Santa Monica Mass Timber Accelerator

Santa Monica Mass Timber Accelerator Updates

Now Accepting Applications!

Use the Santa Monica Mass Timber Application Guide to complete and submit your application. Applications are due to the Office of Sustainability & the Environment on February 27th, 2026 by 11:59pm.

Program Overview

Mass timber construction has the potential to unlock benefits to Santa Monica’s building sector including faster construction times and associated cost savings, reduced carbon emissions, and beautiful exposed wood aesthetic design throughout the community.

Santa Monica has a reputation for being a leader in sustainability and innovation. The Mass Timber Accelerator is an opportunity to continue this tradition by bringing together City staff and the local building design, development, and construction community to explore opportunities for sustainable wood construction.

Mass timber construction uses high-strength pre-fabricated wood products like columns, beams, and panels that can be assembled quickly on-site and result in faster construction times than when using traditional concrete and steel construction methods. While Southern California is an emerging market for mass timber products and construction is common globally and across the country, especially in areas with abundant natural wood resources.

Santa Monica’s Mass Timber Accelerator is part of the Accelerator Cities Program—co-funded by the Softwood Lumber Board and the USDA Forest Service—which provides a structured pathway for local governments to explore, implement, and showcase the benefits of advanced wood building systems. Through the program, the City and participants will receive financial, technical, and educational support from federal and industry partners. Participants will also receive expert assistance from WoodWorks on structural design, fire resistance, code compliance, and detailing of mass timber systems.

Santa Monica Mass Timber Accelerator Goals

Identify the potential for cost savings and shorter construction timelines with the use of mass timber construction.

Raise public awareness of the embodied carbon reduction potential, economic benefits, and aesthetic beauty of mass timber construction.

Connect design teams and City stakeholders interested in advancing use of mass timber (MT) / cross-laminated timber (CLT)

Introduce more practitioners to the details and feasibility of MT/CLT construction

Identify development opportunities resulting in new building and infrastructure projects in Santa Monica constructed with mass timber

Assess workforce capacity and identify the potential for job creation through the expansion of MT/CLT construction

The Accelerator

The Santa Monica Mass Timber Accelerator program will competitively select up to five private development projects for funding and technical assistance. With technical support, the selected development teams will explore the benefits and assess the feasibility of incorporating mass timber structural building materials and practices into their building projects.

The application period will be from October 2025 to February 27^th, 2026 with selected teams notified by mid-March 2026.

For application instructions and project eligibility, please download the Santa Monica Mass Timber Accelerator Application Guide here.

FAQ

What is mass timber?

Mass timber refers to large engineered wood panels, often paired with engineered wood columns and beams. Common mass timber products include cross-laminated timber (CLT) and glue-laminated timber (Glulam or GLT). To learn more about mass timber and mass timber products visit https://www.woodworks.org/resources/what-is-mass-timber/.

Who should apply for this program?

The mass timber accelerator is open to any architecture, design, and development firms with a project in development in the City of Santa Monica. No experience with mass timber construction is required.

Why should I participate? What will I gain?

You should participate in the program if you’re interested in gaining experience and expertise in mass timber design and construction.

The mass timber accelerator will provide participants with valuable experience in designing and developing a building project using mass timber products and methods. Participating teams will receive free technical assistance from WoodWorks and have opportunities to collaborate with other accelerator participants. Participating teams will also receive a financial stipend to support their work in the accelerator program.

Where can I learn more about participating in the Mass Timber Accelerator?

Please download the Santa Monica Mass Timber Application Guide.

What are the benefits of mass timber construction?

Under the right conditions, there are multiple benefits of choosing mass timber construction. These benefits include a lower carbon footprint compared to traditional steel and concrete construction, faster construction schedules, and the aesthetic benefits of exposed wood in building designs. To learn more about the benefits of mass timber construction please visit https://www.woodworks.org/.

Who is funding Santa Monica’s Mass Timber Accelerator?

The City of Santa Monica was awarded a grant from the Softwood Lumber Board and USDA Forest Service’s Accelerator Cities Program. The City of Santa Monica’s Office of Sustainability & the Environment has also contributed local matching funds and staff resources to support the program.

What is the anticipated Accelerator program timeline?

· October 2025: Program Launch, Application Opens

· February 27th 2026: Application Closes

· March 2026: Participating Team Selection Made & Deliverables Finalized

· March/April 2026: Accelerator Kick Off Event

o The date for this event will be determined by the participating teams and the City.

· Summer 2026: Mid-Program Review

o The date for this event will be determined by the participating teams and the City depending on project status and team needs.

· Winter 2026/2027: Final Review

o The date for this event will be determined by the participating teams and the City depending on project status and team needs.

How much funding will be provided to selected Accelerator teams?

Funding will be awarded on a sliding scale from $20,000 - $50,000 or more based on deliverables agreed upon between the applicant and the City of Santa Monica. For more information on example deliverables and funding levels please read the Santa Monica Mass Timber Application Guide.

Are participating teams required to be based in Santa Monica?

No, team members are not required to be physically based in Santa Monica. However, there will be an expectation that team members will be present at several accelerator program events. The project building site must be located within Santa Monica.