Mass Timber Building Tops Out at Western State Hospital in Lakewood, WA

Construction crews have placed the final structural beam on a new mass timber administration building at Western State Hospital in Lakewood, Washington, HOK announced. The firm is leading the design for the administration facility and an adjacent 350-bed forensic psychiatric hospital, both currently under construction on the campus.

The three-story, 57,000-square-foot building features a structural system of regionally sourced wood columns and beams paired with CLT decking. HOK worked with structural engineer KPFF to develop concealed proprietary connections and fasteners that secure the glulam beams and columns.

Designed with exposed wood interiors, the project highlights the Pacific Northwest timber industry while advancing sustainable building practices. Some of the timber columns were fabricated from trees harvested directly from the project site. The building is designed to achieve LEED Gold certification and be net-zero-energy ready.

“The mass timber design serves a number of goals. It highlights the natural beauty of western Washington and its evergreen forests. It reinforces the state’s commitment to environmentally friendly design, and it creates a warm and calming environment that benefits well-being,” said Loren Supp, design principal at HOK’s Seattle office.