42XX

With the goal of creating a unique and vibrant work community, this developer chose to use mass timber to differentiate their new multi-building office complex in a transitioning area of southern California. The project team combined mass timber with steel and concrete, optimizing the advantages of each material to reduce both the carbon footprint and the weight of each of the three buildings, cutting total structure weight by 50 percent. Glue-laminated timber (glulam) beams and columns and cross-laminated timber (CLT) floor and roof panels were left exposed to the interior in each building, creating a modern yet warm vibe.

Designers gapped the CLT panels and then tucked mechanical systems into the gaps to minimize visual clutter inside and leave focus on the beautiful wood. Outdoor terraces and elevated walkways provide easy access between buildings and give tenants ample outdoor meeting space, while a central courtyard with mature trees and a ground-floor café add extra neighborhood appeal. During the planning stage, the mass timber supplier added value by certifying different CLT panel configurations that took advantage of specific lumber market pricing opportunities.

This project was also significant in that it was one of the first mass timber office projects reviewed and approved through the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS).

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