Wood Times Blog

Would you like a tour?

2012-01-24T05:58:00.000-08:00

First off, the correct answer to last week's trivia question was 6656 total plugs. That breaks down to 5592 shop installed plugs and 1064 field installed ones. No one ventured a guess this time, so I'm going to think of a slightly easier trivia question for a future week. Stay tuned!

This week, I wanted to mention that we always welcome visitors to our plant and I'm happy to give tours. If you're going to be in our area, give me a call at 607-369-9341 to schedule a visit.

If you're far away, you can always check out our virtual tour that we posted on this blog a while back. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Glulam Hammer Truss

2012-01-19T08:37:00.000-08:00

* Congratulations to Michelle Stevens who correctly answered the question posed in last week's post. In case you missed it, the photo was of a roof pitch/dormer template. See below for another quiz this week.

Below are photos of truss assembly taken in our finishing department earlier this week. This truss is for a church and is best described as a hammer truss, although it's design differs slightly from a traditional hammer truss.

In these photos, our finishing team is assembling the truss with concealed connections. The bottom photo is a detail of one of those connections. When complete, the bolts will be covered with a wood plug, ensuring that all hardware is hidden.

I'll send a Una-Lam polo shirt to the person who comes closest to (without going over) the number of plugs needed for this entire project. Have your guesses in by 1700 EST on Monday, January 23. You can respond to this post, guess on Facebook or Google+, or RT your guess on Twitter. Please limit yourself to one guess, and Una-Lam employees (including contractors), their family members, and previous winners aren't eligible.

Good Luck!

What is this?

2012-01-10T06:51:00.000-08:00

In this photo, our engineer, Rik Vandermeulen, is standing behind something unusual.

I will send a Una-Lam t-shirt to the first person to correctly guess what it is. Comment on this post or RT@Unalam with your answer by 1700 EST this Friday, 1/13/2012.

*Hint: the photo was taken in our template loft.

Tiered Glulam Curves

2011-12-06T08:18:00.001-08:00

These photos show some cool curves we just finished. For aesthetic reasons our customer wanted steps or tiers cut into the edge of the beams, so our talented finishing team used a router to complete the job.

Massive Glulam Beams

2011-11-30T07:12:00.001-08:00

Right now we are making a couple of massive glulam beams for the same riding arena that we featured on October 25th. We had to glue and manufacture the beams, and then cut the huge slits where arches will be placed during construction. The first two photos show the completed beam and the third one shows the beam being finished.

Press Release: Una-Lam Vice President of Engineering Retires After 47 Years of Service

2011-11-18T05:57:00.001-08:00

ForImmediate Release

Contact:

ZoëO. van der Meulen

Directorof Communication

Una-Lam

18Clifton St.

POBox K

Unadilla,NY 13849

ph.607-369-9341

fx.607-369-3608

zvandermeulen@unalam.com

Una-LamVice President of Engineering Retires After 47 Years of Service

November18, 2011 – Unadilla, NY – Today,Una-Lam's Vice President of Engineering, Robert Kaseguma, will retireafter over 47 years of service to the company. “Bob has contributedso much to Una-Lam and the Unadilla community over the years,” saidUna-Lam's President, Craig Van Cott. “We're honored that he'sworked with us for so many years. Bob has long been known as anexpert in the industry, and his work can be seen in buildingsthroughout the United States. He's a great friend and part of theUna-Lam family.”

Inaddition to serving as Una-Lam's Vice President of Engineering,Kaseguma was the longtime Chair of the Technical Advisory Committeeat the American Institute of Timber Construction, Una-Lam's industryassociation. He is also a Past President and current member of theUnadilla Rotary Club, and the President of the Buckhorn LakeAssociation.

AboutUna-Lam – Una-Lamis a division of Unadilla Silo Company, Inc. Now in business forover 100 years, Una-Lam is a wood products manufacturer focusing onglue laminated (glulam) beams and arches for use in construction.Una-Lam specializes in a wide range of complex custom engineeredproducts. For more information about Una-Lam's products and servicescall 607-369-9341, visit us at www.unalam.com,or follow us on twitter at twitter.com/unalam.

