FORSYTH, Ga. — The Georgia Forestry Foundation, in partnership with the USDA Forest Service and the Softwood Lumber Board (SLB) recently awarded the first cohort of the Georgia Mass Timber Accelerator projects $75,000 in funding.

The selected projects include a diverse range of residential, educational and community-focused buildings, showcasing the versatility and low carbon footprint of mass timber construction. As an additional benefit of the Accelerator program, the three selected projects also received technical assistance from Woodworks - Wood Products Council that supported the integration of mass timber in their designs.

At the finale event, held at SouthFace Institute in Atlanta, each team presented on the status of their project and their next phase of development, including the selection of a regional mass timber provider, the final permitting process, and breaking ground.

Accelerator projects

• 501 Edgewood in Atlanta: A four-story mixed-use expansion using mass timber over an existing steel masonry commercial building. This overbuild showcases how mass timber can be used to modernize existing structures while meeting modern sustainability standards. This project team is led by NO Architecture, Equilibrium Consulting, and Welborn Henson.
• Chattahoochee Nature Center in Roswell: The River Welcome Center will be a mass-timber facility, reinforcing the use of eco-friendly materials in community spaces and will serve as a link between visitors, the organization's mission and the landscape. The project is being designed by Houser Walker Architecture and will be constructed by Gay Construction Company.
• 1500 Waters in Savannah: A four-story, 18,000-square-foot residential building in Savannah's Live Oak neighborhood. This project showcases mass timber construction to create sustainable, modern housing. Importantly, the project demonstrates how regionally sourced Southern Yellow Pine can support both environmental and economic goals. Algoma leads the project team, which includes ACE Real Estate and Aspect Structural Engineering.

"These projects represent a significant step forward for mass timber construction in Georgia," stated Matt Hestad, senior vice president, Georgia Forestry Foundation. "The Accelerator serves as a launchpad for innovative mass timber design and offers architects, engineers and developers the resources and support to elevate mass timber projects across the state."