HITT Co|Lab

Co|Lab is HITT Contracting’s designated space for the research and testing of emerging materials, approaches, and technology that will rapidly transform the construction and real estate industries. It was envisioned as a showcase for building innovation that would utilize healthy materials and exhibit smart emerging design and construction technologies. The mass timber structure—which includes CLT walls and ceilings supported by glulam columns and beams—was chosen for its aesthetic, multi-sensory characteristics, light carbon footprint, and speed of construction. The design is based on cradle-to-cradle principles; instead of minimizing the building’s negative environmental footprint, the team wanted a beneficial footprint. Co|Lab is LEED Platinum-certified, and HITT is pursuing both Net Zero Energy and Petal certification. It was the first CLT structure in Virginia and the first commercial mass timber building in metropolitan DC.