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Old Unadilla Silo Keeps Una-Lam Warm

2011-11-15T12:59:00.001-08:00

Although we have been out of the silo business for nearly 30 years, those of you who have visited our Sidney, NY plant will recognize the large silo from this picture. We fill this silo with wood chip waste from our glulam manufacturing process, saving money and landfill space. Then, we burn the wood chips in a large wood boiler to heat the whole plant over the winter. This saves even more money and fuel oil, which is good for Una-Lam and good for the planet.

It was a chilly and rainy day here today, as you can see from the photo, but our plant was nice and warm thanks to our efficient use of scrap material.

Connect with Una-Lam on Google+

2011-11-08T05:56:00.000-08:00

You now have a new way to connect with Una-Lam and get our latest news and updates, Google+. Find our new page and add us to your circles at: https://plus.google.com/107741785892666696128

Other ways to connect with us already include:
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Email

Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Glulam Arches at Morrisville State College

2011-11-01T06:22:00.000-07:00

In May, we blogged about the Sheila Johnson Design Center at Morrisville State College in Morrisville, NY. Our structural engineer had a chance to see the center first hand when he was there last week for training to prepare for the LEED® Green Associate exam. Below are some of the photos he took of the center, which was converted from an old dairy barn on campus. Una-Lam supplied FSC certified arches for this project.

Una-Lam is now an AITC Certified Fabricator

2011-10-26T12:13:00.000-07:00

We are pleased to announce that, as of October 25, we are now qualified as a Certified Fabricator under AITC 115-2009, Standard for Fabricated Structural Timber Components and Assemblies.

More information and the actual standard can be downloaded at the AITC website.

Glulam Arches With Shaped Outlookers

2011-10-25T06:50:00.000-07:00

We are now manufacturing several arches for a glulam horse riding arena. We made these arches using pressure-treated lumber because the project is in Florida and the material will be exposed to the elements. In the photos you can see that we shaped outlookers for these arches, providing a decorative touch.

Large Glulam Arches Take Shape for New School

2011-10-19T06:52:00.000-07:00

These photos shows glulam arches that we are fabricating for the field house at Christina Seix Academy in Trenton, NJ. The school is new and will begin teaching students in Fall 2012. It's exciting to think that students will start their year at a brand new school learning under our arches.

The first photo shows an arch in our finishing department that has been stained and prepped for connections. The second photo shows the arch from the back, which will not be exposed. As you can see, it is a large arch because it doesn't even fit into the frame of the photo.

Una-Lam's VP Sales Celebrates 40 Years, and We Give Back to the Community

2011-09-21T05:54:00.000-07:00

Yesterday Phil Holowacz, our VP sales, celebrated 40 years with Una-Lam. We held a luncheon for Phil at our manufacturing facility and then went to the Sidney, NY Elks Lodge to perform community service.

Phil is not only a long time Una-Lam employee, but he is a long time Elk and this year he is the New York State Elks Association President. Two weeks ago the Sidney Elks Lodge was inundated with floodwater for the second time in five years. We could think of no better way to honor Phil's service to Una-Lam than to help clean the lodge for him. Yesterday afternoon we hosed mud off the parking lot, removed damaged drywall and insulation, and hauled debris to a dumpster. Below are some photos from the afternoon's festivities.

Phil speaks to co-workers at luncheon

Una-Lam President, Craig Van Cott, helps to hose mud off Elks Lodge parking lot

Glulam "Trees"

2011-09-13T06:40:00.000-07:00

Below are photos of recently completed glulam "trees" that we manufactured for a recreation and environmental center in Haverford, PA. We even preassembled these large structural elements in our plant before delivering them to the jobsite.

Una-Lam Office Open, Plant Closed Until Monday #flood2011

2011-09-09T05:10:00.000-07:00

The Susquehanna river has crested and we will be reopening our office in Unadilla today. Due to a continuing power outage and state of emergency in Sidney, our manufacturing facility will be closed until Monday. As soon as we have power, we anticipate being able to return to full production.

Una-Lam Closed Due to Local State of Emergency

2011-09-08T10:12:00.000-07:00

Our entire area is currently under a state of emergency due to heavy rain and flooding. We are closed and plan to reopen as soon as the state of emergency is lifted and it is safe to return to work. We should be able to return to full production immediately when we are allowed back.

