National Veterans Resource Center

The National Veterans Resource Center at Syracuse University is a first-of-its-kind facility dedicated to advanced academic research, action-oriented programming and community-connected innovation in service to the nation’s veterans and military-connected families.

Wrapping the exterior of the large central auditorium and forming a canopy over the lobby, exhibition and event spaces is a 21,300-square-foot, doubly curved cross-laminated timber (CLT) feature wall. The wall rises 28 feet to become a ceiling system, extends past the façade line and encloses 9,900 square feet of ground-level space. The wall consists of 12,274 uniquely milled CLT Douglas-fir planks and spruce panels, affixed to the supporting structure via 135,200 screws, clips and other hardware—all coordinated centrally in a federated digital model.

The biophilic benefits of wood were heavily considered in the design of this project. The team chose wood for its inherent connection to nature, as a way to provide added value for the military veterans who utilize the Center’s resources. Extensive wood cladding was also used throughout the major public spaces of the project, including the entirety of the auditorium and main conference room interiors.