Developers are rightfully concerned about how wildfires can affect projects as they look to materials such as mass timber to help construct top-quality buildings that fit with sustainability objectives for ESG-driven tenants.

Climate change is affecting the health of US forests, and in recent years the nation has witnessed increasingly devastating wildfires. The repercussions of these fires broadly affect the water supply, air quality, and economy in rural and urban areas.

Dr. Paul Hessburg of the US Forest Service was joined by Paul Stein, SKS Partners in the session "Mass Timber: Contributing to Wildfire Resilience and Financial Returns" at ULI's Spring Conference in San Diego last week. It was led by Woodworks' director Melissa Kroskey, AIA, SE.