories: airborne sound, such as voices or music, and structure-borne sound, like footsteps or mechanical vibrations.

Airborne sound is quantified by the Sound Transmission Class (STC), a number rating that reflects a wall assembly’s ability to block noise passing through the air. Structure-borne sound is measured by the Impact Insulation Class (IIC), which gauges how well a floor or ceiling assembly dampens impact-generated vibrations.

“The higher the [STC or IIC] rating, the better job it does at preventing you from hearing that type of noise,” Callaghan explains.

Recognizing these distinctions is the first step toward specifying assemblies that genuinely improve acoustic comfort.

The Unique Acoustic Behavior of Mass Timber

The drive for exposed timber aesthetics introduces a paradox: the very qualities that make mass timber appealing can compromise its acoustic performance. Unlike concrete, mass timber’s lower density and the frequent omission of suspended ceilings create new transmission paths for sound.

“Ironically in mass timber, the mass isn't actually all that high… about one-fifth the weight of the same thickness concrete,” says Callaghan.

Traditional assemblies rely on suspended ceilings as acoustic buffers. In mass timber, with its exposed CLT ceilings, designers must rethink their approach—and build quiet from the top down.

Practical Acoustic Solutions for Mass Timber Projects

Solving for Sound, Layer by Layer

To deliver acoustic performance that lives up to design expectations, project teams must approach mass timber differently.

Here are four key areas of focus:

1. Floor Systems: Building Quiet from the Top Down In mass timber construction, exposed CLT ceilings are part of the appeal—but they come at an acoustic cost. Unlike traditional wood or steel systems, which often include a suspended ceiling cavity to house resilient channels or insulation, exposed timber ceilings eliminate that layer entirely. That means the burden of acoustic performance shifts upward—to the floor assembly above.

This challenge is compounded by mass timber’s relatively low density compared to concrete. Without the mass or the decoupling benefits of a dropped ceiling, structure-borne impact sounds (like footsteps, dropped items, or appliance vibrations) can easily travel from floor to floor unless the system above is properly engineered.

The fix? You need to introduce mass and isolation above the CLT, and do it in a way that doesn’t undermine the benefits of timber construction—namely speed, sustainability, and moisture sensitivity. A few widely used strategies include:

• Acoustic mats that isolate the finish floor or topping layer from the CLT substrate.
• Topping layers that add mass, like traditional concrete, lightweight Gypcrete, or newer dry solutions like compressed gypsum fiber board.
• Floating floors or decoupled subfloor assemblies that minimize direct mechanical connection to the CLT.

Aidan Callaghan recommends a composite dry system, combining isolation and mass without the downsides of wet trades:

• GenieMat FF – a post-consumer recycled rubber isolation underlayment laid directly over CLT to absorb vibration and prevent transmission.
• GenieBoard – a dry, high-density recycled gypsum fiber board that adds acoustic mass without introducing water into the building envelope.

“You’re trying to keep the timber as dry as possible. GenieBoard gets rid of the cure time and moisture challenges—and still meets code,” Callaghan says.

In side-by-side performance testing, this dry system matched traditional 2" concrete topping assemblies in acoustic performance while offering major construction benefits:

• Eliminated wet trades and cure time
• Reduced floor weight by 10 psf
• Enabled thinner foundations and CFS wall framing
• Shortened schedules by 7–10 days

2. Wall Assemblies: Separate to Isolate

When it comes to blocking airborne noise—voices, music, or television—wall assemblies are your primary line of defense. But not all walls are created equal. Standard single-stud assemblies with drywall on both sides typically fall short, allowing sound vibrations to travel through the rigid connections between materials.

The result? Code minimum STC ratings—and clients who hear far more than they should.

To improve isolation, the key is to introduce separation within the wall structure, either by decoupling layers or adding mass and damping between them. The most effective solution in high-performance multifamily and commercial projects is the double stud wall: two parallel stud walls with a 1" air gap between them and drywall applied to each outer face.

“When the sound gets into that first wall, there's an air gap preventing it from getting into that second wall,” explains Callahan.

