Constructioneer News

Swinerton, a commercial general contractor with offices nationwide, is poised and ready for continued growth throughout the East Coast, bolstered by new talent in the New York Metro division. Swinerton expects construction projects along the East Coast will generate nearly $450 million of revenue in 2025, driving revenue growth for the firm’s regional divisions.

“Seven years ago, Swinerton landed on the East Coast with the opening of the Atlanta and Charlotte offices, and we haven’t slowed since,” said?Derek Mosiman, Vice President, Division Manager for Swinerton’s Atlanta division. “Collectively, the divisions along the East Coast have established their irrefutable reputations of deep knowledge across a variety of target markets, working for popular public companies, government entities, as well as Fortune 500 names in health care, education, hospitality, multifamily, and general business. Not only is our success attributable to our refined construction acumen, but also our distinctive culture. And now more than ever, we’re equipped to build our presence even more.”

The newest of Swinerton’s East Coast divisions is adding experience to support its growth and reinforce its foothold in New York and New Jersey. Joining the New York Metro division as Director of Client Relations is?Nicholas Schifferle. With 20 years of experience, Schifferle is in pursuit of commercial build opportunities throughout the tri-state area, particularly seeking public-private partnership (P3) and K-12 education opportunities.

Nick Dinallo?also joins the division as Project Executive with experience estimating, purchasing, and building over $1 billion of commercial projects across New Jersey with significant experience at?Terminal Construction Corporation. Dinallo leveraged his knowledge and passion for ground-up construction to the state of New Jersey’s first P3 development for Montclair State University.

“Nicholas is well known throughout our industry for his work across the United States and around the world, particularly in Thailand for JLL and Singapore, San Francisco, and New York for M. Moser,” said?Andrew Pearl, Vice President, Division Manager for Swinerton’s New York Metro division. “Where better to apply this diverse expertise than in the busiest city in the world? His established relationships enable Swinerton to pursue key client partnerships alongside our National Accounts teams.”

Wood Central

According to Swinerton, one of the United States’ largest contractors, the law could be timber’s best chance to tap into a condo market traditionally dominated by steel and concrete. Swinerton – which owns Timberlab, one of the country’s largest mass timber fabricators – said LL97, combined with recent changes to the building code (allowing cross-laminated timber in Type IV buildings up to seven stories), could be the game changer for developers to use more timber in NYC:

“Swinerton has not only incorporated mass timber into new construction but also into tenant buildouts and renovations,”?said Andrew Pearl, Swinerton’s Vice President and Division Manager at its New York Office. “(And that’s because) The material is well-suited for everything from office and residential to public buildings.”

Mass Timber Buildings: A New Approach to Sustainability and Net Zero Goals

Mass timber is quickly becoming a solution as the number of public institutions and private developers pledging to attain net-zero carbon emissions increases. Whether they are leaning on public-private partnership (P3) or traditional delivery methods, owners and developers are recognizing the benefits of wood as a versatile, sustainable, and structurally efficient feature for their projects. With public and private support for this renewable resource, experts believe mass timber could challenge steel and concrete as favored construction materials.

“Mass timber offers cost and value considerations that developers and clients see as benefits. Mass timber supports regional economies, saves time on the speed of construction, and is a renewable resource—with the added benefits of improved daylighting and interior aesthetics, which benefits the health and well-being of the end-user as well,” said Swinerton Builders (Swinerton) Pacific Northwest Regional Director of Preconstruction William Silva.

For example, at Northlake Commons, the utilization of mass timber estimates 1,990 metric tons of avoided CO2e (carbon dioxide equivalent) emissions, with a total carbon benefit of 2,920 metric tons; this is equivalent to removing 558 cars from the road or to the energy required to operate 249 homes for an entire year. It is also estimated that forests in the U.S. and Canada can regrow the equivalent wood volume in four minutes.

Swinerton’s early commitment to mass timber began in 2016 with the design, permitting, and construction of the then largest mass timber office building in the U.S.—First Tech Federal Credit Union Oregon Corporate Campus—which was delivered four months faster and four percent cheaper than structural steel.

In a short period, Swinerton has become known for taking on and successfully delivering some of the most challenging mass timber projects in the country. With the number of mass timber projects expected to double every two years, Swinerton has assembled an unparalleled knowledge base and robust internal resources that are sought after by design teams and owners who want to capitalize on the lessons learned from other projects.

