The Radiator

At five stories, The Radiator is leading a surge of mid-rise mass timber buildings in the U.S. The extensive use of wood begins with the building’s structure: gravity loads are handled through a system of glulam beams and columns, and light-frame dimension lumber walls provide the structure’s shear capacity. A thick timber decking creates the structural floor diaphragm, and its lightness relative to other building materials translates into a more efficient and resilient overall structural system. The Radiator is fully sprinklered, which allowed the design team to put the structural system on display; beams, columns, and the underside of the floor decking are left exposed, contributing to the interior’s contemporary industrial character. Located in the Pacific Northwest, the Radiator’s moisture management system is comprised of fiberglass mat gypsum sheathing, a peel and stick water/air/vapor barrier, and rain screen. This Type III, 36,000-sf project was completed in 2015 for a construction cost of $8.5 million.