Wood Construction

Our knowledge of the evolving building code requirements helps determine if wood-frame construction is well-suited to your project.

Light wood-frame construction, commonly used in single-family homes, is also a popular choice for large multi-family projects with hundreds of units. These structures can be built on-grade or above concrete or structural steel podiums, offering flexibility and efficiency.

At McNamara • Salvia, we have developed numerous sustainable and cost-effective wood-frame solutions for low- and mid-rise buildings. Construction methods range from traditional stick-built techniques to partial shop prefabrication, accelerating schedules, and improving quality. Floor systems include composite wood joists, wood trusses, and increasingly, mass timber panels.

With wood construction’s highly repetitive details, our deep understanding of the design and construction process allows us to deliver the most efficient, durable, and tailored solutions for each client’s specific project goals.

Light-Frame

Wood Special Inspections

Full design and construction administration services as Engineer of Record (EOR) for Light Frame Wood Construction. As EOR, we conceptualize early – leveraging our extensive light frame design experience – to provide efficient projects through completion.
Design of standard and engineered lumber, bearing and shear wall systems, and proper specification for pre-engineered wood trusses – resulting in an efficient construction administration process.
Account for Embodied Carbon in a Life Cycle Assessment to further our commitment to SE 2050.
Keeping up with the latest research, design trends, and standards, our Timber Experts are uniquely positioned to provide a thorough Peer Review for your project.

International Code Council Certified Tall Mass Timber Special Inspection services.
- McNamara • Salvia became one of the only structural engineering firms on the East Coast with ICC-certified special inspectors for the newly adopted Type IV-A, Type IV-B, and Type IV-C construction types in IBC 2021.
Light Frame Enhanced Inspection Services.
- The level of experience provided by McNamara • Salvia Field Services bridges the gap between minimum code requirements and the high level of Quality Assurance our clients have come to expect.
McNamara • Salvia inspectors have significant wood framing experience, from complex mass timber structures to light-frame buildings, and single-family homes. This vast experience gives our clients the peace of mind that the highest qualified person is looking after their investment.
McNamara • Salvia’s unique ability to supply highly experienced and certified staff on-site with constant communication with the design team allows us to provide an efficient and cost-effective construction experience for our clients.

SELECT FEATURED EXPERIENCE

ADDITIONAL WOOD CONSTRUCTION EXPERIENCE

Project	City, State	Project Description
Union on Frank	Tuscaloosa, AL	5- and 4-story, two-building wood framed structure over concrete podium slab
17th & Pearl	Denver, CO	5-story, 38-unit condo with 4 stories of wood framing
104-108 Hemenway	Boston, MA	Replacement of 2 existing buildings destroyed by fire with new 5-story apartment building
StateHouse St. Augustine	Tallahassee, FL	5-story wood-framed structure
StateHouse Woodward	Tallahassee, FL	4-story wood-framed structure
Block 8 at Assembly Row	Somerville, MA	5-story wood framed structure on 2-story steel podium
The Nine at Central	Orlando, FL	5-story, 201-unit wood framed student housing complex
270 Dorchester Avenue	Dorchester, MA	6-story, 88-unit multifamily wood framed development
The Harvey at Hood Park	Charlestown, MA	177-unit residential wood framed apartment building
2935 Zuni Street	Denver, CO	3-story wood frame addition/renovation to historic heavy timber structure
Avalon at Assembly Row	Somverville, MA	4 stories of wood framing for residential use
The Accolade Collegiate Village West	Orlando, FL	5-story, 366-unit wood framed student housing development
The Accolade Collegiate Village East	Orlando, FL	5-story, 177-unit wood framed student housing development
Woodcrest	Oceanside, NY	3-story wood-framed structure on a 1-story steel podium
Waterstone at Lexington	Lexington, MA	5-story wood-framed built over a concrete/steel podium on a sloped site
Selene at Lake Nona Apartments	Lake Nona, FL	4-story apartment building utilizing wood frame construction
Seminole Landing at Florida State University	Panama City, FL	4-story, 130-unit student housing complex
Novi Flats	Kannapolis, NC	5-story wood framed structure on 2-story concrete podium
Novi Rise	Kannapolis, NC	4-story wood framed structure on 1-story concrete podium
The Nine at Tallahassee	Tallahassee, FL	5-story, 104-unit wood framed apartment building
West End Housing at Emerson Place	Boston, MA	Three 3-story wood framed townhouses
Avalon at Chestnut Hill	Newton, MA	5-story, 204-unit wood framed apartment building
Vida III	Kannapolis, NC	5-story wood framed structure on 2-story concrete podium
Atlantica Condominiums	Revere, MA	4-story, 82-unit wood framed building with a steel framed plaza
Story Wesley Chapel	Wesley Chapel, FL	Three, 4-story wood-framed apartment buildings with 320 units
Fraunhofer Center for Sustainable Energies	Boston, MA	Research and development laboratory building repositioning
10-20-30 Channel Center	Boston, MA	200 unit, 251,000 SF mixed-use development of existing building
Avery at Alico	Ft. Myers, FL	5-story, 300-unit wood framed apartment building
411 D Street	Boston, MA	Luxury apartments in the Seaport District
Element Boston Seaport District	Boston, MA	180-key, 6-story hotel
111-121 Green Street	Jamaica Plain, MA	Condominium complex
The Nautica (CANA Parcel I)	Charlestown, MA	7-unit, 13,975 SF condo building, part of a larger overall development
131 Green Street	Jamaica Plain, MA	Condominium complex
Residences at Cape Codder	Falmouth, MA	40-unit townhouse complex
Endicott Green at 180 Newbury Street	Danvers, MA	Appartment community complex
Atlantis Marina	Winthrop, MA	5-story, 44-unit, 100,000 SF mixed-use development
195 Albany Street	Cambridge, MA	48,000 SF renovation of woof-framed office building
Fresh Pond Residences Phase I & II	Cambridge, MA	264-unit residential building
Highland Glen Apartments	Westwood, MA	102-units, 103,000 SF wood-framed building
Woodland Station Housing	Newton, MA	5-story, 180-unit, 220,000 SF apartment complex
Longwood Place	Reading, MA	86-unit complex
Belclare Residences	Wellesley, MA	30,000 SF wood framed luxury condominiums
140 Pleasant Street	Watertown, MA	44-unit building
Maritime Yards	Norwalk, CT	61-unit condominium and 136-unit apartments in 2 buildings
The Esplanade - Hudson	Hudson, MA	Two 4-story condo buildings with a total of 170 units
Winooski Housing	Winooski, VT	26-units of affordable housing
St. Aidan’s Redevelopment	Brookline, MA	Conversion of St. Aidan’s Church to 9 market rate condominiums
Stone Place	Medford, MA	212-unit project
Charlesview Residences	Allston, MA	470,000 SF complex with 240 townhomes and mid-rise apartments
Thirwood Place	South Yarmouth, MA	Senior living community
Turner Hill	Ipswich, MA	Condominium complex