THINK CLT

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Why Cross Laminated Timber (CLT)?

Cross-laminated timber (CLT) is a lightweight engineered wood panel system strong enough to replace concrete and steel in select mid and high rise projects. It is a renewable resource and a more environmentally responsible way to build than traditional methods. It offers superior acoustic, fire, seismic, and thermal performance, and is also fast and easy to install, generating almost no onsite waste.

THINKTANK travels to Europe in search of CLT

THINKTANK’s commitment to sustainable construction methods motivated a trip to Germany in 2015 to research a reliable source for the future of building materials. After a visit to the Derix Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) production plant in Niederkrüchten, Brian Caldwell and Erik Nelson were convinced that CLT could open the door for a new wave of sustainable design possibilities.

 
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Brian and Erik in Germany to research CLT

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Touring the Derix Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) production plant in Niederkrüchten

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The state of the art factory produces precision CLT beams and panels .

 

Putting CLT to work: The Lark Hotel Addition

Wanting to test and prove that this building material is the right solution, Brian and Erik seized the opportunity to utilize CLT construction in The Lark Hotel expansion on a small, urban site in downtown Bozeman. The prefabricated MassTimber construction allowed the design team to provide a sustainable energy-efficient building envelope in a fraction of the construction timeline typical of traditional building techniques. The reduction to the on-site materials storage and construction noise was also a plus since it limited the interference to the operations of the adjacent hotel. The benefits of Mass Timber also extend to the guest experience with the inherent warmth and beauty of the exposed wood structural system and layered CLT floor assembly throughout the hotel rooms, hallways, stairways, and lobby. The noise dampening effect of this design ensures guests can relax in a peaceful setting that has a field verified ICC rating of 52.

To learn more about the project and benefits of this incredibly strong, quick to setup, and environmentally friendly construction method, please view the images and Wood Works award video below.

Video produced by WoodWorks Council for The Lark Hotel Addition 2019, Regional Excellence in Wood Design Award.

 

CLT and The Lark Hotel Addition

Thank you Wood Works and Montana AIA for honoring the Lark Hotel Addition - one of the first Montana buildings to employ a pre-fabricated structure made of Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT),