Crow Holdings starts timber office building

A planned Frisco building is expected to turn heads with its earthy appeal.

Dallas-based developer Crow Holdings is embarking on a seven-story, 242,000-square-foot office project, located off State Highway 121 at Spring Creek Parkway, and it’s made out of timber, the Dallas Morning News reported. 

The project is part of the initial phase of a 42-acre mixed-use development called Southstone Yards. 

In a competitive North Texas commercial real estate market, Crow Holdings wanted to create something that stood out among potential tenants. 

“When our prospective tenants come on a tour and see five buildings, they all run together, unless there is something markedly different,” Crow Holdings’ Cody Armbrister told the outlet. “We think it’s beautiful. It’s an organic experience. It’s very warm and welcoming.”

Using Timber to construct buildings has gained popularity due to its eye-popping qualities and sustainability purposes. However, wooden structures have been popular in other countries and were used heavily in the United States during the 19th century, before steel and concrete became staples of architectural design. Even some older buildings in downtown Dallas are still being held up with wooden beams, the outlet said.

The developers also believe that buildings such as the one at Southstone Yards, can aid bringing companies and their workers back to the office. As commercial real estate has taken a hit from the pandemic, firms are getting creative with their approach to appeal to workers accustomed to working from home. 

“It’s going to be really hard for employers to give a mandate to come back to something that feels old, tired and stale,” Armbrister told the outlet.

Mass timber is more expensive than other materials, increasing costs 7 to 12 percent, but structures can be built faster using wood. A project of this nature may typically take as long as 18 months to complete with steel or concrete, whereas this mass timber one is projected to be complete in 14 months.

In addition to ample office space, Southstone Yards is expected to have more than 1,000 apartments, a hotel with as many as 300 rooms and 30 single-family homes, the outlet said.

—Quinn Donoghue