Reverse Trade Mission: China visits the West Coast

As China's economy continues to struggle, it becomes increasingly important to create ties with wood industry representatives in the East in order to understand their perspective on the downturn and the opportunities for growth during a strained period of trade. This is precisely why three Chinese delegates traveled to Los Angeles this March to participate in Western Wood Product Association's annual meeting, providing insight into the Chinese economy's impact on wood imports. 

During their trip, the delegates (alongside a Chinese reporter) were able to visit Portland, where they toured four U.S. construction sites, each exemplary models of softwood construction that highlight the structural integrity and interior beauty of U.S. softwoods:

1. Clay Creative  72,000 square feet and six-stories tall, this wood-framed office building is built with timber beams, glulam, and flooring assemblies and expected to achieve LEED Platinum standards, becoming one of the most energy efficient buildings in Portland's central east side.
2. One North A two-building project surrounding 14,000 square feet of courtyard space, One North features a cedar-paneled exterior, interior Douglas Fir beams and columns, light-frame dimension lumber walls, and timber decking. 
3. Albina Yard This office space is the first example of domestically fabricated CLT used in a building-wide structural system in the United States! The CLT panel floors were installed on site in under three hours and allow the structure to span longer distances with fewer beams.
4. The Hudson (Vancouver, WA) With its heavy timber structure and 15' high ceilings, each room in The Hudson has a unique floor plan that alludes to the open warehouse spaces that predominated the area in the early 1900s. 

After touring Columbia Vista and Sierra Pacific Industries in Aberdeen, WA the next day, our Chinese visitors  have a better understanding about our West coast softwood lumber species, their availability, and production.