The University of Pennsylvania’s Amy Gutmann Hall is the first mass timber building in Philadelphia. Mass timber offers many benefits, including a low carbon footprint.

From cctmarketing.org:

With this method, buildings are constructed using large, engineered wood panels prefabricated off-site.

This wood has less embodied carbon than concrete or steel, the production of which is responsible for a significant amount of global greenhouse gas emissions each year.

Gilbane construction executive Jim Brown said that the Amy Gutmann Hall project is the first of its kind for Philadelphia and will be beneficial in helping UPenn reach its target of going carbon-free by 2042.

“It requires fewer man hours in the field and a faster build because it consists of 90% pre-planning and 10% building,” [Bob] Landy said. “The erection process takes about three to four months, which is a quick turnaround time to bring a building out of the ground.”

He added that another feature that makes mass timber construction so appealing is its durability, especially against fire.