While building designs will continue to push toward net zero energy, reducing operational carbon through better energy efficiency and cleaner energy sources, there is growing policy and regulation emphasizing the importance of reducing the embodied carbon of our infrastructure as well. Structure and foundation make up over half of a building’s embodied carbon footprint, so they are often targeted first for reductions. Every metric ton of wood used in place of concrete and steel in the structure is estimated to avoid 3.9 metric tons of CO2 emissions, and this is compounded by the fact that mass timber buildings are lighter and reduce the carbon (i.e., concrete) in the substructure.

Life-cycle assessment (LCA) is the industry tool for evaluating the embodied impacts of a building design, but what it cannot account for is the potential carbon “storage vault” mass timber infrastructure offers cities. Mature forests are maximizing their carbon storage, while growing forests are maximizing their carbon sequestration. By sustainably harvesting trees off the landscape and storing that carbon in wood structures for the life of the buildings, forests are allowed to sequester carbon more rapidly from the atmosphere and avoid releasing a large portion of the carbon stored in the removed trees.

While the softer benefits of mass timber, sustainability, and aesthetics frequently lead project teams to want to use a mass timber solution, the construction benefits are often what enables them to happen.

Swinerton recognizes the challenges of developing a project around a new structural system and brings its expertise to teams seeking creative solutions to make a mass timber project financially viable. Swinerton’s approach is to direct efforts toward reducing overall construction cost through smart and informed selections of not just the structural system but also to look at how to leverage complementary benefits in building mechanical, electrical, envelope, and interior systems to help achieve low energy goals.

“We can control costs through early assessment on project alignment with building code and efficient structural layouts that allow for complementary benefits with other building systems and maximize prefabrication,” added Silva.

Because Swinerton is a national leader in numerous construction market sectors, it combines market sector knowledge with mass timber advantages to bring beneficial outcomes for its clients. Swinerton has pioneered mass timber solutions in market sectors, including affordable housing, aviation, civic, community college, corporate accounts, healthcare, higher education, life science, office and more.

5 Examples of Swinerton’s Mass Timber Project Experience

Northlake Commons, Seattle, WA

Swinerton’s Northlake Commons highlights the sustainability of mass timber in workplace construction. This 275,000-square-foot, LEED? Platinum-certified building incorporates mass timber columns, beams, and cross-laminated timber (CLT), showcasing how renewable materials can support both structural durability and environmental responsibility. Built in collaboration with Timberlab, a Swinerton affiliate, Northlake Commons’ timber was carefully chosen for its capacity to age beautifully while creating a warm, health-focused environment. Mass timber, significantly lighter than concrete and steel, reduces carbon emissions by up to 75%.

Beyond the use of wood, the building’s design maximizes water and energy savings, contributing to a 27% reduction in electricity usage and conserving over 700,000 gallons of water annually. Further, a significant 96% of construction waste was recycled, minimizing environmental impact. This commitment to sustainable mass timber not only enhances the building’s aesthetic and structural integrity but also reinforces Northlake Commons as a model for eco-friendly development in modern architecture.

Childcare Center, Boise, ID

The new 19,347-square-foot single-story childcare center is a groundbreaking example of the benefits of mass timber in early education. Imagine nine lively classrooms with stunning vaulted ceilings, where clerestory windows flood the space with natural light, accentuating the warmth of timber columns and beams. Outside, timber overhangs create inviting play areas, blending seamlessly with nature.
This center isn’t just beautiful—it highlights sustainability. It combines mass timber with additional eco-friendly exterior materials, native landscaping, and cutting-edge energy-efficient features like low-VOC paint, smart thermostats, and LED lighting, seeking to achieve LEED? Gold certification. This innovative approach ensures a healthy, inspiring environment for children to learn and grow.

Sunnydale Community Center, San Francisco, CA

A vibrant new 30,000-square-foot neighborhood community center is a stunning two-story mass timber marvel. It offers a mix of spaces, such as a teaching kitchen, study areas, a recording studio, and a living room for community gatherings. The Sunnydale Community Center also hosts new facilities for Boys & Girls Clubs of San Francisco and Wu Yee Children’s Services, significantly boosting their capacity to provide childcare and youth programs.

