WVFA Fall 2018

I N D U S T R Y N E W S www.wvfa.org Fall 2018 |  West Virginia Forestry Association Mountain State Forestry 11 Cost Gap Between CLT and Concrete is Narrowing A NEW REPORT HIGHLIGHTS THE ADVANTAGES of using CLT over concrete. Alinea’s influential report Residential Timber: Cost Model suggests CLT is a viable alternative and uses two detailed exemplar cost models to demonstrate the point. Residential Timber: Cost Model found that the cost of a CLT frame is comparable to one made of reinforced concrete and raises the question: why do we not see more CLT frames being made in the UK? The report highlights the advantages of using CLT over concrete, including: units coming to market quicker, an ability to reduce floor-to-floor heights (CLT floors are thinner than concrete), as well as sustainability, reduced carbon emission, zero waste, high levels of airtightness, and swifter fixings and service installations. Alex Hyams, author of the report and associate at Alinea, says, “The cost gap between CLT and concrete is narrowing, and as the CLT supply chain grows, this gap will continue to close. If CLT is considered early and schemes are designed to match the specific dimensional requirements, CLT is a viable alternative to concrete.” The benefits CLT offers to structural applications include: Flexibility The computer numerically controlled (CNC) cutting process used in the manufacture of CLT panels allows the panels to be cut or routed to almost any shape. Strength CLT is stronger than solid timber as it has a wider distribution of natural defects due to the cross-lamination process and high standard of board strength grading. The restaurant is open 24 hours a day and seven days a week. Ross Barney Architects was founded in 1981 and known for completing the Chicago Riverwalk and one of the city’s transit stations. Cross-laminated timber and mass timber construction has been on the rise throughout the U.S. CLT can be used to construct buildings of equal strength and fire-resistance as those made of steel and concrete. It has fueled the passions of architects and environmentalists, who believe it to be a much greener method for housing the world’s growing population. Proposals for new projects include a 500,000-sq-ft skyscraper in New Jersey, a 100-story tower in London, a 40-story building in Stockholm, and a residential complex in Vancouver. An 18-story CLT wood structure, a student residence at the University of British Columbia, is nearing completion.  continues >>