The Beam on Farmer, Arizona’s first mass timber, multi-story office building, topped out on Feb. 10, 2022.
The five-story, 184,000-sf structure, located in downtown Tempe, is the first in the state to feature exposed Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) construction as the primary structural system. Mortenson, the general contractor, plans to move its Arizona operations to the building when it opens this summer.
CLT fabricator, Holzpak, manufactured 194 CLT columns, 1,170 CLT beams, and 893 CLT decks weighing more than 4.5 million pounds for the structure. Some 79 shipping containers transported the building materials from Austria to the project site.
The interior will feature 13-foot exposed wood ceilings and 40,000 sf open floorplates. An Under Floor Air Distribution (UFAD) system will provide high air quality and energy efficiency. In the wake of the COVID-19 Pandemic, employee confidence in a clean, safe, and healthy work environment is a priority for owners. The Beam on Farmer is positioned to deliver one of the healthiest office building environments in the state, according to a news release. It will offer higher air quality and a contactless user experience.
![The Beam on Farmer Interior Rendering](/sites/default/files/inline-images/The%20Beam%20on%20Farmer-Rendering_1.jpg)
The CLT manufacturing process uses young trees, combining layers of natural timber and creates zero waste. The building will sequester almost 2,600 metric tons of carbon. Scrap material from CLT production is used to create other products or biofuel.
The building will feature a flexible office design and unique creative environment, the release says. It is nearby numerous attractions and amenities in Tempe. The building’s parking garage will feature a 4/1,000 parking ratio. The Phoenix office of JLL is the building’s exclusive leasing broker.
Mortenson and the construction team were recognized at the topping out ceremony for working 68,697 hours since groundbreaking without a single injury. The project team has volunteered for Habitat for Humanity and helped to raise donations for Southwest Human Development.
Owner and/or developer: Mortenson, PGIM Real Estate, Urban Development Partners
Design architect: RSP Architects
Architect of record: RSP Architects
MEP engineer: IMEG (Formerly MSA Engineering Consultants)
Structural engineer: PK Associates
General contractor/construction manager: Mortenson
Related Stories
| Sep 6, 2022
Demand for flexible workspace reaches all-time high
Demand for flexible workspace including coworking options has never been higher, according to a survey from Yardi Kube, a space management software provider that is part of Yardi Systems.
| Sep 2, 2022
Converting office buildings to apartments is cheaper, greener than building new
Converting office buildings to apartments is cheaper and greener than tearing down old office properties and building new residential buildings.
Mass Timber | Aug 30, 2022
Mass timber construction in 2022: From fringe to mainstream
Two Timberlab executives discuss the market for mass timber construction and their company's marketing and manufacturing strategies. Sam Dicke, Business Development Manager, and Erica Spiritos, Director of Preconstruction, Timberlab, speak with BD+C's John Caulfield.
Giants 400 | Aug 22, 2022
Top 90 Construction Management Firms for 2022
CBRE, Alfa Tech, Jacobs, and Hill International head the rankings of the nation's largest construction management (as agent) and program/project management firms for nonresidential and multifamily buildings work, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2022 Giants 400 Report.
Giants 400 | Aug 22, 2022
Top 200 Contractors for 2022
Turner Construction, STO Building Group, Whiting-Turner, and DPR Construction top the ranking of the nation's largest general contractors, CM at risk firms, and design-builders for nonresidential buildings and multifamily buildings work, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2022 Giants 400 Report.
Giants 400 | Aug 22, 2022
Top 45 Engineering Architecture Firms for 2022
Jacobs, AECOM, WSP, and Burns & McDonnell top the rankings of the nation's largest engineering architecture (EA) firms for nonresidential buildings and multifamily buildings work, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2022 Giants 400 Report.
Giants 400 | Aug 22, 2022
Top 80 Engineering Firms for 2022
Kimley-Horn, Tetra Tech, Langan, and NV5 head the rankings of the nation's largest engineering firms for nonresidential buildings and multifamily buildings work, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2022 Giants 400 Report.
| Aug 22, 2022
For Gen Z, “enhanced communication” won’t cut it
As the fastest-growing generation, Generation Z, loosely defined as those born between the mid-1990s and early 2000s, has become a hot topic in conversations surrounding workplace design.
Giants 400 | Aug 21, 2022
Top 110 Architecture/Engineering Firms for 2022
Stantec, HDR, HOK, and Skidmore, Owings & Merrill top the rankings of the nation's largest architecture engineering (AE) firms for nonresidential and multifamily buildings work, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2022 Giants 400 Report.
Giants 400 | Aug 20, 2022
Top 180 Architecture Firms for 2022
Gensler, Perkins and Will, HKS, and Perkins Eastman top the rankings of the nation's largest architecture firms for nonresidential and multifamily buildings work, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2022 Giants 400 Report.