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40 / BUILDING DIALOGUE / December 2020 ELEMENTS Cross Laminated Timber Guide to TI Projects in Cross Laminated Timber Buildings H eavy timber is widely used as a building material throughout Europe, first gain- ing traction around 1996. With technological upgrades, a better understanding of thematerial, and the formal adoption of timber into city building codes, timber framed buildings are quickly gaining momen- tum in the U.S. – and especially in the Denver market. (Benefits and risks of building with Cross Laminated Timber, https://axaxl.com/fast-fast-for- ward/articles/benefits-and-risks-of-build- ing-with-cross-laminated-timber) Aesthetics are the defining characteristic of timber buildings, adding significant curb appeal for tenants. While this building type can providemany benefits beyond aesthetics, there are a few things to consider before moving forwardwith a tenant improvement project in a CLT building. • Floor loads. “Our company is growing fast,weneed 348 desks on the floor – to start.” Different from other building types, CLT buildings cannot be easily or inexpensively upgraded through- out the lifetimeof a tenant’s lease inorder toholdmore occupants on each floor. Partner with your architectural team to obtain the maximum structural and occupant loading for the floor prior to signing a lease. A nuance of CLT buildings is that they are frequently limited by the capacity of the beams instead of solely by the egresswidth. Know- ing the maximum structural and occupant loading is crucial toavoidcostlychangeordersduring theproject. • Anopenconcept. “Wooddoesn’t seemthat strong. I don’t want the floor plan interrupted by too many col- umns.” Since the first steel-framed skyscraper topped out in Chicago in 1885, steel has enjoyed a long and well-re- spected history as a strong and durable material. CLT, by comparison, is less widely thought of as such. CLT consists of layers of sawn wood that are stacked, and glued togeth- er, forming thicknesses ranging from mere inches to over 1½ feet. As a result of this engineering, CLT beams can reach spans of almost 45 feet uninterrupted. (TRADA Technology. Wood information sheet wis 2/3-61 cross laminated timber. Technical report, Timber Research and Development Association, UK; 2011) While continuing to be mindful of the structural loading of the floor, the long spans achieved by CLT beams can pres- ent great opportunities for both tenants and designers alike. Large column spacing provides a cli- ent the ability to reconfigure their space without being limited by interior struc- tural elements, enabling flexibility. For your architect, a longer spanmost Jaimie Bocco Job Captain, IA Interior Architects Thana Taliep Job Captain, IA Interior Architects Large column spacing provides a client the ability to recon- figure their space without being limited by interior struc- tural elements, enabling flexibility. The long spans achieved by CLT beams can present great opportunities for both tenants and designers alike.