Construction begins on 13‑story mass timber student housing at 9th and High in Columbus

Columbus, Ohio, October 1, 2025

News Summary

Construction has started on 9th and High, a 13‑story mass timber student housing tower near The Ohio State University. The 242,000‑square‑foot building will contain roughly 186 units and 493 beds and rise above a one‑story concrete podium. Developer Harbor Bay Ventures is working with Elford Construction, DLR Group, Forefront Structural Engineers and SmartLam on CLT floor panels and glulam columns and beams. The design uses wood‑to‑wood connections and concealed Simpson Strong‑Tie connectors with a two‑hour FRR. The project emphasizes domestic timber supply chains and claims a net sequestration of 1,128 metric tons of CO₂e.

Construction begins on 13‑story mass timber student housing “9th and High” in Columbus

Construction has started on a 13‑story mass timber building in Columbus, Ohio, to be used for student housing. The project is named 9th and High. The developer calls the building the tallest mass timber student housing building in the United States once complete. The developer states the project is expected to be complete / open by summer 2027.

The tower sits in the University District near The Ohio State University and is sited on a corner parcel with reported site addresses at 1487 N. High St. and 1497 N. High St.. The building will encompass 242,000 square feet and is described as a 13‑story structure rising 157 feet, 6 inches in one report. The development will contain 186 units and 493 beds.

Elements of the interior plan reported elsewhere describe five two‑story townhomes on the ground floor with 181 apartments above. The project will be built by general contractor Elford Construction, with designer / architect DLR Group. Structural design for the full building, including all mass timber systems, is handled by Forefront Structural Engineers in collaboration with American mass timber manufacturer SmartLam North America.

Why mass timber and how it will be built

The tower will be built on top of a one‑story concrete podium. Mass timber systems planned include domestically sourced cross‑laminated timber (CLT) floor panels and glulam columns and beams sourced from Alabama via SmartLam North America. The structural system relies on wood‑to‑wood connections for the glulam columns and uses standardized, off‑the‑shelf concealed connectors from Simpson Strong‑Tie for glulam beam‑to‑column joints. Those connectors are expected to achieve a Fire Resistance Rating (FRR) of two hours as described by the structural team.

Forefront developed unique composite connectors that integrate the topping slabs with the CLT deck. Those composite connectors improve structural performance of the deck by enabling longer spans and reducing deflections. Reduced deflection and longer spans are described as critical to supporting the building’s high‑performance exterior enclosure. The text defines “deflection” as the degree to which a structural member (beam, joist, rafter, or floor system) bends or sags under a load.

The structural connector details are presented as standardized to streamline framing and accelerate construction. The developer also emphasized domestic sourcing and optimization for the North American supply chain to build tall mass timber cost‑effectively in the Midwest using domestic forests.

Environmental and community context

The project will realize a net sequestration of 1,128 metric tons of CO₂e, an amount equated by the developer/engineer to 2,169 round‑trip flights from Columbus to Key West. Harbor Bay says mass timber was chosen for environmental benefits, timeless aesthetic, and an efficient construction timeline. Proponents say mass timber construction offers advantages over concrete or steel, including quicker and quieter construction and a smaller carbon footprint.

The project replaces the Bier Stube, a popular campus bar that had stood for nearly six decades. The small building that housed the Bier Stube was demolished earlier in the week. Bier Stube has relocated to a new location at 234 King Ave. and the owner hopes to reopen there by late December.

The development officially broke ground on Sept. 8. The 13‑story mass timber tower is Columbus’ first large‑scale mass timber structure. Harbor Bay emphasizes the building’s timber structure is intended as a central amenity and that units will be priced in line with market‑rate student housing. Harbor Bay said it does not yet know how much 9th and High units will cost.

Harbor Bay and a group of investors purchased 13 buildings on the south side of West Ninth Avenue that have been used as student rental housing. Harbor Bay previously said those 13 purchased buildings will remain as they are and will not be redeveloped. Parking for the new apartments would be available behind those existing buildings and in the 1,200‑space South Campus Gateway Garage on East Ninth. Materials shared with the University Impact District Review Board stated that the South Campus Gateway Garage is less than half full at peak times. Harbor Bay reportedly reached an agreement with CampusParc for access to the South Campus Gateway Garage.

