Mass timber is gaining a role in institutional and environmentally focused construction projects, combining engineered wood structural systems with off-site component manufacturing. Bancroft Construction is applying the approach for the first time through the redevelopment of the Wetlands Institute's 33-acre campus in Stone Harbor, New Jersey.
The project will create a new research and education facility intended to support environmental conservation, scientific activities and community programming while addressing the challenges of a coastal location.
The redevelopment includes an 18,640-square-foot elevated building designed to accommodate the institute's research, educational and visitor activities.
Planned interior spaces include interactive exhibits, classrooms, environmental research laboratories, aquarium support areas, administrative offices and a lecture hall. Visitor amenities and gathering areas are also part of the facility program.
The structural approach incorporates mass timber, an engineered wood construction system that can use cross-laminated timber and glue-laminated components for floors, roofs, beams, columns and walls.
Beyond the new building, the project includes campus-wide infrastructure and environmental improvements.
Planned work covers new parking facilities, accessible pedestrian routes, utility upgrades, site lighting, standby power systems and relocation of the campus boathouse.
The Salt Marsh Trail will undergo reconstruction and elevation across approximately 1,165 linear feet to improve accessibility and address exposure to tidal flooding and rising sea levels.
Marsh restoration activities will also involve grading, beneficial fill placement and native vegetation planting to support wildlife habitat and strengthen the surrounding coastal ecosystem.
Bancroft Construction's preconstruction team worked with the Wetlands Institute and the design team for more than a year to assess project costs, review constructability and coordinate design decisions.
The mass timber scope introduces additional coordination requirements involving prefabricated structural components, transportation logistics and installation sequencing. The project also provides Bancroft with experience in engineered wood construction for future building programs.
The Wetlands Institute redevelopment combines institutional construction, mass timber systems and coastal restoration within a single campus program. For owners and contractors, the project highlights the coordination required to integrate specialized building materials with site infrastructure and environmental resilience measures.
The elevated facility and marsh improvements also demonstrate how construction planning can address operational needs while responding to the environmental conditions of coastal properties.
Source: Bancroft Construction.