Designed for LEED? Gold certification, the center emphasizes sustainability and biophilic design, using CLT and glulam for structural, aesthetic, and eco-friendly qualities. The exposed wood structure not only speeds up construction but also reduces waste and creates a warm, inviting atmosphere.

This project revitalizes the neighborhood, demonstrating the potential of mass timber construction and environmental responsibility with beautiful, impactful construction.

Live Oak Bank Building 4, Wilmington, NC

In Wilmington, NC, a new development is welcoming employees—a four-story, 67,000-square-foot constructed entirely from mass timber. This ambitious project is one of the largest of its kind in the United States, slashing the building’s carbon footprint by up to 60%. Nestled among trees and overlooking an expanded pond, Live Oak Bank Building 4 is a harmonious blend of nature and innovation. The design incorporates numerous biophilic elements, aiming to foster a happier, healthier, and more productive work environment. The building is on track to achieve LEED? Silver certification, highlighting its commitment to sustainability and eco-friendly design.

Responsive Arts & STEAM Academy, Denver, CO

Nestled in Northeastern Denver, the Responsive Arts & STEM Academy is setting new standards for sustainability with cutting-edge innovations. As one of the first all-electric hybrid mass timber schools in Colorado and a pioneering project for Denver Public Schools, it highlights the district’s climate action plan. This means that every aspect of the heating, cooling, and kitchen facilities is designed to meet rigorous environmental standards.

The school’s commons and gymnasium will feature striking mass timber beams and columns. This design choice not only enhances the building’s aesthetic appeal and sustainability but also streamlines construction. Utilizing cross-laminated timber (CLT) in these areas eliminates the lengthy wait for long-span steel joists, which typically have a lead time exceeding nine months. This innovative approach not only supports environmental goals but also creates a vibrant, inviting learning environment for students.

Additional Reading: Contractors are Partners for Achieving Sustainable Development Goals

Swinerton planted roots as a builder 135 years ago, and continues to deepen them nationwide. Alongside our subsidiary companies, we leverage our knowledge, skills, and drive to build the projects and workforce of the future. We take pride in the expertise and passion it takes to raise a structure from the ground up. Because, at our core, we are builders.

A CHANGING INDUSTRY

When brick mason Charles Lindgren founded the company that would become Swinerton at the end of the nineteenth century, the construction landscape looked very different than it does today. The industry was moving from a workforce of individual craftspeople managed by an architect or engineer to a more centralized system. Positions like those of superintendent and foreman emerged to be the expert eyes on the jobsite to manage installation and supervision, while contractor builders brokered materials, labor, and services.

An entrepreneurial mason turned builder, Lindgren saw the potential for greater speed and efficiency as technologies like steel-reinforced concrete emerged on the market. His business partner, Lewis A. Hicks, was a vocal advocate for this technology—writing two enthusiastic articles in 1905 for The Architect and Engineer of California and distributing brochures on the topic to local engineers.

When tragedy struck in the form of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, Lindgren and Hicks were completely equipped to help rebuild, and could legitimately claim that their steel-reinforced concrete buildings fared better than most in the devastation. Clients who were initially skeptical of the “newfangled” material were convinced. By 1908, when namesake Alfred B. Swinerton joined the firm, the company was well on its way to becoming
one of the most recognized builders in the West, thanks in no small part to its expertise in concrete.

SEEING POTENTIAL

In the century that followed, Swinerton has continually invested in enterprises and people to keep the industry moving forward, expanding its markets and offerings nationally and internationally. From engineering canals and pipelines in the 1950s, driving value-add services like tenant improvements in the 1980s, to embracing sustainable materials and energies in the 2020s, we are always finding ways to build where the world is going.

In 2016, Swinerton recognized another opportunity: to drive construction forward by adopting mass timber. As a result, our mass-timber specialist subsidiary was launched in 2021, harnessing the structural and environmental potential of engineered wood materials and helping clients meet their vision for sustainable structures that soar with the beauty of timber.

BUILDERS OF TOMORROW

Being a master builder depends on first-hand knowledge of the builder’s craft, which must be passed down with each generation. We continue our 135- year builder’s legacy by supporting the workforce of the future: training the next generation of craftspeople in trade skills, and attracting more builders to the industry.