This configuration minimizes rigid connections across the wall, allowing it to achieve STC ratings of 60–63—often enough to meet or exceed expectations for luxury residential, hospitality, and institutional settings.

For projects where space is at a premium and thicker wall assemblies aren’t viable, alternatives like resilient isolation clips (e.g., GenieClips) can decouple one side of the drywall from the framing without sacrificing square footage. These clips absorb and damp vibration, reducing the transfer of airborne sound while preserving the wall’s footprint.

No matter which path you choose—wider assemblies or resilient mounting hardware—the principle remains the same: disconnect the structure to block the sound.

3. Flanking: The Silent Saboteur

You can specify the highest-performing wall and floor assemblies on paper—but if flanking isn’t addressed, the sound will find another way in.

Flanking paths are indirect routes that sound takes around acoustic separations. In mass timber buildings, the most common culprit is the continuous CLT structure—a beautiful, solid surface that also acts as a bridge for vibration. Sound can travel over, under, or around rated walls via uninterrupted timber panels, undermining even the best acoustic assemblies.

Think of it like water slipping through the cracks—except in this case, the cracks are the architectural connections between timber elements.

Callahan emphasizes that flanking can completely undermine the performance of even top-tier assemblies, making them ineffective in real-world conditions if not addressed holistically. That’s why it’s critical to design with flanking in mind -not after the fact, but as part of the core acoustic strategy.

Several best-practice approaches include:

• Interrupting CLT panels at unit boundaries, where possible
• Using spline joints or acoustic gaskets to reduce sound transfer
• Designing bulkheads or dropped soffits at transition zones
• Alternating ceiling treatments (e.g., exposed vs. acoustic finishes) between adjoining spaces
• Performing detailed junction reviews with your acoustic consultant and timber fabricator

“If you've ignored flanking, you're not actually getting what you paid for with that upgraded assembly,” warns Callahan.

The fix isn't always complicated but it must be deliberate. Addressing flanking is about ensuring the building performs as designed, especially in exposed systems where structural continuity is visually celebrated but acoustically risky.

4. When to Act: Earlier Is Quieter Timing matters. Callahan recommends engaging acoustic teams no later than early design development (DD) to ensure integration of acoustic strategy into structural and architectural design. Late-stage fixes are costlier and often less effective.

The Importance of Considering Acoustics Early

Acoustics can't be value-engineered in after the fact. Callahan emphasizes the importance of bringing on acoustic consultants during design development (DD):

“The earlier that you can bring all these decisions forward, the better it is for the project as a whole.”

Early coordination allows for optimized junction details, accurate acoustic targets, and the ability to realize whole-building efficiencies like lighter foundations and thinner floor plates.

Case in Point: Multi-Family Building in New York

In a recent mass timber project in New York, Pliteq’s dry system replaced a conventional concrete topping with:

• 10 psf weight savings
• 2" less rebar and slab thickness
• 16% less cold-formed steel (CFS) wall material
• Acoustic performance equal to traditional assemblies
• Construction schedule shortened by 7–10 days

Despite a slightly higher installed cost for the GenieBoard system (~$1–2/sf), the overall project cost came out lower—thanks to structural and scheduling efficiencies unlocked by the lighter, dry floor assembly.

Conclusion

Acoustic design in mass timber construction is no longer a fringe concern. It’s a core pillar of performance, occupant satisfaction, and project success.

From floor isolation mats and dry subfloors to flanking mitigation and early consultant engagement, the path to quieter mass timber buildings is paved with proven, practical solutions. And with recycled materials like GenieBoard and GenieMat FF, those solutions don’t have to come at the cost of sustainability.

As Callaghan puts it: “We’re using end-of-life materials to stop you from hearing the guy upstairs snoring.”

