MASS TIMBER is a new method of framing that is transforming how we build: from high density living projects and commercial offices to civil buildings and tall wood towers. There are a variety of mass timber products which consist of multiple solid wood panels nailed or glued together, providing exceptional strength and stability. These new technologies allow different types of wood to be bound together creating strong, fire-resistant materials from relatively young trees.
“Nimble and lightweight, prefabricated mass timber building systems can be assembled by fewer workers in tight, more difficult-to-reach construction sites. Often modular, these mass timber building systems can be easily put together like a kit-of-parts. Precisely manufactured assemblies, such as prefabricated mass timber panels, also provide thermal benefits and can help make building envelopes more energy-efficient and airtight. This makes mass timber buildings well-suited to energy-efficient construction and the rigorous standards of Passive House and net-zero-ready design. It’s a strong, low-carbon alternative to concrete and steel. When considered over their lifetime—from the harvest of raw materials through manufacturing, transportation, construction, disposal or recycling—mass timber products have less embodied energy, reduce air and water pollution and have a smaller environmental footprint.“ (Mass Timber Design Manual 2021)
CLT coming into place at our google mt1 project in sunnyvale, ca.
CLT: CROSS-LAMINATED TIMBER
CLT panels consist of layered lumber boards (usually three, five, or seven) stacked crosswise at 90-degree angles and glued into place. Applications for CLT include floors, walls and roofing. The panels’ ability to resist high racking and compressive forces makes them especially cost-effective for multistory and long-span diaphragm applications.
GLULAM: GLUE-LAMINATED TIMBER
Glulam is a structural engineered wood product commonly used for beams and columns in residential and commercial applications. The laminations are jointed end to end, allowing for long spans, and are bonded with a durable, moisture-resistant adhesive. The laminations’ grains run parallel with the member’s length to improve its strength. Glulam has a reputation for being used in exposed applications such as vaulted ceilings and designs with large open spaces.
showstopping glulam at our esquimalt town square project in esquimalt, BC
NLT bringing back the old school at our FSJ Civil building in fort st. john, bc
NLT: NAIL-LAMINATED TIMBER
A century-old construction material in which dimension lumber is placed on edge with individual laminations mechanically fastened together with nails or screws. NLT gets its strength and durability from the nails/screws that fasten individual pieces of dimensional lumber into a single structural element. Applications for NLT include flooring, decking, roofing, and walls, as well as elevator and stair shafts.
