Xilonor and the CLT Revolution: Galicia's First Cross-Laminated Timber Plant
In late 2020, Finsa and Maderas Goiriz launched Galicia's inaugural cross-laminated timber (CLT) production facility, named Xilonor, located in Coirós, A Coruña, Spain. This plant utilizes certified Galician pine to help lower carbon emissions and stimulate the local economy. Álvaro López López and Carlos Laborda Collado engaged in a conversation about the future of wood construction. Xilonor's CLT has been incorporated into notable projects such as the Mass is More installation at the Mies van der Rohe Pavilion, Spain's tallest wooden residential building in Barcelona, and the Abegondo Health Center. Additional projects include the Armadillo exhibition in London, which received the Best Small Project award at the 2025 Wood Awards, alongside the Tomás Bretón building in Madrid. Despite overcoming technical challenges, cultural and regulatory hurdles remain.
Key facts
- Xilonor, Galicia's first CLT production plant, was founded in late 2020 by Finsa and Maderas Goiriz.
- The plant is located in the Pedrapartida industrial park in Coirós, A Coruña, Galicia, Spain.
- Xilonor uses certified local Galician pine (pinaster and radiata) to reduce carbon footprint and support the local economy.
- Álvaro López López is Xilonor's Technical and Commercial Director and holds a Master's in Structural Timber Engineering from the UDC.
- Carlos Laborda Collado is a Passivhaus Designer and member of Xilonor's technical office, with a master's in Bioclimatic Architecture and Environment from the UPM.
- The 40-unit social housing building on Carrer Lola Iturbe in Barcelona, by Urbanitree, is Spain's tallest timber building at 36 meters.
- The Mass is More installation at the Mies van der Rohe Pavilion in Barcelona was designed by Daniel Ibáñez and Vicente Guallart.
- The Armadillo project in London won Best Small Project at the 2025 Wood Awards.
Entities
Artists
- Álvaro López López
- Carlos Laborda Collado
- Daniel Ibáñez
- Vicente Guallart
- Miguel Nevado
Institutions
- Xilonor
- Finsa
- Maderas Goiriz
- Urbanitree
- SATT Arquitectura
- Velima
- Waugh Thistleton Architects
- Maderaula
- Mies van der Rohe Pavilion
- London Festival of Architecture
- Wood Awards
- Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM)
- Universidade da Coruña (UDC)
- E.T.S. A – València – UPV
- Distrito Natural
- sAtt arquitectura
- DataHolz
- Veredes
Locations
- Galicia
- Spain
- Coirós
- A Coruña
- Barcelona
- Verneda
- Madrid
- Abegondo
- London
- Navarra
- Cataluña
Sources
- Veredes —