Mattson Macdonald Young Copyright © 2009

Case StudyCrosslake ResidenceCrosslake, Minnesota

The Crosslake Residence presented many structuralchallenges which include the combination of older timberframing techniques with technically advanced insulatedbuilding envelopes and standard platform stick framing.Many heavy, brittle finishes and veneers were chosen forthis project which required stiffer than standard structuralframing.

Innovative Timber Truss and Steel ConnectorsWe used environmentally efficient structural memberssuch as engineered I-joists and engineered laminatedveneer lumber (LVL) to support heavy northernMinnesota snow loads and economical, but heavy,concrete in-floor heating over the floor framing. Thegreat room facing the lake is framed with large timberroof and wall members that are connected with exposedsteel connectors and less conventional timber woodpeg connections. Locus Architects had a specific visualappeal they wanted to achieve for each timber trussand set of columns throughout the house, and it wasour job to hide connections in some cases, and bringthem into the forefront in other cases.

High Wind DesignWe designed this house for higher than the minimumrequired MN Code wind loading per the owner's request.

An interior portion of the house was designed as ahardened wind resistant element to provide increasedsafety for high wind events. The wide side of the residenceis exposed to the lake, thus there are no obstructions toprovide a wind break that might reduce the wind pressure.