Bakers place, Madison: mass timber gets ahead of carbon taxing

Mass timber is emerging as a concrete response to the emissions challenge in the construction sector, which is the cause of 37% of global greenhouse gases. With increasing pressure from environmental regulations and the introduction of carbon taxes, this material offers a liability and savings advantage, especially in view of the carbon taxing that are on the horizon for the sector.  

Each cubic meter of mass timber can store up to one ton of CO2, reducing the overall impact of building projects. Mass timber gets ahead of carbon taxing, enabling companies to cut down on the costs of using high-emission materials such as concrete and steel.  

This choice is not only economic, but also strategic: projects using mass timber generate buildings with reduced or even negative carbon impact, aligning with increasingly strict regulations. 

H2 United States: more and more multi-storey timber buildings in cities 

In the United States, mass timber is becoming the ideal solution to meet new sustainability needs and anticipate future carbon taxing.  

In New York City, “Timber House” represented an emblematic case: in 2022, it was the city’s first multi-storey residential building made of mass timber, using the material to significantly reduce construction emissions. 
 

By 2025, another construction gem in mass timber is expected to be completed that  gets ahead of carbon taxing in the USA: in Madison, Wisconsin, “Baker’s place” demonstrates how mass timber can be applied to large-scale projects: with 206 residential units, this building preserves the city’s historic heritage while reducing its environmental impact.  
 

In these projects, design is synonymous with foresight: mass timber gets ahead of carbon taxing, allowing for prevention of rising costs in the future. 
Thanks to its carbon storage capacity and the low impact of its processing, structural timber, even when hybridized with other materials, paves the way for the decarbonization of urban construction.  

Evidence of how the choice of mass timber is an effective strategy for tackling the economic and legislative challenges of a rapidly evolving sector. 

Bakers place in Madison: a timber architecture that redefines the concept of sustainability 

 
15.300 square meters of mass timber, 206 residential units: the Bakers place multi-storey shows how timber construction can be imposing without being impactful. 
In the heart of Wisconsin, USA, the Neutral Project is completing this work of design and sustainability: a Leed-certified residential building made of Mass Timber. 
 

The use of timber for a project of this size significantly reduces carbon emissions, while also offering a modern response to urban construction challenges. This achievement was made possible through careful planning and targeted technical solutions, such as those required to manage the complex interaction between steel and timber, two materials with very different behaviours concerning humidity and thermal expansion. 

Secure joints with TRASPIR ADHESIVE 260 and FLEXIBAND 

 
Rothoblaas sealing solutions were applied at the junction between steel columns and CLT panels to prevent issues related to water runoff or condensation. TRASPIR ADHESIVE 260 a versatile and practical self-adhesive membrane, was chosen for its high waterproofing capacity, while ensuring excellent breathability.  
 
The adhesive surface ensures effective positioning on different surfaces, creating a barrier that is resistant to weathering while ensuring timber breathability, which is essential to prevent moisture build-up inside the structure. 

FLEXIBAND sealing tape completed the protection system. Thanks to its extreme flexibility and ability to adapt to uneven geometries, FLEXIBAND is ideal for precise and long-lasting taping even on joints and edges. Its ease of application makes it an indispensable tool for sealing complex details such as joints between heterogeneous materials. 

A model for the future of timber construction 

 
Bakers place, Madison is an example of how timber architecture can reach new heights in terms of sustainability and investment. 
 
Products such as TRASPIR ADHESIVE 260 and FLEXIBAND are part of the set of solutions that have enabled this project to demonstrate that the future of construction can be impressive, efficient and environmentally friendly. 

To learn more about products designed to support mass timber construction and get ahead of carbon taxing, explore Rothoblaas' airtightness and waterproofing articles here. 

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