MANY MINDEDMass Timber Student Housing Tops Out Early in Columbus
A 13-story mass timber student housing building near Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio topped out on September 16, 2026—10 weeks ahead of its November 2026 target. The 242,000-square-foot structure, completed in 10 months from groundbreaking (September 8, 2025), will contain 186 residential units. It uses glulam columns and cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels, with crews installing 44 panels daily. Timber was sourced domestically from Alabama, and the project sequesters 1,128 metric tons of carbon compared to a steel-concrete equivalent.
This rapid delivery demonstrates mass timber’s scalability for low-cost shelter. The construction method—using prefabricated CLT panels—reduces on-site labor and material waste while enabling faster assembly. The project’s domestic timber sourcing also supports regional supply chains, lowering transportation costs for price-sensitive populations.
For shelter access, this proves mass timber can deliver affordable student housing at scale without compromising environmental benefits. It directly expands security by providing stable, carbon-negative housing for students who face housing shortages. The project’s early completion suggests mass timber could accelerate similar housing solutions in other regions where student housing costs strain budgets.
Next, the project’s 2027 completion will determine if this approach scales to 186 units reliably. The 186-unit count comes from DLR Group’s fact sheet, and the carbon sequestration figure is relative to a steel-concrete design—both caveats must be verified before broader adoption.
Source: Construction Dive