University of Arkansas Library Annex, Fayetteville, AR, USA

Designed to store nearly 2 million library volumes and works of art, the University of Arkansas Library Annex in Fayetteville was built with cross-laminated timber (CLT) roofs, walls, and floors, and glulam beams, columns, and moment frames.

Library Extension of University of Arkansas, USA

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Cross-Laminated Timber Building

Structure

According to the project team, prefabrication of the CLT and glulam system helped to 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 tornadoes, 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 facade. 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.

The design was performed by the fabricator consultant, Holzpak, and the EOR, Robbins Engineering utilizing Dlubal structural analysis software RFEM. Utilizing Dlubal software allowed quick and efficient coordination between the EOR and fabricator consultant regarding structural loading, design assumptions, and element releases.

Client	University of Arkansas, USA www.uark.edu
Architect	Perry Dean Rogers \| Partners Architects, USA perrydean.com
Architect of Record	Miller Boskus Lack, USA mbl-arch.com
Structural Engineering	Robbins Engineering, USA www.robbins-engineering.com
Fabricator Consultant & Design Assistance	Holzpak, USA www.holzpak.com
Contractor	Con-Real, USA www.con-real.com
Awards	2019 WoodWorks Wood Products Council Wood in Schools