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 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
Airports | Apr 4, 2022
Dominican Republic airport expansion will add mixed-use features
The recently revealed design concept for the expansion of Santiago International Airport in the Dominican Republic includes a transformation of the current building into a mixed-use space that features an office park, business center, and hotel.
Codes and Standards | Mar 23, 2022
High office vacancies have cities rethinking downtown zoning
As record-high office vacancies persist in U.S. urban areas, cities are rethinking zoning policy.
Projects | Mar 22, 2022
Fast-growing Austin adds a $3 billion community
The nation’s fastest-growing large metro area is getting even bigger, with the addition of a $3 billion, 66-acre community.
Projects | Mar 18, 2022
Former department store transformed into 1 million sf mixed-use complex
Sibley Square, a giant mixed-use complex project that transformed a nearly derelict former department store was recently completed in Rochester, N.Y.
Projects | Mar 17, 2022
Plans unveiled for ‘Wall Street South’ mixed-use office block in West Palm Beach
Brand Atlantic Real Estate Partners, Wheelock Street Capital, and B+H Architects released design plans for a new mixed-use office block in West Palm Beach called Banyan & Olive.
Projects | Mar 10, 2022
Optometrist office takes new approach to ‘doc-in-a-box’ design
In recent decades, franchises have taken over the optometry services and optical sales market. This trend has spawned a commodity-type approach to design of office and retail sales space.
Mass Timber | Mar 8, 2022
Heavy timber office and boutique residential building breaks ground in Austin
T3 Eastside, a heavy timber office and boutique residential building, recently broke ground in Austin, Texas.
Performing Arts Centers | Mar 8, 2022
Cincinnati Ballet’s new center embodies the idea that dance is for everyone
Cincinnati Ballet had become a victim of its own success, according to company president and CEO Scott Altman. “We were bursting at the seams in our old building. We had simply outgrown the facility,” Altman told the Cincinnati Enquirer.
Projects | Mar 7, 2022
An Atlanta office promotes employee well-being
For its new Atlanta office, New Relic, a California-based technology company that develops cloud-based software, wanted to keep employee health and wellness at the fore. It also wanted the workspace design to bolster productivity as well as employee engagement and retention.
Projects | Mar 3, 2022
Move, lift, restore: Repurposing a former post office near San Francisco
In mid-February, a construction crew began lifting a 1940s post office building located in Burlingame, Calif., on the San Francisco Peninsula.