Mosaic Timber
The State’s First CLT Facility
Located at the Indian Valley Wood Utilization Campus in Crescent Mills, Mosaic Timber is slated to be California’s first Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) manufacturing operation, aiming to be in production in mid-2026. Built from small-diameter wood harvested through forest restoration, CLT is an innovative and climate-smart construction material. Mosaic Timber will be the initial linchpin of interconnected forest restoration and value-added wood utilization work at the campus. With support from the U.S. Forest Service, CAL FIRE, and the Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation, Sierra Institute has purchased equipment, including a CLT press, finger jointer, and CNC machine, that will be operated onsite to produce fire-resistant, sustainable panels to help local communities rebuild housing lost to fires (see Mass Timber Housing) and wherever carbon-smart single-family, multi-family, and commercial structures are needed.
Why Use CLT?
Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) is a strong, innovative wood product made by layering and gluing boards at right angles to form thick, solid panels. It’s ideal for regions like ours that face both wildfires and earthquakes. CLT can also be made from small-diameter trees from forest restoration projects—supporting wildfire resilience and sustainable land management.
Because CLT panels are prefabricated, buildings can go up quickly—sometimes in just a few days. And even though it’s made of wood, CLT is naturally fire-resistant. Its thick, compressed layers limit oxygen inside, and if exposed to flame creates a char layer resistant to burning. This process is similar to a tree that chars on the outside during a wildfire but remains solid inside after burning. Additional layers like mineral wool insulation and fire-resistant siding help further protect a building from extreme fire. The result: a fire-resistant, climate-smart structure built for the challenges of the West.
Built on Partnership and Purpose
Mosaic Timber is a collaboration with some of the nation’s leading CLT innovators. Together, we’re building the foundation for a wildfire-resilient, forest-friendly housing future by establishing community-scale production for local regenerative economies here and elsewhere. We continue to strengthen relationships with organizational partners to build new community projects with CLT, such as the Roundhouse Council in Greenville.
Our Goals
- Forest Restoration: Use wood from fire-prone landscapes
- Green Building: Supply sustainable, carbon-smart construction materials
- Rural Revitalization: Bring skilled jobs to Plumas County and rebuild economies
- Disaster Recovery: Rebuild communities after wildfires
Innovation You Can See
Mosaic Timber’s facility will feature:
- A CLT manufacturing line for single and multifamily housing, and commercial infrastructure
- A CLT demonstration building showcasing the strength and design potential of mass timber
- Partnerships with California developers to bring fire-hardened housing to vulnerable areas
Mass Timber and Other Innovative Wood Products in California Report (2021)
