Boise Cascade
American manufacturer of wood products and wholesale distributor of building materials.
Last updated August 22, 2026
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Overview
Boise Cascade is an American wood-products manufacturer and wholesale building-materials distributor headquartered in Boise, Idaho. Its business is organized around two closely related operations: Wood Products, which manufactures plywood, lumber, laminated veneer lumber, I-joists and other engineered wood products; and Building Materials Distribution, which supplies structural and complementary construction materials to professional customers across North America. The company was created in 1957 through the merger of Cascade Lumber Company of Yakima, Washington, and Boise Payette Lumber Company of Boise, Idaho. Under its first chief executive, Robert Hansberger, Boise Cascade initially combined timberland ownership, timber growing and harvesting, lumber manufacturing, retail distribution and other forest-products activities. It expanded rapidly during the 1950s and 1960s, adding distribution outlets and entering paper manufacturing when its Wallula, Washington, mill began operating in 1958. During the 1960s the company also diversified into businesses including ready-mix concrete, plastics, textiles, sand and gravel, recreational ventures, real estate and engineering services. That broad diversification contributed to financial strain in the early 1970s. After Hansberger resigned in 1972, John Fery became chief executive and redirected the company toward core building-materials and paper businesses. Boise Cascade later reduced or exited several activities, including its retail outlets and parts of its office-products distribution operations. During the 1990s it invested heavily in engineered wood products, establishing laminated veneer lumber facilities in Oregon and Louisiana and developing a finger-jointing method for LVL production. It also strengthened its distribution network, including through the 1999 purchase of Furman Lumber. The company acquired OfficeMax in 2003. In 2004, its paper, forest-products and timberland assets were separated from the remaining business in a transaction involving Madison Dearborn Capital Partners. The timberlands were sold in 2005 to reduce debt, while the pulp and paper operations were later separated into Boise, Inc. Boise Cascade subsequently concentrated on engineered wood manufacturing and building-materials distribution. It completed its return to public markets with an initial public offering on the New York Stock Exchange on February 6, 2013. Today, Boise Cascade serves residential and commercial construction through manufacturing facilities in the Pacific Northwest and southeastern United States and a Canadian mill in St. Jacques, New Brunswick. Its distribution business carries structural wood, siding, composite decking, metal products, insulation and other materials sourced from a broad supplier base. The company sells primarily to wholesalers, home-improvement centers, retail lumber dealers, builders and industrial customers. Its present strategy emphasizes vertical integration, engineered wood capacity and a nationwide distribution footprint rather than the diversified conglomerate model of its earlier decades.
History
Boise Cascade began in 1957 when Cascade Lumber Company of Yakima, Washington, merged with Boise Payette Lumber Company of Boise, Idaho. Robert Hansberger, previously associated with Boise Payette, became the new corporation's chief executive. The early business combined timberland management, timber harvesting, lumber production and distribution of building materials. By the end of 1958, the company had established more than one hundred retail outlets in its distribution operation. Its first paper mill, at Wallula, Washington, also began production that year, making corrugated shipping containers. During the 1960s Boise Cascade expanded across the forest-products economy and into a wide range of adjacent industries. Its holdings included concrete, plastics, textiles, aggregates, office-products distribution, recreational businesses, real estate and engineering and construction interests. The company built its current Boise headquarters in 1970, with a design by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. The diversification strategy later contributed to severe financial pressure. Hansberger resigned in October 1972, when the company's share price had fallen sharply, and John Fery succeeded him as chief executive. Fery led a return to core businesses, emphasizing building materials and paper while reducing exposure to less central activities. The housing downturn of the 1980s resulted in contraction of the distribution operation, and Boise Cascade had sold or closed all of its retail outlets by 1987. In the early 1990s the company sold the wholesale portion of its office-products distribution business while retaining its consumer business. It simultaneously developed a stronger position in engineered wood products, constructing laminated veneer lumber facilities in White City, Oregon, and Alexandria, Louisiana. The company introduced a finger-jointing process for LVL production that it described as distinctive within the engineered-wood-products industry. Fery retired in 1994 and George Harad became chief executive. Under Harad, Boise Cascade expanded distribution while reducing its manufacturing exposure in selected areas. The 1999 acquisition of Furman Lumber helped create a nationwide wholesale building-materials network. A major strategic change followed in 2003, when Boise Cascade acquired OfficeMax. In 2004 the company's paper, forest-products and timberland assets were separated from the remaining business through a transaction with Madison Dearborn Capital Partners, leaving a privately held Boise Cascade LLC and an OfficeMax business trading under the OfficeMax name. The post-acquisition company carried substantial debt. Its approximately 1.6 million acres of timberland were sold in 2005 to support debt reduction. In 2008, the pulp and paper operations were transferred into Boise, Inc., which later became associated with Packaging Corporation of America's Boise Paper business. The separation enabled Boise Cascade to retire most of its remaining debt and concentrate on wood products and distribution. The housing-market collapse beginning in 2008 created difficult conditions throughout the sector. Tom Carlile became chief executive in 2009 and guided investments in engineered wood, veneer capacity and distribution facilities during the gradual housing recovery. Boise Cascade prepared for a return to public ownership in 2012 and completed its initial public offering on February 6, 2013, with its shares listed on the New York Stock Exchange under BCC. The modern company operates two vertically integrated divisions. Wood Products manufactures plywood, lumber and engineered products, including LVL and I-joists, while Building Materials Distribution supplies structural and complementary construction products from multiple distribution locations. The company remains distinct from the Canadian paper company Cascades and from Boise, Inc., the later paper business formed from Boise Cascade's divested paper and packaging assets.
