SANTA MONICA— On January 4, the City of Santa Monica announced through its Facebook page the launch of the Mass Timber Accelerator, a year-long pilot program aimed at developers who want to explore the use of mass timber construction in upcoming projects.
The initiative will provide participating teams with free technical assistance to support the integration of mass timber into project designs, along with a financial incentive awarded upon successful completion of the accelerator.
Mass timber construction offers a range of advantages for Santa Monica’s building sector, including faster construction schedules, potential cost savings, reduced carbon emissions, and the opportunity to introduce warm, exposed wood aesthetics into the city’s built environment.
The Mass Timber Accelerator continues Santa Monica’s tradition of innovation by bringing together city staff and members of the local architecture, development, and construction community to examine new possibilities for sustainable wood-based construction.
Mass timber systems are built from high-strength, prefabricated wood elements—such as beams, columns, and structural panels—that are manufactured off-site and quickly assembled on-site. This process often shortens construction timelines compared to traditional concrete and steel methods. While mass timber has long been used globally and throughout the United States, particularly in regions with abundant forest resources, Southern California is now emerging as a growing market for this approach.
Santa Monica’s Mass Timber Accelerator is part of the Accelerator Cities Program, which is co-funded by the Softwood Lumber Board and the USDA Forest Service. The program offers a structured pathway for local governments to explore, implement, and highlight the benefits of advanced wood building systems. Through this partnership, Santa Monica and participating teams will receive financial, technical, and educational support from federal and industry partners.
Expert guidance will be provided by WoodWorks, including support related to structural design, fire resistance, building code compliance, and detailed mass timber system integration.
Santa Monica Mass Timber Accelerator Goals
- Identify opportunities for cost savings and reduced construction timelines through mass timber construction
- Increase public awareness of embodied carbon reduction, economic benefits, and the architectural appeal of mass timber
- Connect design teams with City stakeholders interested in advancing mass timber (MT) and cross-laminated timber (CLT)
- Introduce more practitioners to the technical details and real-world feasibility of MT/CLT construction
- Identify new development and infrastructure opportunities in Santa Monica that utilize mass timber systems
- Assess workforce capacity and explore potential job creation tied to the growth of MT/CLT construction
The Santa Monica Mass Timber Accelerator will competitively select up to five private development projects to receive funding and technical assistance. With expert support, selected teams will evaluate the feasibility and benefits of incorporating mass timber structural materials and construction practices into their proposed projects.
Applications must be completed using the Santa Monica Mass Timber Application Guide and submitted to the Office of Sustainability & the Environment by February 27, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.