Construction has started on the first mass timber structure in Columbus, Ohio, planned to stand 13 stories and touted to be the tallest mass timber student housing building in the United States once complete in summer 2027, according to Harbor Bay Ventures, the Chicago-based developer of the property.

Located near The Ohio State University, the building, dubbed 9th and High, will encompass 242,000 sq ft, with five two-story townhomes on the ground floor and 181 apartments above.

Columbus-based Elford Construction is general contractor for the structure designed by DLR Group. Forefront Structural Engineers, in collaboration with American mass timber manufacturer SmartLam, is handling structural design, including all mass timber systems that are planned to incorporate domestically sourced cross-laminated timber (CLT) floor panels alongside glulam columns and beams from Alabama.

“The structural system relies on wood-to-wood connections for the glulam columns, complemented by standardized, off-the-shelf connectors from Simpson Strong-Tie for the glulam beam-to-column joints," said Josh Dortzbach, CEO of Forefront Structural Engineers. "These standardized details are designed to streamline the framing process and accelerate construction."

The off-the-shelf concealed connectors are expected to achieve a Fire Resistance Rating (FRR) of two hours, he said.

Dortzbach added that his company has developed unique composite connectors that integrate the topping slabs with the cross-laminated timber deck.

“This advancement improves the structural performance of the deck by enabling longer spans and reducing deflections—critical to supporting the building’s high-performance exterior enclosure,” he said.

Deflection refers to the degree to which a structural member, such as a beam, joist, rafter or floor system bends or sags under a load.

“This project was optimized for the North American supply chain, demonstrating that we can build tall mass timber cost-effectively in the heart of the Midwest, with our own forests in truly sustainable ways,” Dortzbach added. “In the process, we will realize a net sequestration of 1,128 metric tons of CO₂e—the equivalent of 2,169 round-trip flights from Columbus to Key West."

The project replaces the Bier Stube, a popular campus bar that had stood for nearly six decades, and which had been demolished and has located to a new location to make way for the timber building.

Ohio is making history with timber right next to THE Ohio State campus. Curious to know how much this project cost. From the one rendering the building looks great.