Firms accomplish Washington, D.C.’s first mass timber overbuild

A undertaking at 80 M Road SE (80 M) in Washington, D.C., is the primary within the metropolis to make use of the sustainable mass timber materials in a three-floor enlargement atop the prevailing constructing, serving to preserve the constructing operational throughout building and minimizing structural strengthening interventions as a result of mild weight of the fabric.

The multidisciplinary agency Arup, offering options for the constructed setting, delivered a full suite of engineering design providers for the overbuild undertaking positioned in Capitol Riverfront district, together with structural engineering, MEP engineering, acoustic consulting, and fireplace and life security consulting. Notably, Arup labored with developer Columbia and architect Hickok Cole to navigate a code modification course of, gaining approval for the uncovered mass timber vertical extension from the D.C. code authority.

Arup’s built-in workforce of mass timber consultants ensured the proposed options fulfilled present fireplace and life security code necessities and aligned with the requirements of the 2021 Worldwide Constructing Code, which permits mass timber buildings of as much as 12 tales.

The three light-filled flooring on prime of the prevailing 26,570-m² (286,000-sf) constructing are comprised of greater than 1,180 t (1,300 tons) of mass timber, sourced from forests within the Pacific Northwest and Japanese Canada. The addition was designed to reinforce productiveness and wellness for the constructing’s occupants, with 4.6-m (15-ft) ceilings, floor-to-ceiling home windows, and 279-m² (3,000-sf) of outside facilities.

As a renewable materials, timber carries a considerably decrease carbon footprint than standard constructing supplies like concrete and metal. The sustainable focus of 80 M extends to the photovoltaic (PV) array on the constructing’s roof. Arup carried out a fast feasibility examine and value profit evaluation to attain this, revealing the potential for a four-year return on funding. Columbia and Hickok Cole are actually pursuing LEED Silver Core and Shell and WELL Constructing Commonplace model 2 (WELL v2) certification for the vertical overbuild portion of the constructing, which already holds ENERGY STAR, Fitwel, and WiredScore Silver certifications.

“As a constructing materials, mass timber affords not solely unparalleled sustainability but in addition unbelievable magnificence, and we’re proud to have contributed to a undertaking that showcases its many advantages,” mentioned Matt Larson, Arup’s undertaking director and Affiliate Principal. “Our coordination with the DC code authority in creating strong options exterior of prescriptive necessities for tall timber buildings helped 80 M change into the primary constructing in Washington DC to function uncovered timber above 26 m (85 ft) in top,” additional added Lauren Wingo, Arup’s undertaking supervisor and senior structural engineer.