That’s acoustic performance with a conscience.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do airborne and structure-borne sound differ in mass timber buildings, and how are they measured? Airborne sound (like voices or music) is measured by Sound Transmission Class (STC), while structure-borne sound (like footsteps or vibrations) is measured by Impact Insulation Class (IIC). Mass timber’s lower density and lack of drop ceilings make these harder to control.
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2. What specific wall assembly is recommended for improved acoustic separation? A double stud wall with a 1" air gap can achieve STC 60–63. For tighter spaces, resilient isolation clips like GenieClips can help decouple drywall while maintaining acoustic performance.
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3. Why are traditional concrete toppings often replaced in mass timber buildings? Concrete introduces moisture and weight. Dry systems using GenieBoard avoid both while matching performance, saving time, and reducing foundation and framing loads.
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4. How does the absence of ceilings impact sound performance in mass timber? With no suspended ceilings to absorb or block noise, floor assemblies above must do all the work, making floor design critical for both airborne and impact sound.
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5. What’s the best time to bring in acoustic expertise? Early design development (DD). Waiting until construction begins limits options and costs more. Early decisions enable flanking control, optimized assemblies, and potential structural savings.

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What if the most beautiful architecture in North America - those iconic towers lining Manhattan, the stately facades of Washington D.C., the storied blocks of Chicago and San Francisco - became relics of a vanished era, their interiors dark and empty?

“There’s a hollowing out,” Douglas Hayden observes, naming these four cities the “four horsemen of the office apocalypse.” The question is no longer whether these buildings will fill up again, but what entirely new purpose they might serve in a post-office world.

This is not a slow-moving crisis; it’s an inflection point. For those willing to rethink the DNA of urban real estate, the glut of vacant office space is less a problem than an opening. The challenge: how to transform these stranded assets into vibrant, revenue-generating environments that meet the evolving demands of city life. The answer, as Hayden and his team at Arthroto see it, lies in a radical convergence of adaptive reuse, prefabrication, and mass timber - an approach that promises not just speed and efficiency, but a reimagining of what urban buildings can be.

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The Four Horsemen of the Office Apocalypse

A single metric - office occupancy - now dictates the fate of entire downtowns. In cities like New York, Washington D.C., Chicago, and San Francisco, the collapse of in-person work has left once-bustling office towers eerily vacant. Doug Hayden, founder of Arthroto Industries Inc., labels these cities the “four horsemen of the office apocalypse,” underscoring the scale of the crisis.

What is going to happen? How do you revitalize these cities, especially with all these empty office buildings? Hayden asks, framing the urgent dilemma facing urban planners and developers. The challenge extends beyond simply filling space; it demands a fundamental rethinking of how these buildings serve the city in a post-pandemic era.

Adaptive reuse emerges as a pragmatic response. By converting obsolete office stock into residential and hospitality uses, developers can address both urban decline and the persistent demand for quality city living. This strategy leverages financial incentives while offering a path to reinvigorate downtown cores.

Seizing Opportunity: The Birth of Arthroto

A municipal incentive in Calgary catalyzed a new approach to urban renewal. Doug Hayden founded Arthroto to systematically transform vacant office buildings into mixed-use residential and hospitality assets - a move that reframes urban decay as a resource.

Calgary’s program set a clear precedent: they would give anybody that owned an office building $75 a square foot for every square foot converted into residential or a hotel. This direct financial support has drawn developers to the table, and Arthroto is structured to maximize the impact of such incentives.

Arthroto’s model is not simply about occupancy; it’s about urban reinvention. By acquiring distressed properties and converting them into vibrant, service-rich environments, the company addresses both housing shortages and the need for dynamic city centers. This approach lays the groundwork for a new urban typology, where former office towers become engines of community life.

The company’s focus on adaptive reuse sets the stage for a deeper transformation in construction methodology - one that prioritizes speed, quality, and sustainability.

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Prefab Revolution Advantages

Few construction strategies deliver both speed and quality, but Arthroto’s adoption of prefabricated interiors and building systems achieves measurable gains on both fronts. By eliminating drywall and standardizing components, the company has reduced new build times by up to 70 percent.

When you’re doing an office interior prefab, the real advantage is you get a better product faster, Hayden explains. This acceleration translates directly into earlier occupancy and improved project economics.

