September 25, 2025
The SLB Generated 438 MM BF of Incremental Demand in Q2 2025, Targeting 2.9 BBF of New Annual Demand by 2035
The SLB recently published its Q2 2025 Report, highlighting how the SLB and its funded programs are advancing a strategic approach to drive long-term demand for lumber—capturing measurable growth across multifamily, education, office, and warehouse projects while expanding adoption through code advancements, technical support, compelling content, and targeted education that equips architects, engineers, and developers with the tools to choose wood more often and at greater scale nationwide.
Key highlights include:
- 438 MM BF of incremental demand generated—67% light-frame, 24% mass timber, and 9% hybrid light-frame and mass timber for the quarter.
- The SLB is advancing its “Niche to Mainstream” strategy to generate 2.9 BBF in new annual lumber demand by 2035. Building on more than a decade of measurable impact—including 16 BBF of incremental lumber demand generated since 2012—the SLB is prioritizing high-growth market segments while strengthening codes, education, and project support to protect, expand, and diversify lumber’s role in construction.
- SLB investors across the country are speaking with a unified voice about why continued investment in the SLB matters. “The SLB has been a positive force pushing us forward and engaging in what is really important, which is growing our market share,” says Caroline Dauzat, Owner of Rex Lumber and Chair Emeritus of the SLB.
- SLB Education is scaling impact through new tools and partnerships, with more than 3,400 courses completed on the Wood Institute in Q2 and nearly 1,000 engagements with students and emerging professionals. Programs like the SLB’s new virtual reality teaching tool and expanded faculty workshops are equipping the next generation of architects and engineers with practical, scalable timber design knowledge.
- A new Think Wood case study featuring Africatown Plaza in Seattle highlights the affordability advantage of light-frame wood construction, showing how strategic structural choices freed up budget for community-focused design features in a sector with significant potential to boost housing supply and generate new lumber demand.
- WoodWorks is driving measurable growth in lumber demand with 190 projects converted through Q2, representing 34 million square feet of new construction and 307 MM BF of incremental lumber to date in 2025.
- The AWC released a new National Mass Timber Alternative Materials and Methods (AMM) Guide, giving building officials in jurisdictions that have not yet adopted the latest IBC provisions the tools they need to confidently permit mass timber projects, further supporting broader adoption across the U.S.
For more detail, comprehensive program updates, and additional SLB news, view the Q2 2025 Report below. We always welcome industry feedback, which can be sent to info@softwoodlumberboard.org.