Genentech Child Care Center

Genentech’s decision to build this five-building campus using wood reinforced its commitment to performance, innovation, environmental sustainability and well-being, and supported its belief that exposed wood in classrooms creates a healthier learning environment. Roof structures for the one-story buildings include exposed glulam beams and cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels, eliminating the need to introduce potentially unhealthy interior finishes and contributing to a warm, natural space. Glulam columns, left exposed within light wood-frame walls, create an area where children can touch and experience the natural wood at their level. Most of the mass timber joints were designed as concealed connections, providing improved fire resistance and leaving a streamlined aesthetic. According to the design team, Genentech’s use of mass timber represented a 25 percent savings in embodied carbon compared to a steel structure and contributed to a higher-performing envelope.

The project, which is LEED Platinum, operates as a net-zero energy and net-zero carbon complex. Genentech also realized a $120,000 material cost savings by using wood instead of structural steel.