What Does Meta’s Green Data Centre Timber Pilot Look Like?

Meta has begun piloting mass timber construction across its data centre campuses in the US as part of efforts to meet its target of net zero emissions across its value chain by 2030. 

The move marks a shift away from traditional steel and concrete towards low-carbon building materials that store carbon and reduce embodied emissions in data centre development.

The company says the shift to timber is part of a wider strategy to reduce emissions from the construction and operation of its infrastructure.

Scaling down steel with mass timber

Mass timber refers to engineered wood products that can substitute for structural steel and concrete in large-scale buildings. 

Unlike the light wood frames typically used in homes, mass timber products such as cross-laminated timber (CLT), glue-laminated beams (glulam) and mass plywood panels are designed for high-strength industrial applications.

Meta’s first mass timber structure was completed at its data centre campus in Aiken, South Carolina, using materials supplied by SmartLam and built by DPR.

“Wood has long been considered one of the most sustainable building materials due to its renewability and carbon sequestration during growth,” says Ryan Poole, Global Sustainability Leader at DPR Construction.

“Mass timber buildings still consist of concrete and steel and it is paramount we continue to find the correct balance that helps provide sustainable growth as we build a healthier future for people and the planet.”

This year, the company will begin construction of additional mass timber buildings at sites in Cheyenne, Wyoming and Montgomery, Alabama. Partners on these projects include Fortis Construction, Mercer Mass Timber, Hensel Phelps and Binderholz.

“Mass timber products are largely pre-fabricated, reducing the need to weld steel on site,” Meta states in the announcement for the pilot on its blog.

“This can increase the speed at which buildings are constructed by several weeks, as well as eliminate emissions associated with the typical construction process.”

The switch to timber is expected to reduce the embodied carbon of substituted materials by around 41% in administrative buildings, with further reductions possible as the company expands timber use into warehouses and even data halls.

Carbon storage, fire resistance and cost savings

The embodied carbon of infrastructure includes emissions from material extraction, manufacturing and construction. 

Meta says sustainably sourced timber carries much lower embodied carbon than steel or concrete, while also storing carbon absorbed during tree growth.

Beyond its climate impact, mass timber offers performance advantages in data centre environments. 

Meta notes that timber can be engineered to have a higher strength-to-weight ratio than steel. Its layered structure also enables built-in fire resistance through a self-protecting char layer.

The lighter weight of timber also reduces the need for concrete foundations, in some cases cutting the required concrete by half. This delivers additional cost and emissions savings.

Meta adds that mass timber structures contribute to improved working environments. Studies have shown that biophilic design elements such as exposed timber can reduce stress and increase productivity for on-site staff.

“These buildings will serve as a visible testament to our net zero effort as we expand our data centres with sustainability in mind,” the company states.

Forest sourcing and long-term sustainability

Timber used in Meta’s projects is primarily sourced from construction-grade species such as Douglas fir, pine, spruce and cedar. 

All timber must be third-party audited to ensure it can be traced to its forest of origin and that forests are managed for ecological and social health.

Meta says it prioritises suppliers that practise climate-smart forestry, including fire risk mitigation and partnerships with Indigenous forest owners. Where structurally viable, reclaimed timber may also be used.

“Sustainable timber operations can complement forest conservation efforts in regions where we can source mass timber for each of our data centre campuses,” the company says.

Through partnerships with BTG Pactual Timberland Investment Group in Brazil and EFM in Washington state, Meta supports projects that remove residual emissions and contribute to sustainable forestry as part of its net zero programme.

As Meta increases the use of timber in data centre construction, it sees the pilot projects as a blueprint for broader industry adoption.

“Reaching scale for low carbon alternatives like mass timber is the challenge for companies constructing the infrastructure of tomorrow,” Meta says.

“Our pilot mass timber buildings at data centre campuses can serve as examples for new approaches to accelerate the transition to net zero.”