Founded in 1909, the Kalamazoo Country Club (KCC) is embarking on a substantial expansion and transformation, building a new course and facilities – the quality of which they aim to rival any other in the U.S.
The expansion will include a new clubhouse (with amenities such as a bowling alley), a performance fitness center, an 11-hole short course practice range, a re-designed 18-hole course designed by Andrew Green, multiple dining areas and lounges, swimming pools, new tennis courts and an underground parking garage. The project is designed by Chambers, a firm with 75 years of experience in private club design.
State-of- the-Art Sustainability
The Club developed an in-depth sustainability plan which aims to improve members’ well-being through healthy building conditions, while enhancing environmental features during construction and operation. This made mass timber a perfect choice for the project. Beyond the use of mass timber, the project will feature geothermal heating and cooling.
Element5’s Role
The Project consists of multiple mass timber buildings – a new 120,000 sq. ft., 2-storey clubhouse mass timber hybrid building consisting of steel/columns and beams with cross-laminated timber (CLT) floors and roof panels, and Glulam columns and beams in select, featured areas. Other buildings are single-story hybrid buildings with CLT roof decks.
Element5 provided 14 months of Design Assist services, guiding the project from concept design through to construction documents and approved fabrication drawings. Integrating mass timber into multiple hybrid buildings showcased our ability to coordinate with various consultants and trades, each with different timelines and budget constraints.
BIM coordination was essential to the project’s success, especially given the architecturally driven Glulam details on the building exteriors. Element5 supplied Spruce-Pine and Douglas Fir glulam based on location, function, and aesthetic requirements. Logistics and construction sequencing were also critical, and Element5’s experience in managing simultaneous building installations on the same site ensured smooth execution.
Work has begun, and construction is expected to be completed in 2025.
