Turning Design Innovation into Market Momentum
Completed in late 2025, Up@310 Lofts is one of five projects selected for the 2023 Mass Timber Competition, an investment jointly funded by the Softwood Lumber Board (SLB) and the USDA Forest Service. The competition was designed to do more than reward consideration of mass timber. It was built to prove where mass timber works, how it performs, and how it can scale. By supporting real projects with real constraints, the SLB is accelerating market adoption and expanding demand for wood products across new building types. Up@310 stands out as a clear example of that mission in action.
Project Overview: Building Up, Not Out
Located in Keene, New Hampshire, Up@310 Lofts is a three-story mass timber vertical addition built atop an existing steel-framed building. The project adds 57 new residential units, including affordable housing, without demolishing the structure below—an approach that saves time, reduces disruption, and unlocks value in underused buildings.
Rather than defaulting to steel, the project team chose cross-laminated timber (CLT) floors and glulam columns and beams, making mass timber the structural backbone of the new upper floors.
Why Mass Timber Made the Difference
Mass timber wasn’t just an aesthetic choice. Its material properties also solved real problems. Compared to a steel alternative, the mass timber structure was significantly lighter, reducing loads on the existing building and foundations. That lighter weight translated into simpler structural integration, smaller seismic demands, and fewer reinforcements—critical advantages when building on top of an occupied structure.
Prefabricated timber components also streamlined construction. Large CLT panels and glulam members were delivered ready to install, minimizing on-site labor, shortening schedules, and reducing disruption to tenants below. Inside the apartments, exposed wood ceilings and beams deliver warmth and character without adding finishing complexity.
A Replicable Model for Growth
Up@310 demonstrates how mass timber can unlock new housing, extend the life of existing buildings, and create durable demand for wood products. For the lumber industry, it’s proof that building up with wood is executable, scalable, and ready for market expansion.
“[A steel structure] would have significantly increased the costs and magnitude of the foundation reinforcement required compared to the lighter weight of the wood structure.” –Randall Walter, Principal, Lignin Group