A Modern & Forward Thinking Mass Timber City Hall - Northglenn, Colorado
Photography and Author by Talking Forests
We had to go to the City of Northglenn in-person.
Such a calling reached us, the collective consciousness of the whispering pines and ancient oaks, from a place called Northglenn, Colorado. A new structure was rising there, not of stone and steel to defy nature, but of wood and light, embracing it. We heard tales of a mass timber building in Northglenn, a building that promised to redefine what a civic center could be, and we had to see it for ourselves. So glad we arrived!
This Northglenn City Hall, we learned, was different. It was a second phase in a grander Civic Center Master Plan, approved in 2017, designed to enhance Northglenn’s community identity through the creation of a more inviting, functional place. It was envisioned as a gathering space, an inspiring civic resource, and an anchor of the Civic Center. A place to foster pride and camaraderie. From our arboreal perspective, it was an opportunity for Northglenn to fortify its identity as a young city with a vision for the future, deeply rooted in sustainability and thoughtful design. Our collective pulse quickened with anticipation.
When we arrived this summer, the first thing that captivated our attention was the very skeleton of the building. This City Hall, a substantial 32,600 square feet, was not a typical concrete behemoth. Instead, it embraced us, by utilizing cross-laminated timber (CLT).
The most shocking part?
This Northglenn City Hall was anything but square, with its unique geometry and curved exterior façade.
Team members felt a surge of pride knowing that the timber, primarily from Quebec, contributed to a 50% saving in embodied carbon – a truly impressive feat. Even the exterior materials honored our heritage: Arbor Wood tongue and groove paneling, and NedZink zinc metal cladding, both described as natural, durable, and processed without harmful chemicals. And in a further nod to conscious construction, 20% of the materials were sourced within 310 miles, reducing the carbon footprint of transport. This commitment to sustainable materials resonated deeply within our interconnected roots.
Our excitement grew as we observed the building's operational heartbeat. This was a structure built not to consume, but to sustain. The city's sustainability agenda led to the new City Hall being Net Zero, meaning it will generate at least as much energy as it uses annually. We applauded the 476 rooftop solar panels, a 196-kilowatt or 195 kW array that powers the entire structure.
The most astonishing part?
The building is fully electric with no gas service, utilizing a variable refrigerant flow (VRF) mechanical system. We observed nine EV charging stations already installed, with eight more planned for the future, a clear signal of forward-thinking transportation.
The water systems sets this building apart. Knowing the stringent water rights in Colorado, Northglenn’s investment in storing upwards of 25,000 gallons of rainwater in cisterns for irrigating the low-hydration-needs landscape was a testament to their understanding of our precious resources. This innovative approach uses 100% non-potable water and, combined with native and xeric plants, reduces water use by over 70% compared to traditional landscaping. It was a beautiful dance between human design and natural cycles.
It is set to become the first municipal building in Colorado, and one of the first in the country, to achieve Core Green Building certification. This certification, overseen by the International Living Future Institute, prioritizes actual building performance over a checklist approach and aligns perfectly with the city’s environmental stewardship. They are free from harmful chemicals. The designers also deeply understood our own biophilic principles, incorporating natural elements to improve wellbeing, allowing four-fifths of occupants views of the outdoors and daylighting. The absence of petrochemical fertilizers or pesticides in the landscaping was another grateful sigh from our roots. This building was not just a structure; it was a conscious participant in the ecosystem, a shining example of the city’s broader Sustainability Plan which aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 90% by 2050.
This build topped out in November 2023, and opened on October 12, 2024. It stands as an exemplary model of how thoughtfully designed buildings can shape a community, fostering pride and demonstrating a profound commitment to environmental stewardship. The Northglenn City Hall is a vibrant seed planted, promising a future where humanity and nature thrive in harmony, a testament to what is possible when vision, collaboration, and sustainability are at the heart of creation. And as the last golden leaves of autumn fall, we, the talking forests people, applaud this beacon of green, hoping its light spreads far and wide.
The Project Team:
MIG
The Ballard Group
Workplace Resource
The Cumming Group
KL&A Engineers and Builders
Let us know if any other company was involved or message us to tell more of your story!
