Wooden Apartment Buildings Become a Preferred Choice: Meiken Kogyo Launches 'CLT36MS' for Accessible Wooden Multi-Unit Housing Business

Meiken Kogyo Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Maniwa City, Okayama Prefecture) has launched a dedicated webpage for 'CLT36MS (CLT-3.6m Module System)', a support system for multi-unit housing projects using CLT (Cross-Laminated Timber) (June 16, 2026). This service provides standardized building models along with integrated marketing, design, construction, and revenue simulation, enabling construction companies with little prior experience in wooden or multi-unit housing to enter the market smoothly. Addressing challenges such as labor shortages and price competition faced by small and medium-sized general contractors and construction firms in rural areas, the company proposes a new option for wooden apartment buildings that are 'easy to sell, easy to build, and viable as a business,' aiming to promote sustainable multi-unit housing.

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Wooden Apartment Buildings as a 'Preferred Choice'

In recent years, the construction industry has continued to face changing business environments due to labor shortages and fluctuating material prices. Amid difficulties in differentiation, price competition remains common, increasing the demand for high-value-added business development. At the same time, limited resources often prioritize existing operations, making companies cautious about entering new fields.

Wooden apartment buildings possess characteristics that align with modern construction needs—such as constructability, environmental performance, and cost efficiency—making them suitable architectural solutions for today’s demands. In particular, CLT (Cross-Laminated Timber) is a large-panel wood-based material that is lightweight yet offers high seismic resistance and thermal insulation. Factory-based pre-cutting contributes to consistent quality. Additionally, dry construction methods simplify on-site processes and shorten construction periods. Building on these advantages, Meiken Kogyo has structured the potential of wooden apartment buildings into a practical, business-ready format.

Construction using CLT

Optimizing Quality, Construction, and Business Viability with CLT36MS

CLT36MS centers on standardized building models, providing integrated design, construction, marketing, and revenue simulation.

In design and construction, modular planning and standardized procedures enable efficient building while minimizing quality variations. Simple configurations reduce on-site decision-making and workload, allowing for stable construction systems. Furthermore, pre-prepared revenue simulations and sales tools allow companies to assess business feasibility and profitability in advance, supporting decision-making for new ventures. This approach enables construction firms to launch balanced, high-quality, constructible, and profitable apartment businesses without relying on individual experience or tacit knowledge.

Combining modules to create multiple unit layouts

Example of combined unit patterns

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Case Study

Exterior

Iino Town Apartment (X-ino)

Scale: 4-story building

Location: Iino Town, Agawa District, Kochi Prefecture

Total floor area: 751.59m²

Structure: Wooden (CLT Panel Method)

Fire resistance: 1 hour

Fire-resistant design: Kai Architectural Design Office, Ltd.

Construction: Hibiki Construction Co., Ltd.

Structural frame (CLT) Interior

The Iino Town Apartment is also part of the Forestry Agency’s demonstration project for CLT-utilized buildings under its subsidy program. An introductory video of the demonstration project is available—please take a look.

[Website of the Japan Housing and Wood Technology Center]

Standardization of Apartment Buildings Using CLT – Architectural Demonstration of the X-ino Iino Town Apartment New Construction Project

https://cltjisshou.org/cgi-bin/disp.cgi?no=404&mode=one&code=100000000632&subcode1=100000000622

Wooden apartment buildings built with CLT create a future where forests and living environments coexist sustainably. We are committed to a new model of apartment housing that combines building performance and business viability while promoting forest resource circulation and improving quality of life. By expanding wood-based architecture, we utilize regional resources and reduce environmental impact. Moving forward, we will continue striving to deliver value through architecture toward a sustainable society.

※ The dedicated page introduces CLT36MS concepts, standardized models, and real-world examples for construction companies. National rollout and service frameworks will be progressively reviewed and developed.

※ Revenue simulations are based on specific assumptions and do not guarantee future performance or profits.