Sustainable Design Through Structural Reuse and Mass Timber

At the University of Houston, creative reuse of existing foundations and a shift to mass timber turned a flood-prone site into an open-concept, cost-saving, carbon-reducing landmark, where structure meets sustainability by design.

As sustainable design evolves from ambition to expectation, engineers and architects are rethinking how material choices, site conditions, and legacy structures can work together—not just in harmony, but in synergy. The University of Houston’s Retail, Auxiliary, and Dining (RAD) Center is a powerful example of what’s possible when reuse, mass timber, and creative collaboration converge.

Located on a challenging site, the RAD Center reimagines a below-grade dining hall as a vibrant, light-filled, mass-timber facility. The project reveals what is achievable when teams challenge default assumptions—about materials, foundations, and costs—and instead use sustainability as a lens for both performance and economy.

Walter P Moore identified an opportunity to dramatically reduce embodied carbon and overall project costs by reusing the site’s existing concrete columns and belled piers—originally designed for heavier loads. The decision to remove the existing structural lid and topsoil and shift to a lighter superstructure unlocked the ability to retain 66 foundations, requiring only 11 new ones for areas beyond the original footprint. This strategy not only preserved significant structural value but also reduced embodied carbon by more than 175 metric tons.

Switching from the initially planned steel system to a mass timber solution further enhanced these benefits. The lighter system aligned with existing capacity, reducing the need for strengthening and accelerating the construction schedule.

To optimize grid alignment and load paths, Walter P Moore and Perkins&Will worked closely to set a new 25-foot grid that coordinated with the existing structure. Elevated ground-level slabs served as load transfer systems, using post-installed couplers to tie into original columns. Geofoam and soil backfill were carefully placed to prevent overloading of the existing structures.

The mass timber superstructure—southern pine CLT and glulam—was intentionally designed to strike a balance between performance and efficiency. The use of three-ply CLT panels reduced material volume, while intermediate beams and steel-braced frames helped resolve longer spans and ensure lateral performance.

In the commercial kitchen zone, structural steel was used to maximize open space and allow easier maintenance. Custom detailing connected the timber and steel structures without relying on expansion joints.

At the RAD Center, structure isn’t hidden—it’s celebrated. Nearly every column, beam, and CLT panel remains exposed, placing the structural system at the heart of the building’s visual identity. This visibility required a level of precision and intentionality typically reserved for architectural finishes.

Our team worked closely with the architect to ensure that mass timber elements reinforced the design language. Member sizes were selected not only for strength, but for their visual consistency across long spans and multi-story openings. Around atriums, for example, beam depths were kept uniform to create a clean perimeter band and a sense of rhythm that echoed the architecture.

Connection detailing played a key role in preserving the minimalist aesthetic. Fully concealed timber connections and recessed steel elements allowed the warmth and texture of the wood to take precedence. Where structural demands called for exposed hardware, solutions like Cast Connex Universal Pin Connectors delivered both performance and sculptural quality.

One of the building’s signature features—a dramatic cantilevered CLT canopy—illustrates how mass timber can blend expressive form with disciplined detailing. Structural steel beams and through-bolt connectors were hidden within the façade, enabling the clean timber soffit to remain uninterrupted.

The RAD Center’s success lies not in a single decision, but in how each choice—reuse, material selection, structural detailing—was guided by a unified goal: to create a high-performing, elegant, and sustainable building that serves students and staff.

The project saved approximately $1 million and avoided more than 650 tons of carbon through embodied carbon reduction. But its greater value is in how it models a shift in mindset: from siloed problem-solving to integrated, intentional design thinking.

• Reuse strategies can unlock structural, economic, and sustainability wins—especially when considered early.
• Mass timber can serve both as a structural solution and an architectural expression, but requires close MEP coordination and detail precision.
• Hybrid structures benefit from proactive detailing that avoids long-term maintenance issues while preserving aesthetic continuity.
• Projects like RAD Center illustrate that cost-effective design and ambitious sustainability are not only compatible—they can amplify one another when design teams work in concert.