Our thoughts go out to those who were impacted by the storm.

Una-Lam Thanks Employee for 40 Years of Service

2011-09-06T09:02:00.000-07:00

Last Wednesday, our Steel Shop Foreman, Bill Pinney, celebrated his 40th anniversary with Una-Lam and also retired. Before he left, we held a retirement party to thank Bill for his many years of dedication to Una-Lam.

We will miss working with Bill and wish him good luck in his retirement.

Great Examples of Park Structures

2011-08-24T07:17:00.000-07:00

Last week we blogged about a project Una-Lam delivered to Flagstaff, AZ, but this week we are coming closer to home with photos of park structures in Sidney, NY (where our manufacturing facility is located.) The first shows a pavilion, completed many years ago, in the local park.

The second, shows a pedestrian covered bridge, dedicated in honor of our longtime plant manager Warren Cole. It's impossible to tell from the photo, but in 2006 the bridge survived when floodwater covered nearly all of it.

This final photo shows a riverside gazebo that was dedicated in memory of our previous president, John F. Van Cott.

All of these are examples of the beauty glulam can bring to your local park. For more information, contact us at info@unalam.com or 607-369-9341.

Photos of the Northern Arizona University Skydome

2011-08-17T07:00:00.000-07:00

Nearly 35 years ago, we delivered the last of the glulam beams for the J. Lawrence Walkup Skydome at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, AZ. At the time of its completion it was the world's largest clear-span timber dome and it is now the third largest.

This summer, a Una-Lam team member visited the dome and took photos that show how the glulam still looks great after so many years.

Cool Looking Glulam Stair Stringer and Treads by Una-Lam

2011-08-03T08:05:00.000-07:00

We just received photos of an interesting recent project. Una-Lam manufactured the glulam stair stringer and treads for this residential staircase. We've often fabricated unique spiral staircases and grand staircases and this project gave us another opportunity to show how glulam is a great choice for stairs.

Glulam Trellis at Yonkers REI Store

2011-07-27T06:47:00.000-07:00

These photos show a recently completed REI storefront in Yonkers, NY. Una-Lam manufactured the glulam trellis that creates the dramatic entrance to the store.

More Beautiful Glulam Band Shells and Outdoor Stages By Una-Lam

2011-07-20T07:15:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we took advantage of the beautiful upstate New York weather and visited a few newly installed local projects to take photos. Bainbridge, NY has recently completed a band shell/stage in their park. The following photos show views from either side of the stage. They put up the temporary tent to provide shade for theater-goers during this hot summer weather.

The second project is a stage located in a downtown park in Norwich, NY. The park upgrades are still ongoing, but the stage is up and you can see how it will all fit with the park landscaping. Our glulam was used in this project to create the unique roof shape.

Over the years, Una-Lam has manufactured many of these types of structures, including the band shell in Endicott, NY. If your town, village or park is looking for something similar, contact our estimating department at 607-369-9341.

Una-Lam Team Members Give Back to the Community

2011-07-13T06:56:00.000-07:00

At Una-Lam, we not only support local and national causes such as education, the arts, and animal welfare, but we also encourage our employees to donate their time. We have many volunteer firefighters, fire chiefs and first responders among our ranks.

Additionally, several of our team members hold or have held leadership positions on the boards of service or industry organizations. For instance, Una-Lam President Craig Van Cott has been president of our national industry association, AITC. Locally, he on the board of our Community Foundation. Our Vice President of Sales, Phillip Holowacz is the 2011-2012 New York State Elks Association President. Leif Van Cott, Director of Operations, is on the board of the Otsego County Chamber of Commerce. Zoë van der Meulen, Director of Communication, is on several local boards and is the 2011-2012 Rotary Club President of Unadilla, NY. And, Rik Vandermeulen, Engineer, is on the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math(STEM) Leadership Council to help encourage local students to study those subjects.

Volunteerism is just one more reason why we are proud to be part of the Una-Lam family.

