Mass Timber Commercial Office Space Celebrates Topping Out Ceremony

Portland, OR – Truebeck, an industry-leading commercial general contractor, celebrated the topping out of our Arete Creative Office Development project on December 13, 2019. This topping out ceremony marks the completion of the structure for a commercial office space in development in the North Portland District.

Located on the corner of NE Beech Street and N Vancouver Avenue, the 20,400sf project is located only a mile from Portland’s downtown area. With a prime location, alongside the modern and sustainable features of the project, the office will be a highly anticipated space for potential tenants.

As a mass timber and concrete structure, the development of the Arete project is a part of the growing trend that is using timber for larger projects. As one of the nation’s leading cities in environmental consciousness, the mass timber structure of the Arete project will continue to establish Portland as a city that embraces sustainable building. Along with its sustainable elements, timber is just as durable as other material and has a quicker build time.

A unique complexity to the project was coordinating the steel and wood structure to all be prefabricated offsite as well as the steel to wood connections. Truebeck and the architect’s knowledge of the material, despite timber structures being relatively new for large-scale commercial construction, helped to mitigate risk on the project.

The City of Portland Bureau of Development Services approved the new structure design. In a memo to locals they said, “The simple material palette, massing shifts, setbacks, and use of landscaping between the proposed building and existing development respect and enhance the existing context… Careful detailing, high quality materials, and the inclusion of street level planting also help to reduce the overall impact of new development on the neighborhood.”

The developer of the project is Willamette Stone, a real estate investment firm located in Portland, Oregon. They are focused on the development, acquisition, and asset management of unique multi-housing and office spaces in the Pacific Northwest.

Truebeck Construction worked alongside Fieldwork Design and Architecture and MEPF design-build trade partners to deliver this office space. Fieldwork Design and Architecture has designed mass timber spaces for Willamette Stone, Nike, and Portland National Parks & Recreation.