Set on a highly constrained site bordered by active rail, roadway, and bus infrastructure, the project posed significant logistical and structural challenges. MBJ helped navigate early construction constraints, including utility relocation, floodplain elevation requirements, and the need for a foundations-only permit.

To meet the project’s sustainability and performance goals, MBJ engineered a hybrid system of glulam columns and beams, CLT panels, and load-bearing CMU walls. The masonry supports the timber framing while providing the building’s primary resistance to lateral forces. Concealed connections allow the exposed wood to take visual prominence, bringing warmth and a connection to nature into the interior. A central stair blends steel and glulam into a light-filled path between floors, opening views to the city and surrounding forest.

MBJ collaborated closely with the contractor’s VDC team to integrate MEP systems into the exposed structure, preplanning penetrations and routing to minimize on-site modifications. Concealed base plates and internal bracing for freestanding CMU walls enabled efficient mass timber installation within narrow tolerances. The resulting net-zero-ready facility brings together structural performance, expressive materials, and carefully coordinated details to support a welcoming experience for building users.