Prefabrication’s impact extends to lifecycle performance. Streamlined assembly not only expedites delivery but also results in interiors that are easier to maintain, adapt, and upgrade. Arthroto’s process challenges entrenched construction norms, offering a replicable model for efficiency and quality in urban redevelopment.

This shift in construction practice dovetails with a parallel evolution in structural materials - one that further amplifies the benefits of adaptive reuse.

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Mass Timber: Structural Lightness and Sustainability

A single material choice can unlock new possibilities for aging office towers. Arthroto’s integration of mass timber introduces a lightweight, renewable alternative to steel and concrete, enabling vertical expansion without extensive retrofitting.

Mass timber is a lighter structure, notes Mitchell Brooks, director of design at Arthroto. This property allows for additional floors atop existing buildings, sidestepping the prohibitive costs of reinforcing legacy structures.

The environmental implications are equally significant. Mass timber construction reduces embodied carbon and supports a lower-impact building lifecycle. As regulatory and market pressures mount for sustainable solutions, Arthroto’s use of mass timber positions its projects at the intersection of innovation and responsibility.

Yet, the adoption of new materials and methods is rarely frictionless - especially in an industry governed by tradition and regulation.

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Overcoming Industry Resistance

Every innovation in construction collides with a thicket of codes, conventions, and skepticism. There are over 20,000 building codes across North America, Hayden observes, highlighting the regulatory complexity that can stall progress.

The inertia of established practice remains a barrier. Developers and contractors often hesitate to embrace prefabrication or mass timber, citing unfamiliarity and perceived risk. Financing structures and union requirements add further layers of complexity, particularly in established markets.

Arthroto’s strategy is to demonstrate, not just advocate. By delivering successful projects that showcase the tangible benefits of new methods, the company aims to shift industry perceptions and create a template for broader adoption.

This pragmatic approach to innovation is mirrored in Arthroto’s market focus, where hospitality and senior living offer both demand and opportunity for differentiation.

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The Hospitality Experience

A shift in urban demand has made experience-driven hospitality a key lever for revitalization. Arthroto’s emphasis on transforming obsolete office buildings into hotels and senior living facilities responds directly to this trend.

People still want to travel. People are still wanting to get out and see the world, Brooks notes, pointing to the resilience of the hospitality sector. This persistent demand creates an opening for developers to deliver environments that blend service, comfort, and urban connectivity.

Arthroto’s developments prioritize the guest experience as a core value proposition. By partnering with leading amenities providers and focusing on design quality, the company ensures that its projects offer more than just accommodation - they deliver a sense of place and community. In a competitive market, this attention to experiential detail is a decisive advantage.

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Expanding the Vision

The momentum behind adaptive reuse and sustainable construction is not confined to a single market. Arthroto is actively pursuing projects in cities such as Nashville and Memphis, aiming to replicate and refine its model at scale.

We think there’s a real shortage of quality experiential places to stay, Hayden asserts, underscoring the persistent gap in urban hospitality offerings. As demographic and economic shifts reshape cities, the demand for flexible, sustainable, and service-oriented spaces will only intensify.

Arthroto’s synthesis of adaptive reuse, prefabrication, and mass timber construction signals a new direction for urban development. By aligning financial, environmental, and experiential priorities, the company is not only addressing the immediate crisis of office vacancy but also establishing a framework for resilient, adaptable cities.

The trajectory of Arthroto’s work suggests that the future of urban revitalization will be defined less by grand gestures and more by the cumulative impact of technical rigor, material innovation, and strategic collaboration. In this landscape, the most durable transformations will be those that reconcile the demands of the present with the possibilities of the built environment’s next chapter.

Frequently Asked Questions

How did Calgary’s municipal incentive program influence Arthroto’s approach to office-to-residential conversions?  Calgary’s program offered $75 per square foot for office space converted to residential or hotel use, directly motivating Arthroto to structure its business model around maximizing the impact of such financial incentives.

What measurable benefits did Arthroto achieve by using prefabricated interiors in their adaptive reuse projects?  By standardizing components and eliminating drywall, Arthroto accelerated build times, enabling earlier occupancy and improved project economics.

