Caltech Resnick Sustainability Center

Advancing Research Through Design

The four-story Caltech Resnick Sustainability Center (RSC) is the hub for energy and sustainability research on campus and houses state-of-the-art undergraduate teaching laboratories. It also amplifies the work of the Resnick Sustainability Institute (RSI). The project was completed in 2024 and is an institutional building with a mass timber and hybrid wood-concrete building system.

A Hybrid of Wood and Concrete

The north and west elevations of the RSC feature a mass timber structural “grid-shell” that is supported by the building’s primary concrete structure. The mass timber components are made of Douglas Fir. The timber grid-shell supports common circulation areas and provides intermittent support for the building’s curtain wall. The floor is made of cross-laminated timber (CLT) layered with a polished concrete topping slab, creating a wood-concrete composite system.

Bringing the Outdoors Inside

The mass timber grid-shell extends from the first level to the roof, making it a visible architectural feature throughout the north and west common spaces. The glulam beams and columns were fabricated on the West Coast of the United States and are finished with a clear protective coat. This finish allows the natural grains of the wood to warm the space, providing a connection to the natural world and aligning with the building’s sustainability goals.

Project Highlights

• Sustainability Hub: The building is a hub for energy and sustainability research and is home to undergraduate teaching laboratories.
• Mass Timber Grid-shell: The north and west elevations feature a prominent mass timber structural grid shell.
• Hybrid System: The building uses a hybrid system, combining glulam beams and columns with a concrete structure and a CLT floor with a concrete topping slab.
• Natural Aesthetic: The exposed timber is finished with a clear coat, allowing the natural beauty of the wood to enhance the interior spaces.