Company’s CLT manufacturing facility has capacity to produce 185,000 cubic meters annually, the largest in North America
MENLO PARK, Calif., — Katerra has solidified its position as North America’s only end-to-end supplier of mass timber, demonstrated by the ramping of its unmatched cross-laminated timber (CLT) manufacturing operation, successful delivery of leading-edge mass timber client projects, and continued advancement of quality, sustainable product offerings.
Katerra offers mass timber design, engineering, and construction services, in addition to material production and distribution, all under one roof. This fully-integrated approach stands alone in the North American construction market, further strengthened by technology and supply chain prowess—extensive product performance testing, scaled purchasing power, and high-volume fabrication—resulting in mass timber building systems of the highest quality on the market, more efficiently and widely available than ever before outside of Europe.
“Cross-laminated timber is more than a structural building material. It is an opportunity to evolve the very nature of building design and construction, and we believe that it will be the backbone for future generations of high-performance, low-carbon buildings,” said Katerra Director of Mass Timber Integration, Nick Milestone. “With an integrated, technology-driven team, every discipline works together to continually improve production speed, efficiency, and quality. Today we have the capacity to supply roughly one 250,000-square-foot building per week, which positions Katerra to help dramatically scale CLT production across North America and drive growth across the industry.”
Manufacturing Operation
Katerra’s state-of-the-art CLT manufacturing facility in Spokane Valley, Washington is equipped with extensive automation technologies, as well as one of the largest CLT presses currently in operation globally. The factory is the largest single-use CLT facility in North America, producing 30% of the current North American mass timber manufacturing capacity – two times any comparable manufacturer.
Project Delivery
Katerra’s integrated approach to mass timber is demonstrated in the Catalyst Building, a 159,000-square-foot commercial building project in Spokane, Washington. Catalyst is the first CLT building in the state and the first vertically-integrated CLT project that Katerra has managed from inception to completion. In order to address vibration from a nearby active train track at Catalyst, Katerra developed the Katerra CLT Rib Panel, the first long-span mass timber floor solution in North America to address vibration without the use of any concrete or structural composite action. The building was found to be effectively carbon neutral by a third-party life-cycle assessment study and is expected to be certified as one of the largest net zero carbon and net zero energy buildings in the world.
In addition to end-to-end developer clients, Katerra also works with architect, engineer, and builder customers to supply flexible mass timber and supporting services that meet the needs of project teams. The EMCO headquarters in British Columbia incorporates the use of Katerra 5-ply panels, prefabricated offsite within 1-mm tolerance to the project architects’ designs. The mass timber installed in less than two weeks, helping to create one of the first ever mass timber industrial spaces in Canada.
Product Quality & Sustainability
Katerra is one of just three CLT manufacturers in North America to receive Declare labeling from the International Living Future Institute. Katerra’s CLT factory has received Chain of Custody (CoC) certification under three major certification programs: Sustainable Forestry Initiative®, Forest Stewardship Council®, and the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification.
Katerra is the only company with a 5-ply flat panel CLT product that is fire-rated for up to two hours—double the industry average. All products have been tested to meet or exceed all ANSI/APA PRG 320 standards for strength, seismic, fire, vibration and acoustic performance.
About Katerra
Katerra is on a mission to transform construction through technology – every process and every product. As a new breed of company within industry, Katerra is powered through vertical integration and technology investment to provide a range of services and products to clients across the construction value chain. Founded in 2015, Katerra’s demonstrated progress includes advanced manufacturing facilities, design and construction services, dozens of completed projects, and a growing product portfolio that includes whole-building platforms and sustainable mass timber.
