Not everyone can be on a construction site when a mass timber building gets constructed. Fortunately for us – and with deep gratitude to UMass Amherst and the contractor Suffolk Construction – we were able to do just that when the John W. Olver Design building at UMass Amherst was being built in 2016-17.
During construction, I would position my Brinno timelapse camera at crucial locations throughout the site that allowed me to record the action up-close. What resulted from this is a collection of over 200 daily timelapse videos that are all contained in the video that is embedded below. All you need to do is click “Play” and then lean back and watch the entire construction unfold in front of your eyes. With a total running time of 1 h 12 m this is a nice movie-replacement.
In these videos, you can see up-close how the structure was erected by placing and fastening columns, beams, and CLT slabs. You can also see the stair shaft panels being lifted into place – and then the construction of exterior and interior walls.
Design Building Timelapse Video
I have this video also as a playlist of individual timelapse videos. If you’d rather watch it that way, feel free to do that here.
Want to learn more about mass timber buildings? You can now order our new book Mass Timber: Materials, Design, and Construction (by Clouston/Schreyer).