The tallest mass-timber building development in the U.S. is "on hold for the foreseeable future," according to the developer, named project^. The 12-story mixed-use building, known as Framework, has been under development in Portland, Ore., since 2014. Construction was first delayed a year ago and currently is postponed because of changing market conditions, which have had a negative impact on the development's bottom line. These include inflation, escalating construction costs and fluctuations in the tax credit market, says the developer.
Framework received a $1.5-million U.S. Tall Wood Building Prize for a two-year research, testing and permitting phase related to the structural, fire and acoustical performance of the mass-timber design. Timber buildings taller than four or five stories are not currently permitted under U.S. building codes, except through a performance-based design approach. Research results supported permit approval for the 148-ft-tall project, granted last year by the state and city.