Cornerstone is Transforming Educational Construction with Mass Timber
Mass timber is transforming how schools are built in the Pacific Northwest. For decades, K-12 projects relied almost exclusively on steel and concrete — but Cornerstone has helped prove that timber is not only possible, it offers a unique, sustainable way to build better learning environments.
With over 640,000 square feet of completed mass timber schools, we've become the region's most experienced general contractor in this innovative construction method, delivering projects that meet ambitious sustainability goals while respecting fixed budgets and demanding schedules.
Why Mass Timber?
Healthy Spaces | Sustainable | Efficient | ||
| Exposed wood and natural finishes foster biophilic design, improving student wellbeing and focus. The warm, inviting character of timber creates learning environments where students and educators thrive. | Timber sequesters carbon, reduces embodied energy by up to 30% and supports Washington's climate goals. Our projects demonstrate that environmental responsibility and budget discipline can coexist. | Prefabricated panels shorten installation times and minimize disruptions to school campuses. Strategic planning allows downstream activities to start sooner, compressing overall schedules. |
Meeting the Challenge
School construction is uniquely constrained by fixed start and finish dates — projects often begin when students leave for summer and must be ready when they return in the fall. That fast-paced schedule frequently pushes structure erection into the rainy season, which is a challenge for moisture-sensitive materials like mass timber.
We've developed proactive solutions: from grid and span studies that reduce complexity and timber volume, to precision erection plans that keep timber dry and on schedule. Through early collaboration with architects, structural engineers and specialty installers, we optimize structural layouts, connection details and material specifications before budgets are locked. These strategies allow us to reliably deliver innovative timber schools on time, every time!
Ready to explore mass timber for your next school project? Contact Cornerstone to discuss how our experience can help you deliver innovative, sustainable learning environments on time and on budget.
List of Projects