- 2013
Return to the public markets
[1]Boise Cascade completes its initial public offering and begins trading on the New York Stock Exchange under BCC on February 6.
- 2008
Pulp and paper operations become Boise, Inc.
[1]The pulp and paper operations are transferred into a separately traded company, allowing Boise Cascade to retire most remaining debt.
- 2005
Timberlands are sold
[1]Approximately 1.6 million acres of timberlands are sold to help reduce acquisition-related debt.
- 2004
Forest-products assets are separated
[1]The paper, forest-products and timberland assets are separated from the remaining business in a transaction involving Madison Dearborn Capital Partners.
- 2003
OfficeMax is acquired
[1]Boise Cascade acquires OfficeMax in a major expansion beyond its traditional forest-products businesses.
- 1999
Furman Lumber is acquired
[1]The acquisition strengthens Boise Cascade's nationwide wholesale building-materials distribution network.
- 1990
Engineered wood investment accelerates
[1]Boise Cascade develops laminated veneer lumber capacity in Oregon and Louisiana and advances a finger-jointing process for LVL production.
- 1987
Retail outlet network is exited
[1]All of the company's retail outlets have been sold or closed following contraction in the building-products distribution business.
- 1972
Management redirects the company
[1]John Fery succeeds Robert Hansberger and begins moving Boise Cascade back toward core building-materials and paper businesses.
- 1958
Distribution and paper operations expand
[1]The company establishes more than one hundred retail distribution outlets and begins operating its Wallula, Washington, paper mill.
Products and positioning
Vertically integrated supplier of engineered wood products and professional building materials, combining manufacturing scale with broad wholesale distribution.
Structural wood products
Engineered wood products
Boise Cascade manufactures engineered wood products for residential and commercial construction, including laminated veneer lumber and I-joists. These products are designed for structural applications such as beams, headers, floor systems and roof systems. The company operates major manufacturing facilities in the United States and Canada and has built its modern strategy around expanding engineered-wood capacity.
Panels
Plywood
Plywood is manufactured for structural and construction uses and sold through Boise Cascade's wood-products and distribution channels. It is supplied to wholesalers, retail dealers and builders for applications throughout the building envelope and structural frame.
Structural wood products
Lumber
The Wood Products division manufactures and distributes lumber used in residential and commercial construction. Lumber is offered alongside plywood and engineered products, enabling Boise Cascade to supply multiple structural requirements through its manufacturing and wholesale network.
Wholesale distribution
Building Materials Distribution
The distribution business stocks structural wood and a broad range of complementary construction materials sourced from third-party suppliers. Its assortment includes engineered wood, siding, composite decking, metal products, insulation and related materials. Orders are delivered by truck and rail to home-improvement centers, retail lumber dealers, builders and industrial customers.
Controversies
2019
NETA and Boise Cascade settle trademark lawsuit
NETA and Boise Cascade agreed to dismiss Boise Cascade’s lawsuit, which alleged that NETA’s logo infringed its trademarks. The case was dismissed with prejudice and without costs; the settlement details were not included in public court filings.
Brand decisions
2013
Initial public offeringOtherBackground
After several years as a privately held company focused on wood products and distribution, Boise Cascade prepared to return to public ownership.
Action taken
The company completed an initial public offering and listed its shares on the New York Stock Exchange under BCC on February 6, 2013.
Aftermath
Boise Cascade continued operating as a public company centered on its Wood Products and Building Materials Distribution divisions.
2008
Separation of pulp and paper operationsStrategyBackground
Boise Cascade was restructuring after the OfficeMax transaction and seeking to reduce debt and focus its business.
Action taken
The pulp and paper operations were placed into the separately traded Boise, Inc.
Aftermath
Boise Cascade paid down most of its remaining debt and concentrated on wood products and building-materials distribution.
2005
Sale of timberlands to reduce debtStrategyBackground
The company carried substantial debt after the OfficeMax acquisition and related restructuring.
Action taken
Boise Cascade sold approximately 1.6 million acres of timberlands.
Aftermath
The proceeds were used to support debt reduction and the company's transition toward manufacturing and distribution.
2003
Acquisition of OfficeMaxM&ABackground
Boise Cascade pursued a major expansion into office-products retail and distribution.
Action taken
The company acquired OfficeMax.
Aftermath
The transaction was followed by a 2004 separation of the paper, forest-products and timberland assets from the remaining business.
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