Through The Swinerton Foundation’s support of trade education programs at the Cypress Mandela Training Center in Oakland, CA, Portland YouthBuilders in Portland, OR, and The Roc in Charlotte, NC, partnership with organizations like SkillsUSA nationwide, and outreach efforts at colleges and universities, we are driven to support the young people who will become our next generation of master builders.

OUR BUILDER’S LEGACY

Alongside the industry’s evolution, at Swinerton we continue our master builder’s legacy through the present day, employing thousands of expert craftspeople on staff as laborers, journeymen, foremen, and superintendents whose direct experience in the field ensures our projects’ success. As a company, we invest in their safety, their training, and their well-being to ensure their expertise shines on every project.

Swinerton Builders’ self-perform teams include concrete, drywall, doors, frames and hardware, carpentry, millwork, and demolition and clean-up. Our family of companies also includes a broad range of professionals whose expertise encompass concrete at SAK Builders, mass timber at Timberlab, and engineering, procurement, and construction of renewable gas plants at Swinerton Energy.

On every project, we also draw on our experts who understand the non-physical components of building: financing, logistics, planning, permits, site entitlements, and more. Our administrative teams at Swinerton, Lindgren Development, and Griffin Swinerton work in tandem to make our clients’ buildings possible.

Combined with our expert knowledge and skill, our pride of ownership, passion, leadership, integrity and excellence are what truly make us master builders.

The use of?mass timber?in commercial building projects continues to double in growth each year as a low-carbon, sustainable and light-weight structural material compared to traditional construction materials. Mass timber was already popular in Europe, which accounts for over 60% of the global market for this innovative construction material, but its adoption is now becoming increasingly widespread across North America. According to the Wood Products Council, as of March 2024, 2,115 multi-family, commercial building, and institutional projects featuring mass timber are underway or completed in the United States, reflecting a steady growth trend.

Mass timber is prized by architects, builders and environmentalists alike. When exposed in building designs, the material’s beauty is immediately apparent. As a structural element, mass timber can meet or even exceed concrete and steel construction performance standards. Its most important benefit, however, is its potential contribution as a climate change solution.

While steel and cement manufacturing are among the world’s largest sources of carbon emissions, a mass timber-framed building can serve as a carbon sink throughout its lifetime, sequestering carbon absorbed from the atmosphere while the wood was growing in the forest. As long as the building stands, the carbon contained in the wood remains locked in the structure and will not be released into the air.

“Conversations around sustainability in the building industry used to be focused on operational energy, the carbon emissions associated with a building’s use from heating and cooling, for example,” said Tanya Luthi, director of engineering at Timberlab. “That understanding has evolved to include the full life cycle of a building, including the embodied carbon of the materials used to construct the project. Fortunately, advancements in engineered wood products, such as the development of cross-laminated timber, have coincided with a strong and deepening commitment to sustainable forestry practices, allowing us to use mass timber responsibly at scale from an engineering and a sustainability perspective. Wood is the only major structural material that we can regrow.”

Because of these climate benefits, governments and municipalities across the U.S. and worldwide are establishing policies that promote the use of mass timber in new construction. A recent example is New York City’s Mass Timber Accelerator program, which is piloting the use of mass timber in a series of large-scale construction projects across the city to align with its decarbonization efforts.

At the same time, many jurisdictions are revising building codes to permit the use of mass timber in ways that previously wouldn’t have been considered. These changes have enabled the construction of revolutionary new buildings like the Ascent in Wisconsin. At 25 stories and 284 feet tall, this residential tower in the heart of Milwaukee’s downtown is the world’s tallest hybrid mass timber building.

Despite the rapid growth in enthusiasm for mass timber construction across multiple industries, the healthcare sector has been slower to adopt this climate-friendly material. Concerns about medical space planning, infection control, acoustics and vibration suppression — among other issues — have inhibited the healthcare industry’s transition to mass timber structures.

However, this reluctance is fading as new projects — including an ambulatory care unit in Sechelt, British Columbia and Northlake Commons, a life sciences laboratory and workspace building in Seattle — demonstrate mass timber’s enormous potential to revitalize the construction of healthcare facilities. Besides mass timber’s obvious environmental benefits, its use is also proven to contribute to patient and employee well-being and bolster the brand reputation of its earliest adopters.

