NYCEDC Opens Applications for Mass Timber Studio’s Third Cohort, Focusing on Housing Development to Advance Mamdani’s “Block-By-Block" Housing Plan
Housing-Focused Cohort Will Support Lower-Carbon Construction, Grow New York City's Green Economy, and Advance Mayor Mamdani's Block-by-Block Housing Plan
Eight Selected Teams Will Receive Technical Assistance, Regulatory Guidance, and Project-Specific Feasibility Support
NEW YORK, NY—New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) today opened applications for the third cohort of the NYC Mass Timber Studio, a technical assistance program that helps development teams incorporate mass timber into projects across New York City. For the first time, the Studio will focus exclusively on housing, advancing a key pillar of New York City Mayor Mamdani’s ‘Block by Block: The Housing Plan for a New Era’—the administration’s blueprint for addressing the City’s housing and affordability crisis.
“Mass timber can advance our housing and sustainability goals, delivering faster construction and greener buildings. I’m grateful for the support that the Mass Timber Studio partners and EDC are providing to help grow this emerging construction technique across the city and look forward to advancing the projects in the third cohort of the Studio in the coming months,” said Leila Bozorg, Deputy Mayor for Housing and Planning.
“New York City must pursue every innovative solution that can help us build more housing faster and more sustainably,” said NYCEDC President and CEO Anthony Shorris. “By bringing together project teams, technical experts, and regulatory agencies, the NYC Mass Timber Studio will help scale the use of mass timber and move innovative housing projects forward.”
Mass timber, engineered wood components precisely fabricated for onsite assembly, serves as a leading example of leveraging industrialized construction to support the production of housing. Industrialized construction—the application of manufacturing principles (e.g., standardization and prefabrication) to building components—is a key strategy within “Block by Block” to accelerate housing delivery by improving construction speed, cost, and quality outcomes. By combining low carbon building materials with innovative applications of manufacturing practices, mass timber has the potential to support the delivery of high-quality housing while advancing the City’s housing and climate objectives.
Launched in 2023, the NYC Mass Timber Studio has supported developers, designers, and manufacturers who are advancing mass timber projects, while generating valuable insights that can help grow the local industry. Through technical assistance, peer learning, regulatory engagement, workforce and supply chain connections, and project-specific feasibility analysis, the program supports teams navigating barriers to incorporating mass timber within New York City development projects.
The NYC Mass Timber Studio also advances the goals of New York City’s Green Economy Action Plan, a roadmap for growing sectors that combat climate change and connect New Yorkers to green-collar jobs. Expanding the use of mass timber in housing will support the reduction of embodied carbon in the built environment. 40% of all annual emissions come from the built environment, of which 13% is from materials and construction alone.
NYCEDC will operate the third cohort in partnership with WoodWorks, the Department of Buildings (DOB), the Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY), the Mayor’s Office of Climate & Environmental Justice (MOCEJ), and the American Institute of Architects New York (AIANY). The Studio is supported by funding contributions from the Softwood Lumber Board, the US Endowment for Forestry and Communities, and the USDA Forest Service. Up to eight active housing projects will be selected. The Studio will focus on advancing projects that can help address the City’s housing needs while demonstrating scalable pathways to integrate and optimize lower-carbon construction practices into residential development by integrating modular planning, offsite manufacturing and mass timber construction. The Studio’s first two cohorts supported 14 projects that included community centers, public libraries, and multifamily residential buildings.
“Since its launch in 2023, the Mass Timber Studio has proven that construction in New York City can be thoughtful, efficient, and cutting edge, and we applaud EDC’s decision to make this year’s cohort entirely housing-focused,” said Buildings Commissioner Ahmed Tigani. “Delivering housing on accelerated timelines is a key objective of the Mamdani administration’s housing agenda, and this efficiency should coexist with building sustainability and innovation in design. The Department of Buildings is proud to continue our partnership with the Mass Timber Studio, which is engaged in findings new solutions to the city’s current housing development shortage.”
“As we work to build more housing, we must also think carefully about ways to bring down costs, increase sustainability, and focus on quality. Mass timber can help us achieve these goals, and that's why we're excited about the Mass Timber Studio," said Housing Preservation and Development Commissioner Dina Levy. “By advancing this innovative building technology, we can build new housing and a greener future at the same time."
“The FDNY looks forward to contributing its fire and life safety expertise to the NYC Mass Timber Studio,” said Fire Commissioner Lillian Bonsignore. “Through this interagency collaboration, the Department will provide technical input concerning fire protection, firefighter operations, and emergency response as participating teams explore proposed projects.”
