Appleton Mills

This case study discusses how glulam made it possible to restore a pair of 19th-century textile mills in Lowell, Massachusetts, while maintaining strict historic preservation requirements. Builders used glulam beams, planks, girders, floor beams, and columns to replace deteriorated southern yellow pine heavy timbers.  

The case study also covers the aesthetic advantages of exposed glulam in high-ceiling loft spaces, the practical benefits of glulam planking over traditional tongue-and-groove decking, and how modern design tools like Revit were used to manage a project of this scale. This case study offers valuable, real-world insight into the structural, aesthetic, and safety benefits of glulam as a replacement for original heavy timber construction. 

Published by APA — The Engineered Wood Association.