Full-scale construction and testing of stress-laminated columns made with low-grade wood

•Original and novel application of stress lamination in timber columns.•Simple construction compatible with low-grade wood, for bespoke and standard elements.•Buckling loads of stress-laminated columns are similar to solid timber and glulam.•Prestress losses can be effectively mitigated with over-dried hardwood bearing plates. Stress lamination is a simple construction technique widely used in timber bridge decks. This study presents a new application of stress lamination for making timber columns. Using prestressing rods and friction forces instead of glue, numerous connections and twenty-five full-scale columns were built with low-grade wood and structurally tested. The results show how stress-laminated columns display comparable buckling performance to solid timber and glulam columns. A six-month testing period with novel connection details further confirms how prestress losses can be reliably controlled. This work highlights the broader potential and performance of stress lamination in modern timber engineering and building design.