First Tech Federal Credit Union

When First Tech Federal Credit Union set out to design a new 156,000-square-foot, five-story corporate headquarters in Hillsboro, Oregon, the project team landed on mass timber as the structural solution that best met their goals for employee well-being, aesthetic harmony with the surrounding landscape, and financial stewardship. 

This publication is designed for: architects, designers, builders 

The building's structural system combines cross-laminated timber (CLT) for the roof and floor panels with glued-laminated timber (glulam) for the post-and-beam frame and columns. Through extensive preplanning, prefabrication, and a coordinated delivery process, the mass timber approach outperformed conventional structural steel across key metrics — including cost, schedule, fireproofing, and foundation requirements. 

Beyond the construction efficiencies, the use of Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI)-certified engineered wood delivered measurable environmental advantages over steel, including significant carbon sequestration and avoided greenhouse gas emissions during manufacturing. 

Published by APA — The Engineered Wood Association.