Less Embodied Carbon + Stored Carbon = Lower Carbon Impact 

According to Architecture 2030, buildings are responsible for nearly 40% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Embodied carbon—i.e., GHGs associated with materials and construction processes throughout the lifetime of a structure—accounts for about 11%, and most of this (9%) is related to the use of concrete, iron and steel.1 Embodied carbon, especially upfront emissions associated with manufacturing materials and constructing a building, can be significant. The upfront energy associated with a traditional non-wood building is roughly equal to the energy required to operate that same building for 17 years! 

Mass Timber Modular & Portable Classrooms

Beyond aesthetics and sustainability, modular CLT construction allows for rapid assembly and minimal disruption to school schedules.  

Washington State Mass Timber School Pilot Project 

In 2016, Mahlum Architects designed the Washington State Mass Timber School Pilot Project applying an innovative, sustainable approach to classroom design that established cross-laminated timber (CLT) modular classrooms as a cost-competitive alternative to portable classrooms. Completed over a single summer, the project introduced four-classroom modules at each of five elementary school sites. The CLT was manufactured locally and is carbon-sequestering, supporting Washington’s sustainability goals.