42XX

42XX brings three mass timber creative office buildings to the seaside community of Marina del Rey in Southern California. The project team successfully installed all mass timber elements within three months. Perks include a ground-floor cafe, ample landscaping, third-floor decks interconnected by elevated walkways, at-grade parking with stackers, and generous bike storage. Anticipating future trends, parking may easily convert to retail/commercial/manufacturing/housing. Holmes is providing structural and fire engineering, having obtained one of the first mass timber permits from the Los Angeles Department of Building & Safety.

We knew we wanted to include mass timber for sustainability goals. When sourced responsibly, mass timber reduces the embodied carbon impact of a building structure. With mass timber’s biophilic aspect, it feels good to be in there—especially in this post-pandemic climate. For a space that is conducive to good work, this is hard to beat!

Jose H. Machuca, Associate Principal

Structurally, Holmes reduced the project’s Global Warming Potential with a sleek hybrid mass timber and steel system (plus concrete podium). The use of CLT and glulam substantially lighten the buildings’ mass and material quantities. The team diligently exposed CLT at the roof diaphragms sans concrete topping, preceding codification. Holmes also optimized panel dimensions with the manufacturer to minimize waste during fabrication. Going further, Holmes specified gaps between panels for optimal MEP routing at the decks. Ultimately, the team estimates that the hybrid structures save the equivalent of taking 262 cars off the road for one year.

Holmes provided a comprehensive fire and life safety strategy at all phases. Fire engineers leveraged in-depth knowledge of mass timber performance in relation to the California Building Code to inform constructible designs.

An exposed concrete stair leads to an outdoor terrace and elevated walkways allow for seamless access between buildings. Exterior third-floor decks encourage tenants and visitors to spend time outdoors and enjoy the breezy seaside climate.