Multi-Family, Mid-Rise Wood Buildings
Learning Objectives:
- Identify the sustainability and economic benefits of using wood construction for mid-rise multi-family or mixed-use buildings.
- Summarize building code requirements and provisions for mid-rise multi-family wood-frame structures.
- Discuss wood framing solutions that address issues such as shrinkage, fire protection and seismic requirements while minimizing the carbon footprint of the building.
- Explore innovations in wood framing design techniques and wood product technologies that enhance energy efficiency.
Credits:
This course is approved as a Structured Course
This course can be self-reported to the AANB, as per their CE Guidelines
Approved for structured learning
Approved for Core Learning
This course can be self-reported to the NLAA
Course may qualify for Learning Hours with NWTAA
Course eligible for OAA Learning Hours
This course is approved as a core course
This course can be self-reported for Learning Units to the Architectural Institute of British Columbia
Demand for multifamily housing continues to play an important role in the overall U.S. construction market. The National Multifamily Housing Council estimates that more than 325,000 new apartment homes are needed each year to meet demand. Multifamily projects include apartments and condominiums as well as other residential uses like affordable housing, student housing, senior living, hotels and motels, and vacation timeshare properties.
Photo courtesy of Lawrence Anderson Photography
One of the most fundamental decisions facing a multifamily design team is choosing the building’s structural material. While dominant in single-family residential construction, the cost-effective, code-compliant, and sustainable attributes of wood construction apply to mid-rise, multifamily projects, too. This CEU explores the reasons for the increasing popularity of wood in multifamily buildings, reviews code compliance and fire safety technical considerations, and discusses techniques for successful wood building designs. In addition, it addresses trends expanding the opportunities for wood use in multistory design.
Why Wood?
Developers and design professionals are increasingly recognizing the benefits of wood construction as an effective way to build high quality multifamily housing at a lower cost while reducing the carbon footprint of their projects.
STELLA
Photo courtesy of Lawrence Anderson
Location: Marina del Rey, California
Architect: DesignARC
This six-story, mixed-use project demonstrated the versatility and practicality of using wood in mid-rise, multifamily construction. Stella’s unique construction approach used both Type III-A and V-A construction on one podium to build the 244-unit complex. The original building design included two four-story buildings, but plans were modified to accommodate two nested, wood-framed L-shaped structures–one with five stories of wood/Type III-A construction and the other with four stories of wood/Type V-A. Building designers used the area allowed by the extra story to create more open space and add resort-style amenities more typically found in luxury housing projects. Stella was built with Douglas fir dimensional lumber, parallel strand lumber (PSL), laminated veneer lumber (LVL), glue-laminated timber (glulam) beams, and engineered wood I-joists for the floor and roof structures.
