Massive Oregon Mass Timber Factory Tops Out

Swinerton and its mass timber subsidiary Timberlab have reached a major milestone in Millersburg, Oregon, topping out their new 192,000 square foot facility that will manufacture cross laminated timber. The plant, named Independence Hall, is being built by Swinerton Builders in partnership with Lindgren Development and Lever Architecture.

Stretching the length of three football fields, Independence Hall is set to become one of the largest CLT production sites in the country. Swinerton expects the facility to turn out between 7 million and 9 million square feet of CLT each year, with panel thicknesses ranging from 2 to 12 inches. At full capacity, the operation is projected to add roughly 100 jobs with an average total compensation of 80,000 dollars, according to Danielle Ridgeway, external communications manager for Swinerton.

Work began in February, and crews have spent the past five months installing massive glue laminated timber components. According to the company, the build includes:

• 192,000 square feet of GLT roof panels

• 240 GLT columns, standing 32 to 45 feet tall

• 260 GLT beams, measuring 90 to 110 feet long

• 72,400 square feet of structurally insulated wall panels

A digital twin of the structure was developed to streamline installation. The model confirmed equipment layouts, verified machining specs for every GLT column, and provided an Autodesk Construction Cloud VDC platform that allowed for just in time delivery of oversized beams.

Swinerton says the project shows how technology and sustainable materials can accelerate large scale construction. The facility is expected to be completed in early 2027.

Many of the materials used on the project were sourced and manufactured in Oregon, including Douglas Fir lumber, GLT from Timberlab’s Swisshome and Drain plants, and CLT panels fabricated at its Portland facility.

Swinerton and Timberlab have long championed mass timber and its role as an alternative structural system. Chris Evans, Timberlab’s president, has remained optimistic about the material’s future despite tariff pressures, calling out its functional similarity to structural steel.

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