Summary
In the local Native American language of the Kalapuya, Chemeketa translates as “place of peace” and Chemeketa Community College interprets the meaning as “gathering place.”
Chemeketa needed a new gathering place to meet the current and future needs of its growing agricultural program, and they needed it “yesterday.” According to President Jessica Howard, the new agricultural complex was designed to serve as a hub for students, industry professionals and the community. Mass timber was selected to build much of the new Agricultural Hub which houses more classes, new facilities and labs to better train students to meet the needs of farms and nurseries in its region.
Implementation
The construction team chose to build the 14,000 sq. foot complex with Freres’ HD Mass Ply Panels for fast construction, locally-sourced materials and aesthetic purposes.. Intending to create a facility with a connection to nature, Freres’ new high-quality, HD Mass Ply was used for the complex and pavillion beams and ceilings, as well as benches, tables, desks and doors.
Coupled with the natural feeling of being surrounded by wood, the architect incorporated passive ventilation options as part of the biophilic design elements. Natural ventilation forces, such as the buoyancy of hot air and wind to encourage airflow through the property, can be used to extract moist stale air and replace it with fresh, clean air.
The building construction includes concrete foundations, slab on grade, steel, mass timber and conventional wood framing systems. Building with mass timber shortened the construction significantly, so the new ag complex would open in time for the upcoming school term.
Case Study about Chemeketa’s Agricultural Complex Makes Lasting Impression with Freres’ Mass Ply
Project Summary
Specs
Type of Building
Education
Challenge
Chemeketa Community College’s Agricultural program needed a facility to accommodate new classes for its growing student population and to better meet the training needs of farms and nurseries in its region. The college wanted a complex made of locally-sourced materials, using a biophilic design that wouuld last 100 years — all to be completed in just two months.
Solution
The construction team chose to speed up the building process by using mass timber for most of its beams and ceiling tiles. Freres' HD Mass Ply Panels were selected for the ceiling tiles, beams, doors, desks, tables and benches. This allowed Chemeketa to leave much of the beautiful, locally-sourced wood exposed.
Result
The mass timber portion of the project sped up the construction timeline significantly. Thirtythree of the 40 Mass Ply ceiling tiles, approximately 12,320 sq. ft., were set in one day. Mass Ply was used throughout the project, contributing to the natural design elements structurally, as well as in the creation of artistic, custom desks, tables and doors.
Partners
Architect
- FFA Architecture
Locally sourced materials
- Brick exterior from Brooks
Glu-lam sourced
- Rosboro Vaughn
Engineer
- KPFF Consulting Engineers
Contractor
- Swinterton
Mass Timber Manufacturer
- Freres Engineered Wood
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