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
Mixed-Use | Apr 4, 2024
Sustainable mixed-use districts: Crafting urban communities
As a part of the revitalization of a Seattle neighborhood, Graphite Design Group designed a sustainable mixed-use community that exemplifies resource conversation, transportation synergies, and long-term flexibility.
Office Buildings | Apr 2, 2024
SOM designs pleated façade for Star River Headquarters for optimal daylighting and views
In Guangzhou, China, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) has designed the recently completed Star River Headquarters to minimize embodied carbon, reduce energy consumption, and create a healthy work environment. The 48-story tower is located in the business district on Guangzhou’s Pazhou Island.
Adaptive Reuse | Mar 30, 2024
Hotel vs. office: Different challenges in commercial to residential conversions
In the midst of a national housing shortage, developers are examining the viability of commercial to residential conversions as a solution to both problems.
Sustainability | Mar 29, 2024
Demystifying carbon offsets vs direct reductions
Chris Forney, Principal, Brightworks Sustainability, and Rob Atkinson, Senior Project Manager, IA Interior Architects, share the misconceptions about carbon offsets and identify opportunities for realizing a carbon-neutral building portfolio.
Office Buildings | Mar 28, 2024
Workplace campus design philosophy: People are the new amenity
Nick Arambarri, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, NCARB, Director of Commercial, LPA, underscores the value of providing rich, human-focused environments for the return-to-office workforce.
Office Buildings | Mar 27, 2024
A new Singapore office campus inaugurates the Jurong Innovation District, a business park located in a tropical rainforest
Surbana Jurong, an urban, infrastructure and managed services consulting firm, recently opened its new headquarters in Singapore. Surbana Jurong Campus inaugurates the Jurong Innovation District, a business park set in a tropical rainforest.
Adaptive Reuse | Mar 26, 2024
Adaptive Reuse Scorecard released to help developers assess project viability
Lamar Johnson Collaborative announced the debut of the firm’s Adaptive Reuse Scorecard, a proprietary methodology to quickly analyze the viability of converting buildings to other uses.
Sustainability | Mar 21, 2024
World’s first TRUE-certified building project completed in California
GENESIS Marina, an expansive laboratory and office campus in Brisbane, Calif., is the world’s first Total Resource Use and Efficiency (TRUE)-certified construction endeavor. The certification recognizes projects that achieve outstanding levels of resource efficiency through waste reduction, reuse, and recycling practices.
Office Buildings | Mar 21, 2024
Corporate carbon reduction pledges will have big impact on office market
Corporate carbon reduction commitments will have a significant impact on office leasing over the next few years. Businesses that have pledged to reduce their organization’s impact on climate change must ensure their next lease allows them to show material progress on their goals, according to a report by JLL.
Adaptive Reuse | Mar 21, 2024
Massachusetts launches program to spur office-to-residential conversions statewide
Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey recently launched a program to help cities across the state identify underused office buildings that are best suited for residential conversions.
