Architecture studio PPAA has unveiled the first building in the country with a structure constructed predominantly of mass timber, claiming it is a "milestone in Mexican architecture".Located in an industrial complex in Quertaro, Mexico, the building has a structure made almost completely from engineered wood products, prefabricated and assembled on-site, with only the stairwells made of metal.PPAA has completed a building with the first all-mass timber structural system in MexicoPPAA founder Pablo Prez Palacios told Dezeen that he chose mass timber for its sustainability, reduced labour costs and the speed of construction, though he noted that mass timber is currently more expensive in Mexico than other common building materials such as steel or concrete."The use of mass timber for the entire structural system was a deliberate decision to align with the project's sustainability goals while showcasing the potential of wood construction in Mexico," said Prez Palacios. "Prefabricated elements significantly reduce on-site waste and construction time, making it a practical and scalable solution for future projects in Mexico."It sits on an industrial campus in QuertaroThe building contains two floor of office space raised over a semi-open parking garage. It is attached to a nondescript building that houses facilities for dairy manufacturer Lyncott.It has floorplates made of cross-laminated timber (CLT) and columns made with glued laminated timber (glulam).It is integrated directly into the adjacent building and was designed with a small footprint to maintain a green space that is now wedged between it and another building, placing an egress stairwell above the planted area.Timber stilts support the structure and elevate it over a parking areaPPPA wanted to play on the juxtaposition between the small grove of trees and the adjacent industrial site for its building."The proposal emphasizes lightness and transparency through a modular structure made of cross-laminated timber, contrasting with the solidity of the adjacent building and redefining the perception of the industrial environment," said the studio.It has two floors of open and closed office spaceA simple rectangular form was used for the structure. The engineered wood elements were exposed throughout, including the glulam columns that line the parking area, connected to the ground by concealed steel fasteners.On one side, the parking garage is completely walled off from the campus with the columns systems visible below the facade skin. The columns were placed tightly together in a way that almost gives it the appearance of concrete.Simple walls divide the spacesThe facade was made from polycarbonate sheets called Danpal, which were chosen to increase the project's light diffusion, weather resistance and energy efficiency.With an extremely narrow footprint, the interior of the first storey is laid out with two large open spaces, while the second story is further subdivided into individual offices.The polycarbonate exterior diffuses light insideThe mass timber was featured prominently for the interior architecture, with exposed columns, rafters and floorplates.PPAA leaned into the industrial references, placing all the wiring in metal coverings that contrast with the light tones of the timber.Read: PPAA completes residence in Mexico City clad with board-formed concreteThe studio noted the significance of the project as a step forward in sustainable development in the country."Lyncott introduces a milestone in Mexican architecture by becoming the first building with an all-wood CLT structure in the country," said PPAA"This innovative and sustainable material not only offers lightness and strength but also helps mitigate climate change due to its capability to absorb CO2 and its high level of thermal insulation, which reduces the need for artificial climate control and saves energy."It was created for dairy company LyncottOther strides in mass-timber architecture in Mexico include Dellekamp Schleich's El Jardn Anatole in Mexico City, which utilises a hybrid wood-and-steel structural system.PPAA was founded in 2018 and has completed a number of residential projects internationally including villas in Switzerland and a submerged house in the State of Mexico.The photography is by Fabian Martinez.The post PPAA clads "first all-wood" mass-timber structure in Mexico with translucent panels appeared first on Dezeen.