Materials Projects : Beaudette Consulting Engineers, Inc. : 406.721.7315 : info@BCEweb.com

PROJECTS: INNOVATIVE MATERIALS

Small Diameter Power
Point Presentation
Click here to download
(file size = 13.8 MB)

----

Montana Community Development Corporation
Small Wood Report
Click here to download
(Adobe Acrobat)
(file size = 296K)

Innovative Use of Small Diameter Wood
in Structures

BCE has developed a working relationship with the U.S. Forest Service and the Forest Products Laboratory (USDA) to study the use of small diameter logs in building construction. This relationship has been made possible through a grant from the Montana Development Corporation. With a dwindling resource of large, old-growth timber available in the world, the need for creative uses of existing materials is becoming an ever-increasing necessity. In our collaboration with the aforementioned agencies, we have found that the use of this abundant resource is not only economically feasible, but also versatile.

Darby Library

Location: Darby, MT

Beaudette Consulting Engineers :: Montana

Dubbed the “Sistine Chapel of small-diameter round wood” the library opened in the spring of 2004. The 5,500 sf building with a construction budget of nearly $900,000, was the first commercial building to extensively use small-diameter round wood for the main structure under Forest Product Lab’s demonstration initiative. The Forest Service provided major grants for design and construction. Major structural elements include clustered columns, parallel chord trusses, and large mono trusses. Both truss types utilized steel rods with unique 1/3 radius pipe sections with kerf plates for tension connections to round wood members. The project was recognized by the Undersecretary of Agriculture with a National Fire Plan award for small wood utilization. The Darby community has a long association with traditional logging, and initial discussions on design occurred shortly after the locally devastating wildfire season of 2000 highlighted the need for hazardous-fuel reduction and restoration programs in local forests.

ALDO Leopold Legacy Center

Location: Araboo, WI

Beaudette Consulting Engineers :: Montana

The Legacy Center is comprised of three buildings; a 10,000 sf multiple use building, a “barn” (garage/storage) and “Seed Gathering” hall. The LEED Platinum certified project was designed by Kubala Washatko Architects for The Aldo Leopold Foundation. Engineering for elements of various buildings was provided under funding from the Forest Products Lab, Madison, WI. Initial efforts involved working with the staff ecologist on harvest of suitable Red Pine from the site in quantities, lengths required for the proposed building elements and treatment and seasoning to achieve optimal moisture content after felling. Mono trusses and round wood purlins were designed from the red pine for the barn and hall.

Aldo Leopold Legacy Center

Kelly Pine Grandstand, Bonner, MT

Beaudette Consulting Engineers :: Montana

Kelly Pine grandstand was erected in Bonner, MT to replace the original viewing stands for the Bonner school district. The structure is approximately 1000 square feet, seats fans and matches the footprint of the original structure. Funding for the design came from U.S. Forest Service and Bonner school district. Small diameter round wood is utilized for the main roof structural components, trusses supporting round wood purlins and decking. Clustered round columns with fixed bases support the main trusses, providing lateral stability without diagonal bracing which provides for unobstructed viewing for the little league baseball fans. The community, where logging and the nearby mill played and important part of Bonners history, embraced the utilization of small wood structural components as connection to the past and future raised the funds to complete the building. Porterbuilt Post and Pole in Hamilton fabricated the small wood components, and Price Construction was awarded the contract to complete the project. Gavin-Hanks Architectural Studio provided architectural services. The first little league baseball game was played in April, 2007.

Townsend City Park Picnic Pavilion

Beaudette Consulting Engineers :: Montana

The 30x50’ pavilion was constructed for the city of Townsend Montana. Funding for the design was by the Forest Products Lab in Madison WI, as part of the initiative to promote the structural use of small diameter wood. The initial design was sketched on a “apkin” with city council members and approved by the mayor. Design features four small diameter timber bents that delineate the structures cross section with jack trusses defining hips off the main bents at each end. The raised central clerestory portion of the main bents allows natural light to filter to the main section of the pavilion while still protecting occupants from the elements. Fabrication of the small diameter components was by Porterbuilt Post and Pole in Hamilton, MT and shipped to the site. The foundation, erection of round wood components, roof deck and finish was completed by community volunteers.

Small Diameter Demonstration Kiosks

Location: Salt Lake City, UT
Client: Forest Products Laboratory — USDA

Beaudette Consulting Engineers :: Montana Working through a grant to the Montana Development Corporation, BCE designed and helped build informational kiosks for the Salt Lake City Olympics. Funding for the design was provided by the USDA Forest Products Laboratory in Madison WI. as part of a program to demonstrate the suitability of small diameter softwood timber left in the round as a structural material. The goal of the project is to provide assistance in forest restoration projects in the West.

Subscribe to our eNews:

F O L L O W U S :