Concord, California-based Swinerton broke ground on a new mixed-use mass timber office building located in Austin, Texas, on Oct. 2, a structure that the firm will eventually inhabit, according to an Oct. 8 news release.
The mixed-use, mass timber building known as Workbench, located in the East Austin neighborhood, will serve as a showcase for potential Swinerton clients interested in mass timber, according to the release. Swinerton estimates the timber used on the project will store 500 metric tons of carbon dioxide, which is the equivalent of removing 301 cars from the roadway for a year.
Swinerton’s mass timber affiliate, Timberlab, is providing engineering services to efficiently use the material. Additionally, Timberlab will fabricate the cross-laminated timber in its Greenville, South Carolina, facility.
Other project and equity partners include Austin-based local businesses Beck-Reit Commercial Real Estate, Legacy Lighting, Fort Structures and Art + Artisans.
Workbench features a different mechanical system on each floor, according to the builder. Level 2, which Swinerton will occupy, features a traditional system with exposed overhead mechanical equipment. Level 3 will feature a raised access flooring system with a hidden ventilation system, according to the contractor.
“We are looking forward to bringing such a dynamic building to the vibrant East Austin community while showcasing the practical benefits of mass timber,” said Alison Satt, Swinerton vice president and Austin division manager, in the release.