Mass timber demand surges; ironworkers signal readiness to meet it

Mass timber is experiencing a notable surge in demand. As of September, the count of multifamily, commercial, or institutional mass timber projects either underway or completed had increased by more than fivefold compared to seven years ago, according to WoodWorks, a nonprofit that supports contractors on mass timber builds.

This growth raises a critical question: Amid an ongoing skilled labor crunch, who can contractors rely on to erect these structures? Ironworkers believe they hold the answer.

“We look at mass timber, there's nobody better suited to establish the hoisting, placement and overall job flow of a structural project as an ironworker,” said Coby Foust, a fourth-generation ironworker and president of Foust Fab & Erectors, a steel erection firm in Colville, Washington.

Steel experience translates

Skills that bridge both materials position ironworkers advantageously for mass timber work, said Eric Dean, general president of the International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers.

“We have that heavy rigging skill set to be able to assemble any kind of skeleton framing for a building,” Dean told Construction Dive.

Foust, whose company is no stranger to mass timber projects, echoed that sentiment. His team helped erect Walmart’s corporate headquarters in Bentonville, Arkansas. The 1-million-square-foot structure features 21,000 cubic meters of cross-laminated timber and glulam.

He acknowledged, however, that differences between the two materials warrant attention before ironworkers take on mass timber jobs.

“Mass timber, I kind of joke about it with the guys, has feelings. It's an architectural finished product,” Foust said. “If a worker hits the mass timber too hard, that could leave a dent that would require repairs down the road. Structural steel can take more of a beating.”

Gearing up for more

Ironworkers anticipate growing demand for their services in the mass timber sector, and they are preparing by expanding their knowledge of the material. Thirty-five Iron Workers locals now train with mockups, or facsimiles, of mass timber projects, according to a Sept. 29 news release sent to Construction Dive. Foust Fab & Erectors offers a similar range of hybrid mockups of its own.

Chapters have used drawings provided by WoodWorks and materials from manufacturer Vaagen Timbers to erect 12-foot-tall structures, according to Jason Rafter, an ironworker training specialist. Some of these locals share the mockups with other locations.

The training and mockups help ironworkers gain early familiarity with the material during their apprenticeships, per the news release.

Joining forces

However, ironworkers alone are not the sole key to success—crews that blend multiple skill sets are equally vital, said Tom Baun, ironworker mass timber consultant and president of 3 Tree Consulting.

With a hybrid crew, Baun explained, trades can collaborate effectively: carpenters, electricians, and ironworkers each focus on their respective strengths. For ironworkers, that means erecting the project’s structural framework.

A recent example of craft blending is the Brookhaven City Centre project in Brookhaven, Georgia, delivered by McCarthy Building Cos. The 58,250-square-foot city hall succeeded through close cooperation between steel and mass timber crews to determine the most effective erection approach.

Carter Schmid, senior project manager for St. Louis-based McCarthy, told Construction Dive via email that ironworkers and carpenters each excelled in their own crafts. Ironworkers applied their expertise in structure and connection details, while carpenters leveraged their background in precise layout and installation.

“By combining those skill sets, we weren’t approaching the work from a single point of view. The teams collaborated closely to find the most efficient and precise ways to handle and install each mass timber element,” Schmid said. “In the end, that mix of disciplines created a stronger, more well-rounded crew and led to a smoother, higher-quality installation process than we would have achieved with just one trade alone.”

Baun reinforced the importance of collaborative crews.

“A composite crew is the best approach, and structural members should be the ironworkers, because that's what they do, and they've been doing it for decades,” Baun said.