Students at Virginia Tech build a low-carbon viewpoint
In 2018, the city of Radford asked Virginia Tech University students and faculty to construct a new train observation tower along the New River. The project developed over two years and incorporated locally-sourced building products. It highlight Radford’s transition from a historic industrial town and the university’s advanced interdisciplinary research. The New River Train Observation Tower is located in a brownfield area with views of the river and historic railroad bridge.
Continue reading below
Our Featured Videos
Early on in the design process, the team selected cross-laminated timber (CLT) as the primary building material. It is sustainable and sturdy enough to support a variety of structural needs. However, as the project developed, the students realized that the carbon costs to ship industrially-produced CLT were too high. Instead, the team began investigating materials they could source locally.
Related: Students design a house that revolutionizes urban design
Around the same time, another interdepartmental group of students and faculty at Virginia Tech finished developing a new construction material: hardwood cross-laminated timber (HCLT). Unlike conventional softwood-based CLTs, HCLT uses low-grade Yellow Poplar hardwood, which is abundant in the region. In fact, HCLT outperforms all other forms of commercial CLT. The construction team used the highly-efficient HCLT panels and pursued legislative approval of the new material. It required proof that HCLT prevented moisture, UV, fungal and insect-induced damages to the structure.
Once the design-build team received approval, they worked to maximize its capabilities. Through these explorations, they were able to create modular architectural spaces that feature three-inch thick structural cantilevers and exposed structural members. Additionally, the project’s HCLT panels use raw materials sourced and upcycled from within a 200-mile radius of the site. The team also filled screw holes with wax and coated the exterior envelope in linseed oil and pine tar to protect against the elements.