Courtesy of Lever Architecture

Last week, the team behind Portland, Ore.’s Framework building—currently on track to become the tallest mass timber project in the U.S.—announced that it was awarded $6 million from the City of Portland for the development of 60 affordable housing units in the structure. The funding was provided by the Portland Housing Bureau’s Fast Starts program for promoting the construction of affordable housing in the city.

“Framework was selected as a Fast Starts project, after a rigorous process, under the City’s new effort to mobilize resources quickly to alleviate the housing crisis,” said Portland Housing Bureau director Kurt Creager in a press release. “Because so many partners have also contributed to make this important project a reality, we have a great opportunity to begin using this innovative technology in Portland to create more resilient, sustainable, and affordable housing.”

Designed by local firm Lever Architecture, the 90,000-square-foot, 12-story, mixed-use Framework building was awarded a permit to begin construction in June after winning the U.S. tall Wood Building Prize Competition in 2015. Construction is scheduled to start early next year with projected completion by mid-2019.

To learn more about the project, tune in to episode 15 of ArchitectChats podcast, Timber On the Rise, Part 3 - The First Timber High-Rise in the U.S.