“The NYCEDC Mass Timber Studio has been instrumental in advancing mass timber in New York City. TYLin's Brooklyn Public Library New Lots branch and Walter Gladwin Recreation Center—both part of the inaugural cohort—have advanced into construction administration, demonstrating how the Studio has helped turn ambitious ideas into buildable projects,” said Justin Den Herder, PE, Vice President at TYLin. “Mayor Mamdani's Block by Block Housing Plan is an opportunity for New York to become the national leader in low-carbon housing. Mass timber should be a defining part of that vision. We're thrilled to see Mass Timber Studio Cohort 3 focus on this.”
“The housing-focused cohort is an important iteration of the NYC Mass Timber Studio. WoodWorks is a nonprofit staffed by wood design experts, and our role in the Studio is to provide technical project support that helps participants achieve successful, code-compliant buildings,” said Jennifer Cover, President and CEO of WoodWorks. “Design efficiency and material optimization are especially important in the multifamily market, both to make the immediate project cost competitive and to advance a sustainable option for addressing New York housing needs at scale.”
“EDC’s Mass Timber Studio was a truly collaborative effort, providing critical support for the refinement of our DOT Dock Builders project,” said Jennifer Sage, FAIA, LEED AP, Partner at Sage and Coombe Architects. “With the involvement of industry and agency experts, the studio helped our team and ultimately, the design community as a whole, to integrate mass timber and advance resilient, lower-carbon construction at the scale New York City deserves.”
“Mass timber gives development teams a proven way to build housing faster and more sustainably,” said Ryan Flom, Chief Marketing Officer at Softwood Lumber. “It's already delivering multifamily projects across the country, and this cohort will show how it can do the same at scale in New York City. That's exactly the kind of knowledge, education, and inspiration the Softwood Lumber Board is proud to bring to cities nationwide, alongside local partners like NYCEDC.”
“Mass timber can help us address two of Manhattan’s most urgent challenges at once: building the housing we desperately need while reducing the carbon generated by our built environment. I’m pleased NYCEDC is opening applications for the third cohort of the Mass Timber Studio, which will help design and development teams explore how this innovative and sustainable building method can work across New York City,” said Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal. “I encourage all eligible teams to apply and bring forward bold ideas for how we can build greener and smarter. I’m grateful to NYCEDC for leading this initiative in partnership with WoodWorks, the Department of Buildings, FDNY, the Mayor’s Office of Climate & Environmental Justice and AIA New York.”
“It is imperative we all work toward a greener, more sustainable New York City, as we work to create more affordable housing in Queens and the city as a whole,” said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. “NYC EDC's NYC Mass Timber Studio program will undoubtedly help us work toward that goal.”
“Mass timber checks all the boxes for the things we most care about, building affordable housing while strengthening our workforce and achieving our climate goals,” said Assemblymember Didi Barrett, sponsor of the FRAME ACT (A.9255-A). “I thank NYCEDC for embracing this innovative technology, continuing to provide the technical assistance needed to incorporate mass timber into projects across New York City, and supporting the development of a mass timber industry in New York State.”
“New York City’s housing needs require us to think creatively about how we build more homes while creating stronger, more sustainable communities. The NYC Mass Timber Studio provides an opportunity to explore innovative construction methods that can help advance housing production while reducing the environmental impact of development,” said Council Member Kevin C. Riley. “Just as importantly, investing in these approaches can strengthen our green economy and create new pathways to jobs and economic opportunity for New Yorkers. As Chair of the Committee on Land Use, I look forward to seeing how this next cohort helps move forward solutions that support our housing, climate and economic development goals.”
For interested design and development teams, applications can be found here and are open until October 30, 2026. NYCEDC expects to announce selected teams in December, and the nine-month program is expected to begin in January 2027, with participating teams receiving regular technical assistance and advisory support from program partners.
About NYCEDC
New York City Economic Development Corporation is a mission-driven, nonprofit organization that works for a vibrant, inclusive, and globally competitive economy for all New Yorkers. We take a comprehensive approach, through four main strategies: strengthen confidence in NYC as a great place to do business; grow innovative sectors with a focus on equity; build neighborhoods as places to live, learn, work, and play; and deliver sustainable infrastructure for communities and the city's future economy. To learn more about what we do, visit us on Facebook, X, LinkedIn, and Instagram.
