Norway´s first multi-storey student housing project built from Cross Laminated Timber (CLT), the Palisaden, was constructed in 2013. Three years on more than 80% of student housing in Norway is built from timber. When the extension to Moholt student village by MDH arkitekter is completed in December this year, it will be the largest use of CLT in Europe. Following the struggles of timber to infiltrate a conservative construction industry, why and how did this breakthrough occur and what can we learn from it?