Photo by Robert Umenhofer Photography, courtesy Consigli Construction Co.

The $28.5-million, 46,000-sq-ft project finished at budget and on schedule in 21 months To achieve cost savings, Consigli completed a 4D model with cost analysis comparing mass timber to a more traditional steel, concrete and masonry superstructure to show how mass timber prefabrication was the optimal choice.

The cost comparison was funded with support from the U.S. Forest Service. The college is one of 10 institutions to receive funding from the agency, which is joined by the nonprofit U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities to bring sustainable change to the nation’s working forests and forest-reliant communities.

Securing commodity material lead times amid extreme volatility and securing a skilled workforce were major challenges. By developing construction documents during early design, the team was able to secure pricing for the mass timber ahead of significant lumber price increases.

To secure builders risk insurance for the project, the team employed risk management tools including digital/wireless security as well as water, fire and smoke monitoring. It also implemented a sitewide video monitoring and motion sensing system that monitors free-standing water, fire and smoke to detect any hazards to timber and immediately notify the owner of site activity.