Why did Arthroto choose mass timber for structural interventions in aging office towers? Mass timber’s lighter weight enables vertical expansion without major retrofitting, while also reducing embodied carbon and supporting a more sustainable building lifecycle.

What were the main obstacles Arthroto encountered when implementing prefabrication and mass timber construction?  Arthroto faced a complex regulatory environment with thousands of building codes, as well as industry resistance due to unfamiliarity, perceived risk, and challenges related to financing and union requirements.

Why does Arthroto focus on hospitality and senior living in its adaptive reuse projects?  Ongoing demand for experience-driven hospitality and senior living presents an opportunity to create service-rich environments that help revitalize downtowns and distinguish Arthroto’s developments in the market.

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If the future of cities could be measured not by their skylines, but by the health and connection of their residents, how differently might we build? In a market saturated with sprawling developments and underused amenities, the prevailing logic has long been: more units, more of the same. But what if the real innovation lies in subtraction—paring back the superfluous and reimagining the core of community itself?

Nate Helbach’s approach is as much a critique as it is a blueprint.

“One thing I think is just dumb is all these developers that are building 5,000 units, but for every 100 units they have a 300-foot little small fitness center. It’s not useful. It’s a waste of space and tenants never actually use it.”

Instead, Helbach and his team at Neutral are betting on a new model: efficient, beautifully designed buildings with minimal in-unit amenities, anchored by a single, amenity-rich hub that prioritizes health, well-being, and genuine community. The Edison in Milwaukee, set to become the world's tallest mass timber building, is their first large-scale test of this vision—a project that asks not just how we build, but for whom.

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Doing Development Better: The Vision Behind Neutral

Few developers are willing to challenge the entrenched patterns of urban multifamily housing, but Nate Helbach, founder and CEO of Neutral, is doing just that. His approach to mass timber development is rooted in a conviction that urban environments can be both sustainable and deeply connected to resident well-being—not simply collections of units with perfunctory amenities.

“We’re trying to create really efficient low-rise buildings that have beautifully designed units but really no amenities and then a large building that has a ton of amenities,” Helbach explains. Rather than replicating underused amenities in every building, Neutral’s model—exemplified by the Edison in Milwaukee—centralizes resources to foster genuine community and optimize space. This shift challenges the prevailing logic of maximizing unit count at the expense of livability.

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The Edison: Rethinking the Urban Amenity Model

A project poised to become the tallest mass timber building in the world signals more than a technical milestone—it marks a reconfiguration of how urban residents interact with their built environment. The Edison’s design centers on a primary hub packed with amenities—fitness, wellness, and social spaces—while surrounding low-rise buildings focus on efficient, high-quality residences.

“It’s really our first big catalyst project into this idea of having one main large hub and then having a lot of smaller buildings in the same market,” Helbach notes.

By consolidating amenities, Neutral reduces redundancy and encourages residents to engage with shared spaces, countering the isolation often found in conventional developments. This model leverages mass timber’s flexibility to create a network of buildings that function as a cohesive community.

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Navigating Supply Chain Disruptions: Lessons from Edison

The promise of mass timber construction is often tested by the realities of global supply chains. When a fire on a shipping vessel threatened to derail a project’s timeline, Neutral’s reliance on prefabrication and modularity proved decisive. “Fortunately, due to some of the prefabrication and modularity of mass timber, we’re going to be getting our third and fourth shipment ahead of time,” Helbach shares. The modularity of the project allowed the materials to be swapped between floors, keeping the project on schedule, rather than being held up.

This underscores a broader topic: Large scale developers in North America’s dependence on European mass timber manufacturers. Why? It simply comes down to cost. Nate emphasis that the European producers are just more competitively priced. But, with such a long journey - they can introduce logistical risk. Helbach is candid about the need for competitive domestic capacity:

“We need very competitive mass manufacturers in North America.”

The Edison’s experience highlights how localizing supply chains is not just a matter of convenience, but of resilience and sustainability for future projects.

