INTRO Columbus Mass Timber Student Housing Tops Out at 13 Stories in Ohio

On September 8, the topping-out ceremony for INTRO Columbus, a student housing project comprising 186 units near Ohio State University, took place. Standing at 158 feet with 13 stories, it is recognized as the tallest mass timber student housing development in the United States. Designed by DLR Group, this 242,000-square-foot building marks Columbus's inaugural mass timber structure. Utilizing cross-laminated timber and glulam, which were prefabricated by SmartLam North America, general contractor Elford Construction managed to install an average of 44 CLT panels daily, putting the project ten weeks ahead of its scheduled completion in November 2026. The exposed timber design promotes a homely atmosphere while minimizing costs and environmental effects, with the building projected to sequester approximately 1,128 metric tons of carbon compared to traditional steel-and-concrete alternatives.