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Architect Ivan Vanchev started thinking about mass timber construction way back in 2016, when a longtime client asked for something “different.”

“At the time, there were only a handful of mass timber projects in the U.S., but the benefits of wood were difficult to ignore,” Vanchev said. “Luckily, they engaged us on the design of what turned out to be the first mass timber office building here in Nashville.”

Vanchev, who graduated from Auburn’s College of Architecture, Design and Construction with a bachelor’s degree in 2012 and a master’s in 2013, works with mass timber, a rapidly growing technology used in the design and construction fields. Mass timber products, which include structural wall and floor panels, beams and columns, can be engineered to be as strong as concrete and steel while weighing less. Not only is mass timber a more environmentally friendly product, but it is also aesthetically pleasing and makes for faster, quieter and less wasteful construction.

“There are a few benefits of working with mass timber, and depending on which part of the owner/architect/contractor team you ask, you may get a different answer,” Vanchev said. “It’s a very adaptable, genuine and truly sustainable material that is capable of being the nucleus of a great human-centric architectural design.”

Vanchev would know, having been a part of the design team on two major mass timber projects in Nashville, Tennessee, where he works for Anecdote Architectural Experiences. The first is the 112,000 square foot 1030 Music Row, Nashville’s first mass timber Class A office building.

Completed in March of 2022, this building is located in a neighborhood with a rich musical history in the recording industry. The structure includes glulam beams and columns, dowel-laminated timber (DLT) floor panels and cross-laminated timber (CLT) elevator shaft walls.

The second is 209 Broadway, an entertainment venue in the heart of downtown Nashville. His firm was also designed the new office for The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, featuring load-bearing CLT exterior walls and floors as well as glulam columns and beams.

While it is growing rapidly, mass timber is still a relatively new segment of the construction industry with a limited number of suppliers. Mass timber pieces are produced to fit together for installation like puzzle pieces, and Vanchev says that good quality control in mass timber fabrication means there are almost no assembly problems during construction. However, the small number of American suppliers and lack of competition can make for higher prices when buying domestically.

Did you know that Auburn University is a leader in mass timber research, teaching and outreach?

Learn about the Auburn Mass Timber Collaborative

“We have tried to incorporate North American mass timber products but have been unsuccessful due to lower costs of products from Europe,” he said. “We have experienced some challenges with the shipping process, but for the most part have worked with larger contractors who have their procurement in order and are able to deliver on time.”

Despite his experience with mass timber, Vanchev considers himself a jack-of-all-trades when it comes to architecture. He designs numerous office buildings, and his other projects vary between hospitality, higher education and occasionally residential/mixed use buildings.

Modern-day mass timber design was in its infancy when Vanchev was a student at Auburn, although the university has since become a leader in teaching, outreach and research with the formation of the Auburn Mass Timber Collaborative. However, Vanchev says he still uses his Auburn education on a daily basis.

“I think the lessons one learns in a hands-on architectural program like Auburn’s can be applied well beyond the design field,” Vanchev said. “If I had to pick one, it might be that doing the right thing is important, no matter how long it takes.”