CLT Competition Creates Win-Win

CLT ON THE RISE  Always interested in exploring innovative ways to advance design, BAR has researched and started to incorporate the use of Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) into our projects over the past several years.

FRIENDLY COMPETITION  To further challenge our staff and advance our knowledge, we organized an optional internal CLT Design Competition. Using a previously studied site in the heart of San Francisco, staff were asked to design dense urban housing on a hillside incorporating CLT. During the process, structural engineers with CLT experience shared their knowledge of mass timber technology and clients helped evaluate the winning entries.

KEEP IT FRESH, KEEP IT LOCAL  Design requirements for the competition placed an emphasis on practicality. Participants were encouraged to create interesting concepts that fully applied the benefits of CLT, while carefully considering San Francisco’s building, zoning and structural requirements.