**Summary of Article: Startup Strong by Form Reinvents Engineered Wood for Greener, Lighter Buildings**
Before a new building welcomes its first tenant, it already carries a significant environmental footprint. The construction and materials used to create buildings are responsible for about 11% of global carbon emissions, according to the World Green Building Council. As the climate crisis intensifies, the construction industry faces increasing pressure to find more sustainable alternatives to traditional materials like concrete and steel.
In recent years, some architects and builders have turned to timber as a more sustainable option. Multistory timber buildings have started to appear in various cities, demonstrating that wood can be used to construct taller and more complex structures than previously thought possible. However, timber is unlikely to fully replace steel and concrete for skyscrapers in the near future, due to concerns about strength, fire safety, and cost.
A Chilean startup called Strong by Form believes there is still untapped potential for wood in the construction industry—especially through hybrid solutions that blend wood with other materials. Andrés Mitnik, co-founder and CEO of Strong by Form, shared his company’s vision at the TechCrunch Disrupt conference in San Francisco, where the startup was selected as a Top 20 finalist.
Strong by Form has developed an innovative engineered wood product designed to replace concrete and steel in structural floors—the horizontal surfaces that divide building levels and support loads. The company's core idea is to create lighter, less carbon-intensive buildings by rethinking how wood can be used and formed.
The secret behind Strong by Form’s product lies in its unique manufacturing process. Unlike traditional cross-laminated timber (CLT) or oriented strand board (OSB), Strong by Form’s panels are built with a series of internal cavities. The panels are made by pressing wood shavings into wavy boards, creating a structure optimized for strength and weight. The size and alignment of the wood flakes are precisely controlled using proprietary software and manufacturing techniques, resulting in what Mitnik calls “a next-generation OSB.”
From the outside, these panels appear similar to conventional CLT slabs, which is advantageous for the construction industry. Contractors can use Strong by Form’s panels without having to change their current building processes or learn new installation methods. All the connections and systems remain compatible with CLT, making adoption much easier.
The internal innovation, however, brings substantial benefits. The engineered floors are not only lighter than both concrete and steel but also lighter than existing engineered wood solutions. Most importantly, they can span up to 10 meters (about 33 feet), which is roughly twice the distance typical CLT floors can manage. This capability opens up new design possibilities for architects, allowing for more open floor plans and fewer internal supports.
While Strong by Form’s advanced panels are more expensive to produce than conventional wood products, Mitnik argues that the lighter weight leads to significant savings elsewhere in the building. Lighter floors mean that the overall structure requires less steel and concrete, which can reduce both costs and the building’s