PHILOMATH Ore. – When the Interfor sawmill shut down in Philomath, Oregon last year, it felt like more than a loss of jobs. It felt like a rupture in the town’s identity. The mill was the only one within city limits, and its closure eliminated more than 100 positions in a town of just under 6,000. …But six months later: Timberlab, a Portland-based company stepped in to buy the site, offering a second life not just for the property but for the town’s economic future. Timberlab specializes in mass timber. Timberlab’s work can be seen in parts of the new Portland International Airport and dozens of buildings across the region. “Back in the day, you used large trees for columns and beams,” said Timberlab Chief Executive Officer Chris Evans. “Now, with advances in technology, you can use small pieces of wood laminated together.”