Mass Ply Panels Used in Multi-Family Affordable Housing
Photo of Park Avenue provided by RCR Development LLC
In recent years, Portland residents have experienced challenges from rising rental and real estate prices, making affordable housing options even more desirable. Freres Engineered Wood is partnering with local builders like Rowen Rystadt, the owner and developer of two affordable housing projects in Portland, to address this issue. Rystadt selected prefabricated mass timber systems with innovative products like Mass Ply for both projects to accelerate builds and save costs in construction.
The first complex, Minnesota Places, will replace some recently lost affordable housing in a bustling North Portland neighborhood. The eight-story building will provide residents with 72 two- and three-bedroom units, conveniently situated near public transit options, Portland Community College, and other urban conveniences and comforts.
The second building, Park Avenue, features a nearly identical design. This 12-story complex includes 98 residential apartments, located in a diverse Southwest Portland neighborhood. “Park Avenue is the tallest bearing wall and MPP combined system in the United States,” says Rystadt. Both Minnesota Places and Park Avenue are high-quality, low-cost apartment buildings that will accommodate families earning 60% average median income.
Photo of Minnesota Places provided by Freres Engineered Wood
Rystadt selected Freres Wood’s Mass Ply Panels (MPP) for the floor and ceiling systems in both Minnesota Places and Park Avenue. The prefabricated mass timber systems allowed Rystadt to prioritize speed of construction as a means of cutting construction costs. “Our goal was to basically get a floor done each week, by having prefabricated panels and mass timber going up at once,” he shares. “We wanted to create affordable housing in a more affordable way.”
Following significant delays on the Minnesota Places project, Rystadt hired a new contractor, RCR Development LLC, for Park Avenue. As he approaches the completion of both buildings, Rystadt says the difference in speed of construction highlights the importance of having a competent installer from start to finish. “RCR Development understood and adhered to our goal of installing prefabricated panels,” he says. “On Park Avenue, we’ve been able to construct a floor every eight days.”
Beyond saving time in construction, Rystadt says MPP is a superior mass timber project for multiple reasons. “I selected Mass Ply because it is a better product than CLT by far, in my opinion. It’s stronger, more durable, and better for the environment.” Since engineered wood products like MPP sequester carbon, they are far more environmentally friendly than traditional building materials like concrete and steel.
Photo of Minnesota Places provided by Freres Engineered Wood
Rystadt expects both Minnesota Places and Park Avenue to complete construction by the end of 2024 and says he couldn’t be happier with the mass timber system and with Freres Wood. “I think Freres Wood is a fantastic company,” he says. “I would absolutely use them again, over and over.”
In fact, Rystadt has already started on an additional project with Freres Wood. The latest building, Argyle, will provide nearly three times the number of affordable housing units as Park Avenue in an 11-story mass-timber building, with 290 apartments that cater to Portland residents in the 60% median income range.
Download a PDF of the Mass Ply Panels Used in Affordable Housing Complexes in Portland, Oregon