In the months and years to come, it will be increasingly important for leading organizations in the healthcare industry to demonstrate their commitment to the health of the planet and their communities by choosing the building material that best aligns with their mission — to improve human health.

By Andrew Pearl

MR Mann Report | The Sustainability Issue

For years, innovators have applied cutting-edge technologies to enhance wood’s key qualities. Products such as glued laminated timber (glulam) have been manufactured for over a century to make durable timber in complex shapes, while rigid and dimensionally stable products such as cross-laminated timber (CLT) are relatively new to the North American market. These products offer builders tremendous potential for innovative design, structural stability, cost efficiency, schedule efficiency and sustainable building.

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

The 2023 International Mass Timber Report illustrates how mass timber can propel the North American construction industry toward its sustainability goal of carbon neutrality by 2034. With its low carbon footprint and ability to sequester carbon dioxide (CO2), mass timber has the potential to significantly reduce global CO2 emissions associated with construction activities.

Mass timber mitigates climate change in three ways:

1. Carbon sequestration: trees, through photosynthesis, capture CO2 from the atmosphere, reducing the overall CO2 in the atmosphere.
2. Carbon storage: wood and other bio- based materials retain CO2 in long-term applications instead of being released into the environment through decomposition or combustion. When amassed sufficiently, the cumulative carbon sequestered can potentially surpass that of an unmanaged forest.
3. Carbon substitution: mass timber, with 30% to 50% fewer CO2 emissions compared to traditional concrete and steel structures, provides a compelling alternative, steering clear of high-embodied carbon materials.

INNOVATION AND VERSATILITY

Mass timber lends itself to innovative applications where standard materials or techniques may prove too heavy or expensive. Its unique combination of strength and light weight make mass timber ideal for projects such as tall buildings, which require greater stability. The comparative weight advantage is staggering. A timber building, on average, weighs only 20% as much as its concrete or steel counterpart. This advantage is especially significant for sites with poor soil conditions, pressure limitations or high seismic activity, where a lighter building could be built larger and taller than a heavier building without compromising stability.

MASS TIMBER AND THE FUTURE OF CITIES

With its intrinsic sustainability, reliability and aesthetic appeal, mass timber promises to be the future of construction. To move urban environments into a greener future, contractors must engage with city and state regulatory agencies to advocate for updates to building codes that support the use of mass timber in commercial buildings.

Swinerton’s Heartwood project in Seattle exemplifies the power of this collaborative approach. Heartwood is Seattle’s first mass timber middle-income housing development, challenging traditional building practices via a new, replicable typology for mid-rise residential projects. The project utilizes CLT with exposed glulam columns and beams and is the first Type IV-C tall timber building entitled through the City of Seattle under the newly adopted 2021 International Building Codes (IBC), following the exact IBC provisions by design.

The West Coast is not the only place experiencing a mass timber breakthrough. A 2022 update to the New York City Building Codes explicitly provides for mass timber elements, aiding Local Law 97’s goal to establish carbon neutrality in the city by 2050 — one of the country’s most ambitious plans for reducing emissions. Additionally, the New York City Economic Development Corporation launched the New York City Mass Timber Studio this year to support the development of mass timber projects in their early phases.

Since Swinerton expanded its operations into New York City in 2021, the firm has been at the forefront of the new opportunities. Also breaking into the East Coast scene is Timberlab, a wholly owned entity of Swinerton Incorporated offering design-build mass timber services.

The mass timber firm recently opened its East Coast glulam fabrication facility — located in Greenville, South Carolina — to build on the momentum of mass timber adoption across the eastern United States and to tap into the abundance of durable and fast-growing southern yellow pine, which has emerged as the preferred species for many architects.

THE FUTURE UNVEILED

The push for sustainable buildings and cities is dramatically shaking up the construction landscape, and regulatory updates are finally beginning to recognize the cost savings, improved sustainability and streamlined construction benefits that position mass timber as an integral piece of the movement.

The future of wood-based construction lies in reimagining and reclaiming one of the world’s oldest building materials to provide sustainable economic growth and preserve the environment. But to do this, firms need to remain nimble, adaptable and open to whatever comes next in the dynamic world of mass timber construction.

