Our work with heavy timber has always been about efficiency, craft, and stewardship. Prefabrication for qualified commercial projects is a specialized aspect of our mass-timber services.
Our prefabrication for installation services assists our clients to develop a heavy timber structure that not only celebrates the beauty of wood, but provides efficiency and accuracy in the cutting, joinery, and logistics of their project.
As the timber for your project is cut for shipment we’re developing a roadmap for the project. Every single beam is milled, every joint engineered, and each component clearly labeled so that unloading and installation are clear and efficient. Because beams and panels are manufactured off-site at our shop using digital fabrication tools as well as hand finishes where appropriate they arrive ready for the site crew to assemble.
At our McMinnville, Oregon production facility, our NEWBeamery is armed with a six-axis robotic arm CNC machine giving us the capability to cut 12" x 48" in cross-section and 60' in length. With these cutting-edge capabilities, we are able to produce timber frame and glulam’s for any project no matter the scope.
A recent residential project on the Columbia River in Washington was kept on track with commercial style 50-foot curved glulam’s. New Energy Works West coast General Manager Dave Dean explains, “This Rivershore project was a good cut and ship candidate. We worked really closely with the contractor to figure out exactly what they needed.”
“The things we did in the shop could have been done on site, but because of our expertise we were way more efficient at it. Not to mention it saved space on site and allowed the build team to keep focused on the things that were totally necessary to do there. We bring a deep specialized knowledge that enables us to understand unique needs, navigate complex logistics, and deliver creative, value-engineered solutions.
For most clients, Rivershore included, the trucks are sequenced so that materials arrive in specific order to dramatically shorten project timelines and help keep projects on track. This process sometimes described as “kit-of-parts” construction can dramatically shorten project timelines and help keep projects on track.
At two new additions to the Oregon Zoo, there was no room for onsite storage, and work hours limited the crew to just five early mornings a day, so the zoo could stay open to the public. Our delivery truck would show up at 5 in the morning or 5 at night, as requested. The massive, cantilevered glulam entry roof helped the zoo achieve a LEED Platinum-certified design because of the local, tribal-land sourced timber and our Forest Stewardship Council (FSC®) certification.
For builders, faster construction means earlier occupancy and reduced financing costs; for urban sites, it means less noise, fewer truck trips, and shorter periods of disruption. With fewer disruptions, less impact at the job site, and a minimization of waste, clients feel instant relief in costs, resources, and labor, while enjoying an efficient and sustainable build good for people and planet.