The development was approved by the University Impact District Review Board last year. An earlier proposal called for a 15‑story building with a 39‑space parking garage; over several months the design changed to be two stories shorter and with no garage. This project is Harbor Bay’s second significant mass timber investment in Ohio after a nine‑story mass timber project that opened in 2022.

Project partners and materials

• General contractor: Elford Construction
• Designer / architect: DLR Group
• Structural engineering: Forefront Structural Engineers
• Mass timber manufacturer: SmartLam North America
• Concealed connectors: Simpson Strong‑Tie

Key project facts (verbatim)

• Construction has started on a 13‑story mass timber building in Columbus, Ohio, to be used for student housing.
• The project is named 9th and High.
• Harbor Bay Ventures (Chicago‑based) is the developer of the property.
• Harbor Bay calls the building the tallest mass timber student housing building in the United States once complete.
• The developer states the project is expected to be complete / open by summer 2027.
• The building is located near The Ohio State University (University District).
• Reported site addresses in the coverage include 1487 N. High St. and 1497 N. High St.
• The building will encompass 242,000 square feet.
• The project is described as a 13‑story structure rising 157 feet, 6 inches in one report.
• The development will contain 186 units and 493 beds (reported in multiple pieces).
• Another report describes the interior layout as five two‑story townhomes on the ground floor with 181 apartments above (these figures correspond to the same development in other reports).
• The general contractor is Columbus‑based Elford Construction.
• DLR Group is the designer / architect for the development; all renderings credited to DLR Group courtesy of Harbor Bay Ventures.
• Forefront Structural Engineers is handling the structural design for the full building, including all mass timber systems.
• Forefront is collaborating with American mass timber manufacturer SmartLam (SmartLam North America) on the structural design.
• Mass timber systems planned include domestically sourced cross‑laminated timber (CLT) floor panels.
• The project will use glulam (glued laminated timber) columns and beams sourced from Alabama via SmartLam North America.
• The structural system relies on wood‑to‑wood connections for the glulam columns.
• The project will use standardized, off‑the‑shelf concealed connectors from Simpson Strong‑Tie for glulam beam‑to‑column joints.
• Simpson Strong‑Tie connectors (off‑the‑shelf concealed) are expected to achieve a Fire Resistance Rating (FRR) of two hours (as stated by Forefront CEO Josh Dortzbach).
• Forefront Structural Engineers developed unique composite connectors that integrate the topping slabs with the CLT deck.
• Those composite connectors are said to improve structural performance of the deck by enabling longer spans and reducing deflections.
• Reduced deflection and longer spans are described as critical to supporting the building’s high‑performance exterior enclosure.
• The text defines “deflection” as the degree to which a structural member (beam, joist, rafter, or floor system) bends or sags under a load.
• Josh Dortzbach is identified as CEO of Forefront Structural Engineers and is quoted multiple times about the structural approach.
• Dortzbach stated the project was optimized for the North American supply chain to build tall mass timber cost‑effectively in the Midwest using domestic forests.
• Dortzbach said the project will realize a net sequestration of 1,128 metric tons of CO₂e (per the developer/engineer statement).
• The developer/engineer equated 1,128 metric tons of CO₂e sequestration to 2,169 round‑trip flights from Columbus to Key West.
• The project replaces the Bier Stube, a popular campus bar that had stood for nearly six decades (one report notes 58 years).
• The small building that housed the Bier Stube was demolished (reported as having been demolished earlier in the week in one article).
• Bier Stube has relocated to a new location at 234 King Ave. and the owner hopes to reopen there by late December (per reporting).
• Harbor Bay’s press release (and reporting) states the development officially broke ground on Sept. 8 (reported by The Dispatch).
• The 13‑story mass timber tower is Columbus’ first large‑scale mass timber structure (reported as the first mass timber structure in Columbus).
• The building will be built on top of a one‑story concrete podium (main structure atop a concrete podium).
• Harbor Bay says mass timber was chosen for environmental benefits, timeless aesthetic, and an efficient construction timeline.
• Proponents (quoted/ paraphrased in the text) say mass timber construction offers advantages over concrete or steel, including quicker and quieter construction and a smaller carbon footprint.
• Harbor Bay CEO Mark J. Bell is quoted praising City of Columbus, Franklin County and the state of Ohio for pro‑business mentality that helped attract investment.
