The website expertmarketresearch.com estimates that the value of the global cross-laminated timber market hit $779 million in 2020, and is expected to grow annually by 13% to $1.624 billion in 2026.
As demand for mass timber increases, branding is beginning to emerge. One example is TimberQuest, an advanced prefabricated school construction product for the California educational market, which was recently launched by three Bay Area AEC firms: Milpitas-based XL Construction, San Jose-based Aedis Architects, and Saratoga-based Daedalus Structural Engineering.
The trio’s first project using its product is a new 4,000-sf building for kindergarten students with four 1,000-sf classrooms, each with its own restroom, for Sacred Heart Schools in Atherton, Calif., whose 63-acre campus and K-12 curriculum serve more than 800 families. The school greenlighted this project—which is believed to be the first of its kind in the nation—on April 1, and the mass timber components were fabricated and delivered to the construction site by June 1. The building team is targeting an August 31 completion date, in time for the fall semester.
“Two of the things we liked most about the TimberQuest classroom design is the ‘daylighting’ created by the structure’s large windows combined with the exposed wood interior that makes the classroom very pleasant and appealing,” says Michael Dwyer, Sacred Heart Schools’ director of operations. “The building’s overall energy efficiency supports our sustainability philosophy and stands as a shining example of these values we teach to our students.”
Also see: A fly-through video rendering of a TimberQuest classroom
A FLEXIBLE PRODUCTION APPROACH TO MASS TIMBER CONSTRUCTION
TimberQuest buildings are available in three-to-nine classroom sizes, and are designed to let in lots of natural light.
Matt Larson, XL Construction’s preconstruction director, tells BD+C that his firm and Aedis had worked together previously. “We also knew that we needed a structural expert on both mass timber and California codes. Daedalus [has] local expertise, and has partnered with Fast + Epp, a leading expert on mass timber, to provide both expertise under one roof. XL, Aedis and Daedalus have a core commitment to sustainability and innovation, which are at the heart of TimberQuest.”
Larson went on to explain TimberQuest’s approach to fabrication. For higher-tech items that require expensive machining (such as the mass timber components, the HVAC system, and the glazing system), the building team partners with local suppliers with existing plants. For lower-tech parts of panel fabrication, “there is no requirement for a large plant or expensive tooling,” says Larson. To fabricate walls and roofs, flexible approaches can include “popup” factories in temporary facilities, and using XL’s shop/yard. Fabricating onsite is also an option.
“We feel that this approach will help us avoid a common failure point for this type of venture, namely the overinvestment in facilities and tooling and lack of ability to quickly scale up or down,” says Larson.
FEWER DESIGN DAYS AND ONSITE TRADES
Several factors contribute to TimberQuest’s production speed. These include pre-made design for manufacturing and assembly, and the reduction in the number of trades needed for a project. Larson says that the building team has winnowed the design process—normally 6-12 months—to 6-8 weeks; and has cut the number of trades onsite—typically between 20 and 30—to around 10. “And we hope to reduce it further in the future,” he says.
TimberQuest buildings are available in three- to nine-classroom sizes, between 3,000 and 9,000 sf. A total of nine interior layouts are included in the precheck design, including standard classroom, large classroom, breakout space, office/conference, science, kindergarten and three restroom configurations. The all-electric design utilizes heat pump technology to exceed California’s Title 24 energy usage standards by between 35% and 60%. TimberQuest buildings seek to take full advantage of renewable energy resources.
Related Stories
Mass Timber | Mar 19, 2023
A 100% mass timber construction project is under way in North Carolina
An office building 100% made from mass timber has started construction within the Live Oak Bank campus in Wilmington, N.C. The 67,000-sf structure, a joint building venture between the GCs Swinerton and Wilmington-headquartered Monteith Construction, is scheduled for completion in early 2024.
Contractors | Mar 17, 2023
Skanska hires first Director of Mass Timber & Prefabrication
Global construction and development firm Skanska USA has hired Dean Lewis as its first Director of Mass Timber & Prefabrication. Lewis will be responsible for the company’s work on prefabrication and mass timber projects across the United States,
Codes | Mar 2, 2023
Biden Administration’s proposed building materials rules increase domestic requirements
The Biden Administration’s proposal on building materials rules used on federal construction and federally funded state and local buildings would significantly boost the made-in-America mandate. In the past, products could qualify as domestically made if at least 55% of the value of their components were from the U.S.
Mass Timber | Jan 27, 2023
How to set up your next mass timber construction project for success
XL Construction co-founder Dave Beck shares important preconstruction steps for designing and building mass timber buildings.
Mass Timber | Dec 1, 2022
Cross laminated timber market forecast to more than triple by end of decade
Cross laminated timber (CLT) is gaining acceptance as an eco-friendly building material, a trend that will propel its growth through the end of the 2020s. The CLT market is projected to more than triple from $1.11 billion in 2021 to $3.72 billion by 2030, according to a report from Polaris Market Research.
75 Top Products | Nov 30, 2022
75 top building products for 2022
Each year, the Building Design+Construction editorial team evaluates the vast universe of new and updated products, materials, and systems for the U.S. building design and construction market. The best-of-the-best products make up our annual 75 Top Products report.
Wood | Nov 16, 2022
5 steps to using mass timber in multifamily housing
A design-assist approach can provide the most effective delivery method for multifamily housing projects using mass timber as the primary building element.
University Buildings | Nov 13, 2022
University of Washington opens mass timber business school building
Founders Hall at the University of Washington Foster School of Business, the first mass timber building at Seattle campus of Univ. of Washington, was recently completed. The 84,800-sf building creates a new hub for community, entrepreneurship, and innovation, according the project’s design architect LMN Architects.
Building Materials | Nov 2, 2022
Design for Freedom: Ending slavery and child labor in the global building materials sector
Sharon Prince, Founder and CEO of Grace Farms and Design for Freedom, discusses DFF's report on slavery and enforced child labor in building products and materials.
Wood | Nov 1, 2022
A European manufacturer says its engineered wood products can store carbon for decades
Metsä Wood, a Finland-based manufacturer of engineered wood products, says its sustainable, material-efficient products can store carbon for decades, helping to combat climate change.