Co|Lab

HITT, a leading national construction company, wanted to push construction and design boundaries to create a cutting-edge facility that is a hub for inspiration, research, and testing to positively impact the construction and real estate industries.

Designed for net zero energy as a flexible, high-performance building, Co|Lab puts environmental health and occupant well-being at the forefront. Designated spaces were created to construct full-scale spatial and building mock-ups for testing of products and approaches.

A critical sustainable feature includes using cross-laminated timber (CLT), a composite wood product that offers design flexibility while minimizing carbon footprint. All wood (except for reclaimed maple and cherry harvested on-site) is Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified, which ensures harvesting from responsibly managed forests.

Integrated within a semi-industrial and commercial neighborhood close to HITT’s headquarters in Northern Virginia, Co|Lab is targeting Zero Energy Certification. A roof-mounted photovoltaic solar array canopy on the occupiable roof is designed to offset 100% of the building’s energy consumption. Co|Lab’s high-performance envelope and high-efficiency MEP systems are also coupled with a Mass Timber structure, which provides an interior tactile benefit, while also allowing rapid installation of the structural frame and envelope and decreasing the building’s carbon footprint.

The project was led by Alastair Reilly while Design Partner at William McDonough + Partners and is located in Falls Church, VA.