For those new to the story, we're building a new 20,000 sqft timber frame and glulam production shop in McMinnville, Oregon, affectionately called the NEWBeamery. In a visually captivating event, we installed the final massive 90’ European-style trusses were raised in May. As we write this, the final roof SIP is being put in place, which was the method of installation. Raise some glulam trusses, install the rafters, and then place the SIP roof pieces.
This is a major milestone in our expansion and investment in the McMinnville community. The space, set to be complete by the end of 2024, is a collaboration many emerging planet-focused materials suppliers including biochar concrete from Solid Carbon, wood fiber insulation from TimberHP, net-zero carbon rebar from Cascade Steel, and glulam timbers from American Laminators in part made from sustainably sourced timber from Yakima Forest Products.
“There's a high degree of technical forecasting that we needed to do...it was such a team effort. Figuring out where to pre-assemble the trusses and then have them in a way that we could continue to raise them was a feat.” says Oliver Ogden, New Energy Works West Coast General Manager.
"We assembled the trusses on their sides, and then lifted each one on an angle and rotated it to install. The logistics of this, given that the trusses are as wide as the building, were tricky but incredibly important."
We're looking forward to continuing our legacy creating highly-crafted and lyrical timber frames in the new space, and looking forward to the additional capabilities the new space and CNC machine will lend us.
"The fact that these trusses are made of timber, that they are wood, there's a connection to the space when you're in it. Seeing the large trusses lifted over the building was incredible, it brought our community together. I'm excited for us to continue push the boundaries of wood construction and be part of the future of how we build in the Untied States," shared Ogden.
Our shared goal is to expand the work we're already doing in light commercial glulam construction, working with our knowledge of timber engineering, design, and installation sequencing to bring high-craft to glulam projects.
Our hope is to be up and running with the new production facility this fall. And in the next few weeks another major milestone arrives...on a truck from a boat...our new CNC machine. More on this new tool in our next blog update.
“I’m excited to open this new facility in McMinnville, a town that has been so good to us over our last 20 years here. And to be able to have our McMinnvile team crafting in a home that has more space, is more efficient, and brings new services to the planet-friendly wood building market that is growing, fast, every day,” finished Orpin.
