Developers and designers are starting to embrace cross-laminated timber, which is showing up in new buildings throughout the Portland area. First Tech Federal Credit Union began moving into its new corporate office in Hillsboro last month. At five stories and 156,000 square feet, it’s the nation’s largest structure built with the new technology. But perhaps not for long. Across the river, the Vancouver School District plans to incorporate the massive wood panels into its Marshall Elementary and McLoughlin Middle School rebuilds. At a combined 175,000 square feet, the schools would surpass First Tech as the largest CLT installation in the country. “It’s a nice, natural, very Northwest look,” said Todd Horenstein, district assistant superintendent for capital planning. Plus, it was slightly less expensive than steel, he said.