Waugh Thistleton Architects to Build Tallest Mass Timber Office Building in the US
Waugh Thistleton Architects and Mithun have designed a 12-storey mass-timber office block in Bellevue, Washington, which will become the tallest timber office building in the USA when it completes.
A new mass-timber office building is set to become the tallest of its kind in the US. Designed by Waugh Thistleton Architects and Mithun, the Bevel tower in Bellevue, Washington, will stand at 55 metres high.
The building will have a hybrid timber and steel structure with mass-timber columns, beams, and ceilings exposed throughout. This will be supported by a steel core and seismic supports, with a concrete foundation and car park in its base.
According to WoodWorks, the building will be the tallest mass-timber office building in the US. The organisation's CEO, Jennifer Cover, noted that Bevel is notable for its height, but also for expanding the idea of what's possible with these projects.
"Bevel is notable for what will become the tallest mass-timber office building in the US, but it's also expanding the idea of what's possible with these projects," said Jennifer Cover.
The structure's design allows for more appealing floor plans than a concrete equivalent, according to Mithun. The timber structure made it possible to design more open floor plates and a stronger leasing proposition.
"Early in the project, our team evaluated mass timber alongside a concrete construction option," said Craig Curtis, partner at Mithun. "For this tight site, a standard concrete approach with a centralised core created narrow office floor plates and limited connectivity across the rentable area."
By contrast, the mass timber scheme supports a side core and more open floor plates, creating a stronger leasing proposition and unique work environment. Mithun also noted that mass timber achieved cost parity with concrete due to efficient timber design and decreased construction schedule planning.
Waugh Thistleton Architects has designed numerous timber buildings, including the first mass-timber skyscrapers and the world's largest cross-laminated timber building. This project marks the firm's first built project in the US.
"Bevel will be our first built project in the US, but more importantly with a building of this scale it demonstrates that timber is ready to take its place at the forefront of American architecture," said Andrew Waugh, co-founder of Waugh Thistleton Architects.
The project team includes developer and contractor Skanska, architect Waugh Thistleton Architects, architect and interior designer Mithun, civil engineer Coughlin Porter Lundeen, landscape architect Hewitt, structural engineer and fire/life safety Holmes, mechanical, plumbing, and electrical engineer and lighting design Glumac, signage and wayfinding Studio Matthews, acoustics Tenor, building envelope 4EA, vertical transportation Lerch Bates, and transportation Transportation Engineering NW.
## Project Details
| Project | Details | | --- | --- | | Developer, contractor | Skanska | | Architect | Waugh Thistleton Architects | | Architect, interior designer | Mithun | | Civil engineer | Coughlin Porter Lundeen | | Landscape architect | Hewitt | | Structural engineer and fire/life safety | Holmes | | Mechanical, plumbing, and electrical engineer and lighting design | Glumac | | Signage and wayfinding | Studio Matthews | | Acoustics | Tenor | | Building envelope | 4EA | | Vertical transportation | Lerch Bates | | Transportation | Transportation Engineering NW |
