Once completed in July, Texas will have its first full mass timber building in the First United Bank building. In addition to being the first full mass timber building in the state, the 8,500 sf building will also be the first retail mass timber structure in the state and the first mass timber structure in the country to use Southern Yellow Pine CLT panels.
Gensler, the project’s architect, decided to use Southern Yellow Pine over the typical Douglas Fir because it is a native species prevalent to Texas and surrounding southern states, which opens the possibilities for using true local natural resources for future projects.
Courtesy Gensler.
See Also: Real-world wellness pays off
The mass timber elements used in the First United Bank in Fredericksburg were completed 60% faster than traditional construction. Southern Yellow Pine glulam beams and columns are being used in the bank’s construction. The glulam beams will be left exposed along with CLT panels in the lobby, community room, office spaces, and exterior overhang.
The project is designed as a net zero structure, producing as much energy as it consumes on a yearly basis.
Courtesy Gensler.
Courtesy Gensler.
Courtesy Gensler.
Related Stories
| Feb 10, 2012
Task force addresses questions regarding visually graded Southern Pine lumber
Answers address transition issues, how to obtain similar load-carrying capabilities, and why only some grades and sizes are affected at this time.
| Feb 2, 2012
Call for Entries: 2012 Building Team Awards. Deadline March 2, 2012
Winning projects will be featured in the May issue of BD+C.
| Feb 1, 2012
New ways to work with wood
New products like cross-laminated timber are spurring interest in wood as a structural material.
| Jan 26, 2012
Hendrick Construction completes Osso Restaurant in Charlotte
Designed by François Fossard, Osso's upscale interior includes tapered, twisted decorative columns and an elegant fireplace in the center of the lounge.
| Dec 20, 2011
BCA’s Best Practices in New Construction available online
This publicly available document is applicable to most building types and distills the long list of guidelines, and longer list of tasks, into easy-to-navigate activities that represent the ideal commissioning process.
| Dec 19, 2011
HGA renovates Rowing Center at Cornell University
Renovation provides state-of-the-art waterfront facility.
| Dec 5, 2011
Summit Design+Build begins renovation of Chicago’s Esquire Theatre
The 33,000 square foot building will undergo an extensive structural remodel and core & shell build-out changing the building’s use from a movie theater to a high-end retail center.
| Nov 29, 2011
First EPD awarded to exterior roof and wall products manufacturer
EPD is a standardized, internationally recognized tool for providing information on a product’s environmental impact.