The New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) has announced the launch of the New York City Mass Timber Studio in an effort to join industry leaders who are elsewhere raising the bar for the use of sustainable materials in the built environment.

The Studio is operated with support from the Mayor’s Office for Climate and Environmental Justice (MOCEJ) and has begun applications for its first round of $25,000 grant funds. The money will be allocated to design teams looking to conduct design, technical, and economic feasibility assessments for mass timber products. 

The U.S. Forest Service (which had already invested in a separate industry-facing program using mass timber) and Softwood Lumber Board are also aiding in its operation, with technical assistance from WoodWorks and advisory support from the American Institute of Architects New York and the NYC Department of Buildings (DOB). 

Victoria Cerullo, the Acting Executive Director of the Mayor’s Office of Climate & Environmental Justice, said: “This program advances our PlaNYC goal of reducing the carbon footprint of the construction industry by 50% by 2033, and we are proud to support the architects, designers and engineers who are working at the forefront of this crucial new sector.” 

Buildings Commissioner Jimmy Oddo added: “When DOB made changes to the City’s timber construction regulations during our most recent Code revision cycle, we elevated sustainable construction materials by opening the door for cross-laminated timber and other mass timber building projects throughout the five boroughs. With the opening of the New York City Mass Timber Studio, our partners at EDC and MOCEJ are now ushering the construction industry through that open door, providing needed support so that more eco-friendly timber projects can go from lines on paper to shovels in the ground.” 

As outlined by the EDC, the five goals of the program include:

• Raise public awareness of the carbon and economic benefits of mass timber construction.
• Connect design teams and City actors interested in advancing use of mass timber.
• Introduce more practitioners to the details and feasibility of mass timber construction.
• Identify development opportunities resulting in new building and infrastructure projects in New York City constructed with mass timber.
• Identify the potential for new business and job creation through the expansion of mass timber construction.

New York City’s construction market is by far the largest in the United States and expects its share of the green economy to grow by 144% by the end of the decade. 

Activities at the studio, which builds off the city’s Strategic Climate Plan that was released in April, will commence in 2024 and run for approximately nine months as overseen by WoodWorks and the DOB.

The Studio is accepting applications from teams performing early design phase feasibility studies. More information about eligibility and application requirements can be found on the NYCEDC website.