Considerations When Constructing a Mass Timber Project
Mass timber is transforming the construction industry with its combination of sustainability, aesthetic appeal, and structural performance. The global mass timber construction market is projected to grow from $857 million in 2021 to $1.5 billion by 2031, reflecting its increasing adoption and impact. Mass timber encompasses engineered wood products such as cross-laminated timber (CLT), glue-laminated timber (glulam), and nail-laminated timber (NLT), which are crafted to offer exceptional load-bearing capacity and structural integrity. Its rise in popularity is driven by its eco-friendly qualities, including lower carbon emissions and energy efficiency, as well as its distinctive visual appeal. Mass timber also offers design versatility, fast construction, biophilic and wellness advantages, and community and societal benefits. Taking full advantage of mass timber’s benefits requires careful consideration throughout the construction lifecycle.
Project Delivery Considerations
To fully leverage the benefits of mass timber, early and meticulous planning is crucial. Collaborative delivery models – such as construction management at risk (CMAR), design-build, and integrated project delivery (IPD) – foster a cohesive team environment where architects, engineers, contractors, suppliers, and Owners work together from the outset, allowing for more effective problem-solving and innovation. This integrated approach helps streamline design and construction processes, ensuring that mass timber components are engineered, manufactured, and assembled with high precision. By engaging all parties early and maintaining open communication throughout the project, collaborative delivery minimizes risks, reduces delays, and enhances overall project efficiency.
“Early planning is the key to success on mass timber projects, making collaborative delivery models the most viable options,” says Juan Rodriguez, Senior Vice President at McCownGordon. “These projects demand extensive collaboration across engineering, design, and construction teams and require a coordinated approach from the start.”
McCownGordon delivers more than 95 percent of its work through collaborative delivery methods which allows their teams to engage early in the preconstruction process. The firm’s proven delivery approaches were built to handle the unique challenges associated with constructing using mass timber.
Learn more about McCownGordon’s Collaborative Delivery Methods.
Estimating Considerations
The initial cost of mass timber can be higher compared to traditional materials, but it may offer long-term savings. Early and detailed cost analyses, including material costs, labor, and contingencies, are essential. Comprehensive budgeting and real-time estimating allow for accurate financial planning and help prevent unexpected costs and delays. By understanding the cost implications early on, Owners can gain a clearer understanding of the cost implications from the outset, enabling better management of the project’s budget and more informed decisions about integrating mass timber.
“It’s important to approach these types of projects with an openness for hybrid options,” says Juan. “Integrating mass timber with more traditional materials like concrete and steel can help balance the need for sustainable features with cost-effective materials, and better support the business case for some owners.”
McCownGordon’s estimating team serves as the Owner’s advocate throughout the construction process. The firm’s real-time estimating ensures project alignment and provides comprehensive and in-depth insights. As a committed partner, McCownGordon’s goal is to provide Owners with the information they need to evaluate their options thoroughly and make informed decisions well before construction begins. This proactive approach supports effective planning and helps optimize project outcomes from start to finish.
Procurement Considerations
Mass timber projects often involve longer lead times and specialized sourcing requirements. To prevent project delays, it is essential to identify reliable suppliers and secure materials well in advance. Engaging procurement teams early is key to managing these challenges effectively, as it provides greater price certainty and allows for budget adjustments in response to material availability and cost fluctuations. This proactive strategy helps mitigate risks related to supply chain disruptions and ensures timely delivery of components. McCownGordon’s team excels in identifying high-quality mass timber vendors, locking in prices, and making necessary budget adjustments based on evolving material costs and availability.
Scheduling Considerations
Unlike concrete and steel, which can be quickly delivered to a job site, mass timber requires more time for engineering, manufacturing, and assembly. Since mass timber components are typically prefabricated off-site, crafting detailed construction schedules that synchronize the delivery and assembly of mass timber elements is vital for maintaining smooth workflows, minimizing on-site disruptions, and maintaining the project schedule. Working with professional schedulers is essential to align the delivery and assembly of mass timber components with other construction processes and installations.
McCownGordon’s scheduling team excels in developing comprehensive schedules that ensure timely delivery and assembly of mass timber components, all while optimizing the sequence of the project and reducing potential delays.
Learn more about McCownGordon’s creative solutions to project scheduling.
Commissioning Considerations
Engaging commissioning early in mass timber projects helps to ensure the accuracy of the construction process and the success of the final build. Commissioning involves a thorough review and testing of systems and components, verifying they meet the owner’s requirements and functions according to design specifications and performance criteria. For mass timber projects, which require complex engineering and precise assembly of prefabricated elements, early commissioning is critical to identifying and addressing potential issues before they impact the construction timeline, quality of structural integrity. It also helps to properly time the ramp-up of equipment to ensure the moisture content in the timber does not change too rapidly.
In addition to building commissioning of the MEP (Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing) systems, building enclosure commissioning plays a key role in ensuring that the envelope is properly sealed, moisture-protected, and thermally efficient. By integrating both MEP and building enclosure commissioning from the outset, teams can proactively manage challenges related to system integration, energy efficiency, and the maintainability of the facility. This includes considerations like equipment location, air tightness, moisture control, and the durability of the enclosure, all of which are crucial for the long-term performance of a mass timber structure.
This comprehensive, proactive approach not only enhances the building’s overall performance and longevity but also ensures seamless coordination between the design and construction phases. It fosters a collaborative process that meets the owner’s project requirements, setting the facility management team up for success in maintaining and operating the building at peak performance throughout its lifespan. Ultimately, this leads to smoother project execution and higher satisfaction for all stakeholders.
Conclusion
By considering the unique nuances of mass timber throughout the project lifecycle, Owners can fully leverage the benefits of mass timber while addressing potential challenges. Collaborating with experts, like McCownGordon, who specialize in collaborative delivery models can help Owners navigate the complexities of mass timber projects efficiently and achieve outstanding results.