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Expanding Access: Redefining Real Estate Investment

Supply chain innovation is only part of Neutral’s approach; the company is also reimagining who gets to participate in real estate development. By lowering the minimum investment to $10,000 for accredited investors, Neutral is broadening access to institutional-grade assets and inviting a more diverse group of stakeholders.

“We’re giving this kind of institutional quality asset to the masses,” Helbach says.

This direct investment model bypasses traditional intermediaries, fostering transparency and a sense of shared purpose among investors. The result is a more engaged investor community, aligned with the long-term success of sustainable projects.

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Sustainability as Strategy: Aligning Environmental and Economic Value

The intersection of sustainability and profitability is often debated, but for Neutral, it is a calculated alignment. Helbach is unequivocal: “Sustainability is not just a buzzword; it’s a strategic advantage.” By designing buildings that consume resources at a rate commensurate with natural regeneration, Neutral positions itself to capture both higher occupancy rates and rental premiums.

This approach is not merely aspirational. As market demand for green buildings intensifies, the economic rationale for sustainable construction becomes increasingly compelling. Neutral’s projects demonstrate that environmental responsibility and financial performance are not mutually exclusive, but mutually reinforcing.

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Building Community: Designing for Resident Well-Being

The impact of architecture extends beyond the physical envelope; it shapes the social fabric of its occupants. Neutral’s developments are structured to cultivate meaningful connections and support holistic well-being. Amenities are not afterthoughts, but integral to the resident experience—ranging from on-site fitness and nutrition services to access to medical professionals.

“What we are trying to do is basically ensure that the people living in the building actually experience a better life,” Helbach explains.

The data supports this focus: “If you have a friend or a relationship in the building that you live in, you’ll have a 60% chance greater that you will renew your lease year-over-year.” By prioritizing community, Neutral increases tenant retention and satisfaction, reinforcing the value proposition for both residents and investors.

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Mass Timber’s Broader Impact: Linking Urban Demand to Rural Opportunity

The implications of mass timber extend well beyond city limits. As Neutral and others scale up adoption, the demand for locally sourced timber has the potential to revitalize rural economies—particularly in regions transitioning from legacy industries like paper manufacturing.

Helbach frames the challenge succinctly: “How do we get North America to adopt mass timber and use mass timber more often?” The answer lies in fostering collaboration across the supply chain, from forest management to fabrication. By anchoring urban development in rural production, mass timber can serve as a conduit for economic renewal and environmental stewardship.

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Conclusion

Neutral’s trajectory illustrates how seismic shifts in construction methods, investment models, and community design can converge to reshape urban living. The Edison and its successors are not isolated experiments, but part of a broader movement to align sustainability, economic value, and social well-being. As mass timber gains traction and local supply chains mature, the industry faces a pivotal opportunity: to build cities that are not only efficient and profitable, but also resilient and deeply connected to the people—and places—that sustain them.

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Frequently Asked Questions

1. How does Neutral’s amenity model differ from conventional multifamily developments? Neutral centralizes amenities in a single large hub building, while surrounding low-rise buildings focus on efficient, high-quality residences with minimal in-unit amenities. This reduces redundancy and encourages more meaningful community engagement.

2. What specific supply chain challenges did the Edison project encounter, and how were they addressed? A fire on a shipping vessel disrupted mass timber deliveries, but Neutral’s use of prefabrication and modularity allowed them to receive subsequent shipments ahead of schedule, minimizing project delays.

3. How does Neutral’s investment approach broaden access to real estate development? By lowering the minimum investment to $10,000 for accredited investors and bypassing traditional intermediaries, Neutral enables a more diverse group of stakeholders to participate directly in institutional-grade assets.

4. In what ways does Neutral’s design strategy support resident well-being and community retention? Amenities such as fitness, nutrition, and access to medical professionals are integrated into the main hub, and the design encourages social connections among residents, which has been shown to significantly increase lease renewal rates.

5. What broader economic and environmental impacts are associated with Neutral’s use of mass timber? Scaling mass timber construction increases demand for locally sourced timber, which can help revitalize rural economies and promote sustainable forest management practices.

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