/THYAAR/


Thyra (door, threshold, beginning) + RAAR (Reusable Architectural Assemblies Research)

THYAAR is a not-for-profit design research initiative focusing on developing reusable architectural assemblies. Four benchmarks define the work: 1. Faster to build than conventional light frame systems. 2. As easy to disassemble as to assemble. 3. As economical as traditional light-frame systems, with better structural and functional performance. 4. Adaptable to a wide range of designs and layouts. What follows are periodic updates recording this ongoing endeavor. THYAAR is directed by Pouya Khadem and it’s based in Houston, TX.
MARCH 2026  |  RESEARCH  |  NOTE B

Why CLT Matters

CLT is a versatile construction material that offers an array of advantages over conventional materials. CLT panels strength-to-weight ratio exceeds that of steel by approximately 20% and surpasses unreinforced concrete in compression by four to five times. CLT provides effective thermal insulation, outperforming concrete by a factor of ten-to-fifteen and steel by a factor of four hundred. From an environmental perspective, the embodied carbon of a typical steel-and-concrete structure averages about 225 kilograms of CO₂ per square meter, whereas a comparable CLT structure emits much less. It sequesters roughly 900 kilograms of CO₂ per cubic meter, positioning CLT as a suitable material for carbon-neutral constructions. 

Although CLT panels are standardized into a limited range of slab thicknesses and panel sizes, they are adaptable for use as walls, floors, and roofs. Unlike steel members, they transfer loads multidirectionally within a plane rather than linearly, as in framing systems. Because of their planar, multidirectional load-transfer capacity and standardized slab format, recycled CLT panels can be repurposed as load bearing walls, beams, columns, or slabs in future projects. This adaptability expands reuse possibilities, can extend material lifespan beyond a single building, and reduces the cost of production, reinforcing both the environmental and economic benefits of CLT construction.

The adoption of CLT is foundational to the viability of the Essential Seed. CLT provides a significant speed-to-market advantage, with assembly rates as fast as nine days per floor. The reduced construction timeline allows projects to begin generating revenue sooner while lowering financing costs through a shorter construction loan period and reduced interest accrual. The material's weight—approximately 60% lighter than concrete—reduces foundational requirements and site-preparation costs while providing the structural agility necessary for phased expansion. By decreasing on-site labor demands by up to 50%, CLT can help Essential Seed to shift the construction paradigm from an on-site labor-driven craft to a precision-engineered assembly process, making the initial capital expenditure for developers more predictable.


BIBLIOGRAPHY

  1. Chamber of Progress. "Mass Timber: A Promising New Housing Technology." Chamber of Progress, 2026. https://progresschamber.org/research/mass-timber-promising-housing-tech/.
  2. C. M. Lee, Christopher. “Essential Planes.” In Blank : Speculations on CLT edited by Jennifer Bonner and Hanif Kara, 65-75. First edition. Novato, CA: Applied Research and Design Publishing, an imprint of ORO Editions, 2021.
  3. Make It Wood (Planet Ark). "Wood Is a Natural Insulator." Make It Wood. Accessed July 6, 2026. https://makeitwood.org/benefits/insulator.
  4. Stora Enso. CLT — Wood: The World's Oldest and Yet Most Modern Building Material. Product brochure. Stora Enso Wood Products GmbH. Accessed July 6, 2026. https://www.lilleheden.dk/Files/Files/Produkter/CLT/Image-brochure-CLT_EN.pdf.
  5. Hemmati, Mahboobeh, Tahar Messadi, Hongmei Gu, Jacob Seddelmeyer, and Moein Hemmati. "Comparison of Embodied Carbon Footprint of a Mass Timber Building Structure with a Steel Equivalent." Buildings 14, no. 5 (2024): 1276. https://www.fpl.fs.usda.gov/documnts/pdf2024/fpl_2024_hemmati002.pdf.
  6. Think Wood. "How Mass Timber Can Cut Your Construction Costs." Think Wood (blog), 2022. https://www.thinkwood.com/blog/how-mass-timber-can-cut-construction-costs.
  7. Waugh Thistleton Architects. Timber Typologies - Understanding timber options for construction. 2024. https://issuu.com/waughthistleton/docs/tduk_timber-typologies-online.
  8. Waugh Thistleton Architects. Timber Policy - Understanding low carbon policies for timber construction. 2024. https://issuu.com/waughthistleton/docs/tduk_timber_policy_report.

Fig. B1. The drawing illustrates a typical 4-over-1 mixed-use building constructed with around 250 CLT panels, compared to the thousands of elements required in traditional framing, envelope excluded. This dramatic reduction in components means fewer fasteners and adhesives, and each panel recovered represents a far greater share of the structure's total material value. When designed with reuse in mind, as this research advocates, a typical typology like this can function as a material bank, a reserve of recoverable value.