The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), in partnership with the Softwood Lumber Board and the Binational Softwood Lumber Council, announced the U.S. Tall Wood Building Prize Competition in September 2015. Framework was selected as one of two winners and granted $1.5 million in funding to embark on the exploratory phase of the project, including the research and testing necessary to utilize engineered wood products such as Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) in high-rise construction.

As of January 2017, Framework successfully completed the research, modeling, and testing to prove that it meets the U.S.’s stringent fire, seismic, and acoustic codes. Framework was permitted through an alternative “Performance-Based Path” available through Oregon’s unique building code system. Given this, Framework is currently informing updates to national and local building codes that will allow mass timber construction by-right; unlocking potential demand for tall wood nationally.