University of Arkansas Library Annex

Designed to store nearly 2 million library volumes and works of art, the University of Arkansas Library Annex was built with cross-laminated timber (CLT) roofs, walls and floors, and glulam beams, columns and moment frames. According to the project team, pre-fabrication of the CLT and glulam system helped speed construction and minimized jobsite waste, resulting in a cost-competitive replacement for the traditional steel and tilt-up concrete structure initially suggested by the client. Inside, the wood is left exposed, warming the space and brightening the room to create a comfortable work environment. Since the area is prone to tornados, the team opted to clad the larger, high-density storage volume with a stone-filled gabion basket base wall to protect against low-flying projectiles, and a heavily charred wood upper shroud that can be easily repaired or replaced while providing a fire- and insect-resistant façade. With these and other design decisions, what could have been an ordinary warehouse storage facility is instead an attractive addition to the University’s campus. 27,000 sf /Type VB construction