• Mark J. Bell said the project addresses sustainability, affordability, forest management, an evolving workforce and American timber production (as part of the project’s mission).
• Bell said the building’s timber structure is intended as a central amenity and stated he does not prefer to call the project “luxury” housing.
• Harbor Bay said it does not yet know how much 9th and High units will cost (unit pricing unknown).
• Mark Bell said the units will be priced in line with market‑rate student housing (his statement).
• The apartments will be managed by Coastal Ridge (Columbus real estate company).
• Harbor Bay and a group of investors purchased 13 buildings on the south side of West Ninth Avenue that have been used as student rental housing.
• Harbor Bay previously said those 13 purchased buildings will remain as they are and will not be redeveloped.
• Harbor Bay stated parking for the new apartments would be available behind those existing buildings and in the 1,200‑space South Campus Gateway Garage on East Ninth.
• Materials shared with the University Impact District Review Board (UIDRB) stated that the South Campus Gateway Garage is less than half full at peak times.
• Harbor Bay reportedly reached an agreement with CampusParc for access to the South Campus Gateway Garage.
• The development (9th and High) was approved by the University Impact District Review Board (UIDRB) last year.
• An earlier proposal for the site had called for a 15‑story building with a 39‑space parking garage.
• Over several months of discussions the design was changed to be two stories shorter (15 → 13) and with no garage.
• Harbor Bay’s 9th and High is described as its second significant mass timber investment in Ohio.
• Harbor Bay previously developed INTRO Cleveland, which opened in 2022, and is described as a nine‑story, 115‑foot, 512,000‑square‑foot mass timber residential building.
• INTRO Cleveland was described as the largest timber‑framed building in the U.S. (Harbor Bay’s wording) and the largest LEED Gold Certified timber structure in the U.S.; it was described as the first LEED Gold residential project in Cleveland.
• The tallest wood‑framed development in the U.S. overall is cited as Ascent MKE in Milwaukee — a 25‑story, 284‑foot tower opened in 2022 (contextual fact in the text, not part of 9th and High).
• Doreen Uhas Sauer, chair of the University Area Commission, is quoted saying working with Harbor Bay on 9th and High was collaborative and aligned with the University District’s history of managing change.
• Cameron K. Jacobson, AIA, CDT, senior associate at DLR Group, is quoted saying 9th and High paves the way for low‑carbon, innovative student housing and that the project integrates traditional and contemporary design elements honoring neighborhood heritage.
• Harbor Bay’s public materials / press release emphasize domestic sourcing of mass timber to set a precedent for future large‑scale U.S. mass timber projects.
• The mass timber materials (CLT panels and glulam) are identified as engineered wood products; glulam is described as made by bonding layers of wood together under pressure.
• SmartLam North America is identified as the American mass timber manufacturer supplying the project’s glulam and CLT.
• Simpson Strong‑Tie is identified as the supplier of the concealed connectors; one report states Simpson Strong‑Tie is located in Columbus.
• Forefront and SmartLam are said to be leading the structural design of the full building, including all mass timber systems.
• Renderings and project materials are available via Harbor Bay Ventures and www.harbor‑bay.com (as noted).
• Harbor Bay’s communications state the project demonstrates the ability to build tall mass timber cost‑effectively in the Midwest using U.S. forests.
• Harbor Bay’s communications state mass timber offers a natural warmth and texture that shapes vibrant student housing communities.
• The project’s structural connector details are presented as standardized to streamline framing and accelerate construction (per Forefront CEO Josh Dortzbach).
• Photographs / media associated with articles include a photo by Harbor Bay Ventures (per one caption line).

FAQ

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Key features table

Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic

Additional Resources

• ENR: Construction kicks off on 13‑story mass timber building in Columbus
• Wikipedia: Mass timber
• Columbus Underground: Bier Stube demolished; work to start on new mass timber tower
• Google Search: Bier Stube Columbus demolition
• Woodworking Network: Ohio State University’s mass timber student housing structure begins
• Google Scholar: mass timber student housing
• The Columbus Dispatch: OSU student housing apartment replacing Bier Stube starts construction
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Ohio State University
• GSL Global: Construction starts on wooden apartment complex near OSU at former Bier Stube location
• Google News: 9th and High mass timber Columbus

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