A state agency headquarters project in Augusta, Maine, is combining adaptive reuse with engineered wood construction, creating a hybrid structural system that requires detailed coordination among timber, steel and building-system trades. PC Construction is leading the renovation and expansion of the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife headquarters.
The project retains the exterior shell of the existing headquarters while removing and rebuilding the interior. The renovation includes new structural steel, mechanical, electrical, plumbing and fire protection systems, along with a redesigned interior configuration.
Two additions are being constructed on the north and south sides of the preserved building. The new wings incorporate mass timber components, including Southern Yellow Pine glulam columns and beams and CLT panels.
CLT is being used for floors, roofs, elevator shafts and stair towers. Structural steel and slab-on-deck construction are also incorporated, creating a mixed-material structural system rather than an entirely timber-framed building.
The combination of steel and mass timber has required coordination before materials reach the jobsite. PC Construction and project partners used 3D structural models for steel and mass timber to identify potential conflicts between connections and fastening systems.
Building-system coordination also extends to CLT penetrations. Mechanical, electrical and plumbing layouts are being coordinated with trade partners to account for ducts, pipes and conduit while maintaining the allowable penetration requirements of the timber panels.
The project incorporates approximately 31,000 square feet of CLT, representing about 175,000 board feet. The glulam structure accounts for another 72,000 board feet.
PC Construction is working with South County Post & Beam on the mass timber work and Stone Bridge Iron & Steel on the steel scope.
The engineered wood system is part of a broader sustainability strategy for the headquarters. The project includes geothermal heating and cooling and is pursuing LEED Silver certification.
The use of mass timber also affects construction logistics. The lighter weight of engineered wood compared with conventional steel or concrete can reduce structural loads, while larger CLT panels can cover wider areas and allow crews to assemble floors and roofs in larger sections.
The project demonstrates how mass timber can be incorporated into a public-sector renovation that combines historic preservation, new construction and multiple structural materials.
The Augusta headquarters project provides a regional example of mass timber being integrated into a complex public building rather than used as a standalone structural system. For owners and contractors, the project highlights the coordination requirements associated with combining engineered wood, steel and MEP systems while pursuing sustainability objectives.
The use of locally sourced wood products also connects the building’s material strategy with Maine’s forest resources and the mission of the agency occupying the facility.
Source: PC Construction.
