The factory opening marks a milestone for North American CLT production as, when at full capacity, it will produce the highest volume of CLT in North America –185,000m3 or the equivalent to 13,000,000ft2 of 5-ply panels annually on a two-shift, five-days a week operation.
The factory also represents the largest CLT press currently in operation globally, offering customers unmatched design flexibility, said Katerra.
The factory, which began limited production this summer, will employ 105 people.
“CLT perfectly embodies Katerra’s guiding principles for product development – it is technologically advanced, sustainable, and offers meaningful cost and time reductions,” said Michael Marks, CEO and co-founder of Katerra
As part of the official opening, tours were also given at the nearby Catalyst Building, the first project to receive CLT from Katerra’s new factory.
Located in Spokane, Washington’s booming University District, it will be the first commercial CLT building in Washington as well as the first net-zero energy building in the Inland Northwest.
Built as a partnership between McKinstry, Avista, Katerra, Michael Green Architecture, and Eastern Washington University, the five-storey, 159,000ft2 building will open in time to host Eastern Washington University classes in the autumn of 2020.
