Mass timber is a framing category that uses large wood panels such as CLT. The goal of this project was to explore the effectiveness of CLT through designing a gut renovation for a five-story office building utilizing glued-laminated beams and columns with CLT walls and floors. In addition, the acoustic and vibration performance of CLT floor panels were explored through reviewing previous research and studies on the subject. The mass timber design was compared to a steel frame design with a cast-in-place concrete slab on a metal deck. ASCE 7-10, IBC-2015, AWC-NDS, AISC-15 references were used to ensure structurally sound designs. To compare the effectiveness of CLT with a traditional building material, like steel, a cost analysis was completed for both the mass timber and steel frame designs. While the current cost of CLT is higher than that of steel due to a lack of manufacturers, the sustainability, manufacturability, and constructability benefits make CLT a competitive building material.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Aridou, Isaiah O.
• Hauber, Olivia G.

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-040621-120215
• 17126

Keyword

• Structural Steel
• Cost Analysis
• CLT
• Cross-Laminated Timber
• Frame Design
• Mass Timber

Advisor

• Albano, Leonard D.

Year

• 2021

Sponsor

• Michael Richard

Date created

• 2021-04-06

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Civil Engineering

Rights statement

• In Copyright