Large-Scale Prefabricated Mass Timber - Does this Exist Anywhere in the US?

Sarah Wood

Senior Sustainability Specialist

Jacobs

LEEDuser Premium Member

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August 23, 2024

I have a client seeking grant funding & they're vetting current US technology around large-scale prefabricated mass timber. My question to this group is if this currently exists anywhere in the US.

Qualifications:

10+ years experience manufacturing and installing large-scale prefabricated mass timber elements into completed superstructures to a tolerance of 1mm.
Experience manufacturing and installing at least five mass timber structures greater than 60,000 square feet in size.
Ability to fabricate and install mass timber elements of up to 15 feet by 100 feet.

They've already vetted:

SmartLam
Mercer Mass Timber
Swinerton / Timberlab
Kalesnikoff (Canada)
StructureCraft (Canada)
Sustainable Northwest Wood
Northwest Natural Resource Group
Woodworks

Do you know of any fabricators who can meet the above qualifications? Thank you for your input!

Post a reply

Mike Manzi

Bora Architects

LEEDuser Basic Member

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Tue, 08/27/2024 - 23:50

The only other possibility we can come up with here is Seagate Mass Timber, though we don't have direct experience with them. 1 mm tolerance...wow!

Teresa Hamm Modley

Associate

VMDO

LEEDuser Basic Member

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Wed, 08/28/2024 - 01:19

Hi Sarah, You've mentioned that you are looking for US suppliers, but since you have a few Canadian manufacturers on the already vetted list, I would add Nordic Structures and Element 5. There's an emerging CLT producer in Durango Colorado, Timber Age Systems, but they don't meet your profile criteria. Thanks, Teresa

Sarah Wood

Senior Sustainability Specialist

Jacobs

LEEDuser Premium Member

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Tue, 09/03/2024 - 20:18

Thanks Teresa & Mike for your input! Indeed 1mm tolerance is a high bar. I'll share these additional options for the client to vet. Thanks again.

Mike Fowler

Sustainability Integration Leader, Associate Principal

MITHUN

LEEDuser Basic Member

1 thumbs up

Tue, 09/03/2024 - 20:39

Hi Sarah, A few more suggestions to consider in addition to the list your already have going. I don’t believe my earlier reply went through before my internet dropped. Have you investigated Vaagen Timbers yet? Not sure if they click all the boxes on your criteria list though may come close if not. They do have several > 60k sf projects: school in Portland area, hotel in Idaho, large project on UBC campus. Also, Binderholz is one to keep an eye on. They are well known in Europe / Austria and now have an office presence in Atlanta. I believe they supplied the mass timber for the Univ of Arkansas student housing project that is maybe 5-years old now. As Teresa noted, your list shows a few companies in Canada. We have looked at but not used yet the following: Western Archrib (glulam beams/columns) in Edmonton who did the impressive glulam columns for the historic Hayward Field stadium at the Univ of Oregon. Element5 in Quebec (CLT, glulam beams/columns) is another, which Teresa also suggested. Thanks,
Mike