Congratulations, you’ve leased space in a beautiful mass timber building! Timber is a beautiful, sustainable choice that creates warm and inspiring spaces. Keeping a few key considerations in mind will save you time and money throughout your TI design process. Here’s how to make the most of your new space:

Assess the existing conditions.

• Vibration: Mass timber buildings have a wide range of vibration performance depending on panel thickness, grid size and floor assemblies. Assess any criteria for vibration sensitive equipment early.
• Acoustics: Carefully assess floor assembly; few mass timber buildings have an acoustic layer included. Consider whether loud sound systems, heavy ventilation equipment/fans will impact adjacent tenants and isolate them.
• Sprinklers and MEP: Review the core and shell sprinkler line layout to minimize any additional holes in beams. Assess mechanical ductwork delivery and potential layout while reviewing ceiling height below beams. Structural bays with shallower beam depths could suggest the best primary distribution path to maximize clear ceiling height.
• Drain and supply lines and electrical floor outlets: Careful consideration and coordination is needed given the exposed wood ceilings on the floors below your space in mass timber buildings.
• Review lease for any limits regarding permanent attachments to wood structural elements.

The Wayland Mill at Northlake Commons amplifies the beauty of wood with both contrasting and complementary finish materials and lighting choices.

Design considerations: Maximize the exposure of mass timber in the completed space.

• Layout space plan and group MEP runs to minimize impact. Group back of house program, soffited areas, along with any health department required cover finishes together to maximize the remaining exposed wood ceilings.
• Discuss the choice between a mindset of protection with a finish coat vs. allowing a patina to develop over time of exposed wood, especially columns which are high touch elements in a space.
• Lighting design: Uplighting to highlight the warmth of wood. Coordinate exposed conduit runs carefully.
• Assess the acoustic needs for each space. For example, sound absorbent wall or floor coverings might be needed in conference rooms if wood structure is left exposed.
• Consider casework finishes to complement or contrast with mass timber wood species in the space.
• Finer grain detailing decisions: Consider eliminating caulk joints and using reveal details for intersections of other finishes with the mass timber structure.

Cedar Speedster, a mass timber building in Fremont, houses Revel, a local restaurant utilizing the natural warmth of a wood structure to create an inviting space to gather both indoors and out.

Converse early and often with the Contractor to coordinate the visual impact of everything from exposed ductwork to conduit runs.

Establish protocols for protecting wood structure from damage during construction. While mass timber is fairly durable, wood columns can be vulnerable to chips and dings from heavy equipment that can be hard to repair.

Celebrate being in a warm + inviting environment with biophilic benefits.

Multiple studies have shown that our wellbeing improves when we’re exposed to natural materials and visually connected to nature. Our blood pressure drops and our productivity and creativity increases. So most of all know that your new space will contribute to better physical and mental health for everyone who works there!