Abstract: A cross-laminated timber (CLT) panel formed of multiple layers of alternating perpendicularly aligned lumber, where one or more portions of one or more inner layers are selectively removed and where one or more layers have a thickness different than one or more other layers of the CLT panel. Further, a system for optimizing the CLT panel by determining the design for the selective removal of one or more portions of one or more inner layers and, optionally, one or more varying layer thicknesses, provides a CLT panel with an improved stiffness to weight ratio and reduced material consumption.