California’s forests face growing threats from overcrowding, climate change, and escalating wildfire risk, while cities struggle to reduce the carbon impact of existing buildings. This session explores how nail-laminated timber (NLT)—a low-tech, adhesive-free mass timber system—can connect forest restoration to adaptive reuse and climate-smart construction. Through a case study of a West Oakland warehouse retrofit built with site-fabricated NLT panels, the presentation shows how small-diameter and non-merchantable trees removed during forest thinning can be transformed into durable building materials. By pairing restoration forestry with local fabrication, NLT offers a practical way to reduce embodied carbon while strengthening regional material supply chains. The session traces wood’s journey from forest to building, highlighting how design, craft, and construction decisions can support healthier forests, safer communities, and better indoor environments. Attendees will gain insight into how accessible mass timber systems can support climate resilience, local economies, and adaptive reuse projects at multiple scales.