CREJ - Building Dialogue - December 2016
As Colorado’s population grows and urban density increases, developers and architects must look to material innovation not only to answer the growth demand but also to provide full-cycle sustainable strategies within new construction. With a highly educated technology-centric market, our challenge is, more than ever, to connect people to the great outdoors and provide authentic building experiences. There are inherent challenges – including evaluating development risk and an untested market presence – involved with implementing new technologies. Yet, there is also great opportunity to provide a new sustainable construction type, specifically in the workplace. One such opportunity that our firm is exploring is the use of cross-laminated timber. While CLT is relatively new to the U.S. market (but common in Europe), its ability to infuse a space with the warm, natural character of wood in a fresh, contemporary environment is quickly gaining traction. Unlike traditional heavy timber, CLT is made from young, sustainably harvested trees such as spruce and Douglas fir. The harvested wood is then cut into layers, laminated together at alternating angles, and pressed into sturdy panels. The result is a high-density, reliable building material that is five times lighter than concrete with the strength of steel and the look of old-growth lumber. The trees absorb CO2 before being harvested, which leads to fewer carbon emissions during the manufacturing process compared to competing materials. Perhaps one of the most net-neutral features is the ability for CLT to be repurposed into a new use at the end of a building’s life, even with the primary structure being constructed out of wood. Additionally, each panel arrives to the construction site organized and numbered for accelerated assembly. CLT is establishing a new benchmark for creating authentic, sustainably built environments. With the visionary leadership of our clients, contractors who are willing to learn a new construction method and a creative design team in-house, we have been a key supporter in the effort to bring this material and construction method to the U.S. and Colorado. We are utilizing CLT on many projects, most notably: • An under-construction, state-of-the-art, 30,000-square-foot building made completely of CLT, connected to a former warehouse in Boulder – the first commercial CLT build in the state. • A 150,000-square-foot, five-story Class A office building in one of Denver’s hottest neighborhoods, named Platte Fifteen. The first commercial CLT project in Colorado, known as “The Loading Dock,” is occupied by Penton Media’s New Hope Network and Sovrn. It creatively revitalizes an existing CMU warehouse and adds a 30,000-square foot CLT creative office environment. Historically used as a loading dock, the design embraces the elevated building by creating a pedestrian-friendly boardwalk and links the outdoors with the interior space via floor-to-ceiling glazed openings, operable glass garage doors, and an orientation to the Flatirons. The CLT columns and ceiling panels are exposed to reveal a natural, authentic material warmth and environment not currently available in the Boulder market. “The Loading Dock” is one of only a few commercial projects in the nation to fully integrate CLT into its walls, floors, roof and structure. Our hope is that this uniquely built solution will catalyze workplace design innovation in East Boulder and provide opportunities to inform, educate and streamline the design and construction process. We are investigating using CLT on several projects in the U.S., including mid- and high-rise structures. Platte Fifteen – the first commercial CLT project to be built in Denver – is in the design phase with a construction completion anticipated in the third quarter of 2018. Platte Fifteen is a five-story, mixed-use building that merges sleek new construction with the character of a classic brick structure. A mix of uses include boutique retail, state-of-the-art offices, collaborative common areas, a fitness center, bike storage, underground parking and a rooftop deck with unobstructed views of the mountains and downtown Denver. Unlike other building materials, CLT offers a superior combination of structural strength and crafted detail that is setting a new standard for future workplace construction throughout the country. In a technology-centered world, people want to connect back to a tactile environment through spaces that utilize warm materials, authentic character and modern amenities. We believe that CLT fits seamlessly into that ideal — especially in Colorado, and look to support our clients in realizing the opportunities with this newly recognized material in workplace construction nationwide.