Project Description
While this 119,000-square-foot project showcases the beauty of heavy timber on a grand scale, much of the advantage of using wood came from its light weight. The arched glulam roof structure was designed to resolve the complex geometrical challenges imposed by the five existing building wings arranged around a pentagon-shaped central space. The light weight of individual glulam arches allowed them to be erected over the building’s interior, while the crane reach required for a heavier building material would not have been possible. Construction progressed while activities in the central area continued operation. The wood roof structure, designed to float the 106-foot distance above the gambrel roofs of the existing wings, was more cost effective than a similar steel form. Plus, the warmth and beauty of the wood created an inviting and light-filled space, transforming the existing facility while defining the warm aesthetics of the newly-renovated dining hall.