Charlottesville Virginia Soon to be Home to Tallest Wood Structure in the State

Apex Clean Energy, based in Charlottesville Virginia, develops, constructs and operates utility-scale wind and solar power facilities across North America. They are in the process of completing an 8-story high rise building in Charlottesville that being true to their mission leading the transition to a clean energy future, is made out of wood. When completed the building will be Virginia’s tallest structure made from mass timber. Eric Ross is a registered architect working for William McDonough+ Partners and lead on the project. Ross says, “construction is 30-40% faster than building with concrete and steel.” Ross went to explain that “These are really uniquely prefabricated, highly engineered elements that come to the site and get put together like an erector set. They will assemble a floor per week.” The wood holds onto carbon while new trees are planted to replace those that were cut down. Right now, Ross is getting this building material from Canada, but he says this region could be ideal for making mass timber.