Timber Homes Illustrated • December 2002
Story by Roland Sweet • Photos by Roger Wade
Reprinted by permission of Timber Homes Illustrated
Copyright © 2002 by Goodman Media Group, Inc.,
People keep finding new uses for traditional timber framing. Just recently, for example, Continental Communities
Ltd. undertook to turn some land formerly owned by U.S. Steel along the Allegheny River in Pittsburgh into a
mile-long garden apartment community, the Residence at the Waterfront. The Columbus, Ohio, developer included plans
for a clubhouse that would serve as a gathering place for the residents. It would feature generally open space
inside and include a central great room with a cozy fireplace, an exercise area, meeting rooms, offices, and rooms
for social functions and meetings. The aim was for the building to be appropriately designed for both the
community and the setting. Continental Communities asked Riverbend Timber Framing of Blissfield, Michigan, to
provide the desired look.
Why timber frame? An obvious reason is that timber framing helps to achieve the openness that the developer wanted
for the layout. But there were aesthetic considerations, too. "Jack Lucks, the owner and CEO of Continental
Communities, likes traditional buildings, Riverbend's Stewart Elliott says. "In this particular case, he wanted the
clubhouse to look like a typical boathouse that is on the river. In addition, he loves the character of big
timber."
To capture the right look, the clubhouse uses several hundred oak timbers, generally 7 by 11 inches for the
columns and up to 7 by 15 inches for the beams. The exterior rafters for the upper-level wrap-around porch are 5
by 7 inches. After being given the size, appearance and specific space arrangements for the building, Riverbend
designed the frame to support it. The company also provided the engineering and construction drawings for the
architectural work and the shop drawings for the timber frame.
Although the 5,200-square-foot clubhouse in many ways resembles a residence, because it is a non-residential
building, it had to be designed to accommodate more people than a home. Stewart estimates that about 30 percent of
Riverbend's projects are non-residential— offices, churches, restaurants, golf clubhouses and such. These buildings
have to meet stricter requirements for loading, general access and fire evacuation.
Although the 5,200-square-foot clubhouse in many ways resembles a residence, because it is a non-residential
building, it had to be designed to accommodate more people than a home. Stewart estimates that about 30 percent of
Riverbend's projects are non-residential— offices, churches, restaurants, golf clubhouses and such. These buildings
have to meet stricter requirements for loading, general access and fire evacuation.
Such considerations pose additional challenges for the frame design. In the case of the clubhouse, for example,
Riverbend used bigger timbers throughout and included several laminated beams to help support the hipped-roof
system, which is the heart of the building's design. Another distinguishing feature of the design is the
wrap-around porch on the second level, above finished space.
Otherwise, the timber frame looks and functions about as it would in a home. "The size of it, the use of space and
the nature of the frame and the overall philosophy of the frame isn't that unusual," Stewart says. The frame also
gives the interior less of an institutional flavor and a more inviting appearance.
Once Riverbend raised the frame and enclosed it with Insulspan structural panels, the exterior was faced with
stained cedar shingles. Inside, the frame was whitewashed but much denser than usual so that it looks almost
painted. Even so, the character of the oak shows through.
A second clubhouse, identical in design but finished and decorated differently, uses a more natural wood color for
the timbers.
The clubhouse opened this spring. It's eye-catching interior has made it not just a community center, but also a
real showpiece. It further demonstrates timber framing's versatility.
For more photos of this project, visit our Flickr Gallery.
