AZ’s First Cross-Laminated Timber Project Breaks Ground in Tempe

by Mike Hunter

Interior of The Beam

Leading U.S. developer and builder Mortenson, in partnership with PGIM Real Estate and Urban Development Partners, has broken ground on its anticipated The Beam on Farmer Class A office building in the heart of downtown Tempe, and named the Phoenix office of JLL as the building’s exclusive leasing broker.

From project architect RSP Architects, the five-story, 184,000-square-foot office building is the first in the state to feature exposed cross-laminated timber (CLT) construction as the primary structural system. The CLT process utilizes young trees and combines layers of natural timber for an eco-friendly building approach. Cross-laminated timber creates zero waste and will capture 3.5 tons of carbon dioxide. Scrap material from CLT production is also used to create other products or biofuel.

Located at 401 S. Farmer Ave. in what JLL managing director Ryan Timpani describes as the most sought-after office submarket in the Valley, The Beam on Farmer will deliver a unique office product to downtown Tempe, with a modern-meets-vintage mix of solid timber, concrete, steel and glass. Interiors will feature 13-foot exposed wood ceilings, 40,000-square-foot open floorplates and an Under Floor Air Distribution system providing best-in-class air quality and energy efficiency. The building is served by an adjacent parking garage with a 4/1,000 parking ratio. The Beam on Farmer embodies an active design and will uniquely offer users a healthy building experience, with contactless features from “car to cube.” Completion of The Beam is anticipated in May 2022.   

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