Swinerton, a general contracting and construction management leader, hosted the insightful NYC Timber Talks event last week at Haworth New York Showroom. The event featured a panel of experts in the construction industry with a focus on mass timber.??

Featured speakers, including Andrew Pearl (Swinerton), Charles Besjak (SOM), Eli Gottlieb (Thornton Tomasetti), Gizem Karagoz (New York City Economic Development Corporation), Taylor Landry (Woodworks), and Tanya Luthi (Timberlab), brought their expertise to the forefront, dispelling myths and inaccuracies surrounding mass timber. They delved into the current and past mass timber applications, shedding light on its safe and innovative usage and exploring the vast opportunities for future developments in this sustainable construction material.?

“At Swinerton, we recognize the critical importance of uniting stakeholders across the construction industry to collectively address and overcome the challenges we face, including headwinds and misinformation about sustainable materials like mass timber,” stated Andrew Pearl, Vice President and Division Manager of Swinerton’s New York location. “The NYC Timber Talks event underscored our commitment to fostering collaboration and transparency, ensuring that together, we can advance construction practices that are not only environmentally responsible but also align with the highest safety standards. By working hand in hand, we’re setting the stage for a future where sustainable construction materials like mass timber are understood, valued, and utilized to their full potential.”?

The panel highlighted the transformative power of mass timber in the construction industry, emphasizing its role in significantly reducing carbon emissions by up to 40% compared to traditional steel structures. This innovation aligns perfectly with New York City’s ambitious emission reduction targets and the directives of Local Law 97, marking a pivotal shift towards more sustainable building practices. Furthermore, mass timber introduces an unprecedented level of transparency in timber sourcing. Thanks to advanced tracking systems, every piece of timber can be traced back to its source, providing deep insights into sustainable timber production and fostering responsible growth in the sector. This dual benefit of environmental impact reduction and supply chain transparency positions mass timber as a critical component in the future of eco-conscious construction.?

Tanya Luthi, Director of Engineering at Timberlab, highlighted how the rigorous fire testing done on mass timber at Timberlab will revolutionize the fire code across all buildings. She stated, “We’re testing multiple methods of fire resistance, seeing how techniques like the char method can interact with non-combustible finishes to extend burn times by 50%. We’re making mass timber just as safe if not safer than the fire code currently permits.”???

Mass timber has just as much a place in city development as steel, as seen with the success of Boston’s Mass Timber Accelerator program. The Ascent project in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, a 25-story mass timber hybrid residential high-rise, demonstrates mass timber’s potential for building tall. Elli Gottlieb, Managing Principal at Thornton Tomasetti, noted that mass timber’s potential in cities is not limited to tall buildings, as the majority of New York City’s buildings are only six stories.??

NYC Timber Talks made it clear that mass timber is here and it is here to stay. The possibilities are endless, and with Swinerton and Timberlab’s continued commitment to research, this is just the beginning.??

NYC EDC

New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) today announced the advancement of two key commitments featured in New York City’s?Green Economy Action Plan?that seek to revolutionize a green path forward for cleaner construction and low carbon buildings with the launch of the?Clean and Circular: Design and Construction Guidelines?and the selection of the first design and development teams of the NYC Mass Timber Studio.

Key to New York City’s decarbonization efforts, the?Clean and Circular: Design and Construction Guidelines, offer an operational guide to reduce waste and embodied carbon in New York City’s built environment. Additionally, NYCEDC awarded seven design and development teams to participate in the?NYC Mass Timber Studio,?a first-of-its-kind program in New York City, announced in September 2023. The technical assistance program is designed to support active mass timber development projects in the early phases of project planning and design. Mass timber is a natural, renewable and sustainable material with a lower carbon footprint than traditional building materials like concrete and steel.

The full list of NYC Mass Timber Studio awardees include:

• Mass Timber in Harlem – Harlem, Manhattan:?Project evaluating the viability of converting an existing design of a six/seven-story residential building from a concrete superstructure to a lower carbon mass timber superstructure. The project team includes atelierjones, Magna & York, Sage and Coombe, Swinerton, Timberlab, and DCI Engineers.