The CHIP Pilot Home Project
Establishing a regional mass timber manufacturing model and addressing housing equality in Baltimore.
The Circular Housing Innovation Project (CHIP) is designed to transition a low-capital Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) operation from a single project into a regional manufacturing pipeline. This approach utilizes existing infrastructure near Baltimore—such as sawmill, drying, and fabrication capacity within a 100-mile radius—to establish a localized supply chain.
This initiative addresses housing equality beyond standard affordability metrics. Low-income families require healthy living environments free from toxic building materials, poor ventilation, and extreme utility burdens. The CHIP project demonstrates that sustainable, restorative homes can be built locally using urban wood resources.
The CHIP pilot home provides a healthy, sustainable living environment for families in Park Heights.
Pilot Implementation and Scalable Expansion
To demonstrate the versatility of our localized mass timber supply chain, the CHIP project is rolling out in two stages tailored for standard 30′ x 104′ Baltimore rowhouse lots. Both stages utilize exposed interior mass timber, Civic Works agrivoltaic flat-roof solar arrays, and integrated stormwater rain gardens.
Immediate Pilot
Dual-Modular Tiny Homes
A decentralized approach placing two detached tiny homes (~230 sq. ft. and ~450 sq. ft.) on a single inaugural 3,400 sq. ft. lot in Park Heights. Engineered to fit together like a puzzle, this pilot drastically reduces production complexity. It utilizes native ash wood and expanded cork insulation to achieve climate-resilient passive design—entirely eliminating traditional HVAC dependency through strategic insulation and window positioning. The precision-milled panels allow for a rapid 2-3 day build time compared to the standard 2-3 months.
- 2 Detached Modular Units
- Rapid 2-3 Day Construction Time
- Passive Design (Zero HVAC Dependency)
Future Expansion
High-Density Micro-Cohousing
As the CLT process grows more streamlined, the model expands into a 2-story, H-shape complex maximizing R-6 zoning allowances. This design delivers a 1,700 sq. ft. flagship family unit on the ground floor and two independent 850 sq. ft. units on the second floor. It features centralized plumbing cores on the outer party walls, massive sunlit side courtyards, and a shared enclosed timber stairwell.
- 3 Independent Units
- Massive Side Courtyards (8.5′ x 30′)
- Single-Stair Fire Code Compliance
The Distributed Manufacturing Model
The core principle of this low-capital strategy is toll manufacturing. Instead of a single entity purchasing multi-million dollar machinery, the process subcontracts specialized steps to existing local businesses. This keeps transportation costs and emissions to a minimum while supporting the regional economy.
Fabrication technicians evaluating timber panels at a local facility.
1. Urban Log Source
We intercept a fraction of the 9,000 tons of urban wood waste processed annually at Camp Small, Tree Baltimore, and local tree services. Utilizing this waste stream—including native ash wood secured at $5/board foot—prevents open burning and landfill disposal. This immediately reduces community pollution and carbon-sinks the wood directly into affordable housing infrastructure.
2. Contract Primary Sawmilling
Regional sawmills with underutilized capacity process the material. Custom milling fees bypass the need for high capital outlay for saw lines, while supporting rural and peri-urban agricultural economies bordering Baltimore.
3. Local Vacuum Pressing & Finishing
We employ vacuum-bag pressing rather than hydraulic pressing in established fabrication shops. Vacuum pressing is significantly more affordable to install for smaller batches and offers the flexibility needed for custom panels. This creates direct jobs in precision assembly, glue-up, and finishing.
Community Benefits and Job Creation
A distributed manufacturing model generates accessible employment across multiple sectors in the Baltimore region. The CHIP pilot sustains an estimated 12 to 20 green economy jobs. This localized workforce includes urban foresters and logistics drivers managing the harvest, regional sawmill crews processing the initial logs, and precision machinists handling the drying and surfacing. At the final fabrication stage, adhesive lay-up technicians and CNC assembly specialists construct the finished panels.
Beyond workforce development, CHIP directly targets Baltimore’s housing affordability crisis. By eliminating traditional material supply chains and drastically cutting construction timelines, the pilot homes will be offered to Park Heights residents at sub-market rental rates, driving long-term economic stability. Furthermore, by retaining the entire supply chain within a 100-mile radius, the project slashes transportation emissions, while the structure acts as a biogenic carbon sink.
Long-Term Financial Impact
Localized CLT production can achieve cost parity with large-scale industrial producers over time. Initial pilot costs cover setup and research, but as volume increases, production costs drop. Because transportation accounts for 15–20% of standard mass timber pricing, local production becomes financially resilient against national fuel price fluctuations.