Two Una-Lam Employees Celebrate 40 Years of Service on the Same Day

2011-06-29T06:45:00.000-07:00

At Una-Lam, we're proud to have many employees who have been with us for 30, 40 and even 45+ years. But, it's unusual even for us to have two employees celebrate their 40th anniversary with us on the very same day. Yesterday, we surprised Ken Barton and William "Garry" Stevens with a company luncheon in honor of their 40 years of service.

Thank you Ken and Garry for working with us all of these years and to all of our employees, without whom we would not be here today!

Ken Barton

Garry Stevens

Glulam Hockey Rink Arches Manufactured By Una-Lam

2011-06-14T07:21:00.000-07:00

One of our current projects is gluing and fabricating glulam arches for a hockey rink. These photos show the 10.5" wide arches. There are also 12" wide arches on this project that will be glued together using a combination lay-up.

The first photo shows our finishing team shop matching the arch knee. Because of the size of the arch, we have to glue-up the arch knee separately so that it will fit through our planer and so that it can be shipped to the jobsite.

This next photo shows one arch leg wrapped and ready to be shipped, without the knee, which is now separate.

This final photo shows the arch and its template in our finishing department from another angle. Notice that the arch is made from treated lumber. Like swimming pool enclosures, hockey rinks need treated lumber to prevent the possibility of rot and deterioration caused by moisture and condensation.

We will post more photos of this and our other current projects in the weeks to come so stay tuned.

College Design Center Built With Una-Lam Wins Award

2011-05-10T11:13:00.000-07:00

The Sheila Johnson Design Center at Morrisville State College won the Central New York Business Journal "A Time To Build" Award for the Best Educational Project ($10 Million or Less.) This project took an old dairy barn, the longtime landmark of Morrisville State College, and rebuilt it to house design and technology classes. Una-Lam provided Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) glulam arches for this project, which is striving to attain USGBC LEED Gold Certification.

For more information and photos of this project visit the Morrisville State College website or check out this article.

Congratulations to our customer, Hueber-Breuer Construction Co., Inc., Architect - Perkins Eastman, Engineers M/E Engineering PC and Clark Engineering & Surveying P.C. and Morrisville State College.

Hunter Mountain Ski Lodge Glulam

2011-05-03T07:28:00.000-07:00

This past weekend we happened to attend an event at Hunter Mountain Ski Area in Hunter, NY and there we saw examples of our glulam work from the past.

This photo was taken in the interior of the ski lodge showing the curved rafters that tie into the straight roof beams. If you look closely at the left of the photo you will notice that the roof beams have treated material feathered into untreated material where they approach the exterior wall. This is because they are exposed outside of the wall to give the building a timber lodge look.

We delivered this material to Hunter Mountain in 1988 and it still looks like new. Nearby is the older ski lodge, which we fabricated in 1964. Glulam is perfect for ski lodges and chalets because it is durable and gives a beautiful timber feel to the building. For more information, call us at 607-369-9341.

Glulam Great Buddha Hall Revisited

2011-04-26T06:58:00.000-07:00

We're so busy with new projects that we don't get to tour completed jobs often enough. This past weekend, we had the opportunity to visit the Great Buddha Hall, and its environs, sixteen years after completion. You can see from the photos that the glulam we supplied still looks great. We continue to be in awe of the variety of ways our customers use glulam to make their buildings beautiful.

The entire monastery complex, featuring more of our product, is open to the public daily Spring through Fall. It's a great sight to see if you find yourself near Carmel, NY.

Glulam supported drum tower

View of drum and bell towers from Great Buddha Hall

Great Buddha Hall interior

View of Buddha in Great Buddha Hall

Una-Lam President Craig Van Cott and daughter/Director of Communication Zoe van der Meulen

Press Release: Local Manufacturer Represents Industry Overseas

2011-04-18T11:16:00.000-07:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:

Zoë O. van der Meulen, Director of Communication

Una-Lam

Phone: 607-369-8508

Fax: 607-369-3608

Email: zvandermeulen@unalam.com

Website: www.unalam.com

Local Manufacturer Represents Industry Overseas

Unadilla, NY (April 18, 2011) – An executive from Una-Lam, a wood products manufacturing firm with locations in Unadilla and Sidney, NY, recently traveled to Dubai, United Arab Emirates to promote US wood products at Dubai WoodShow 2011. Leif Van Cott, Una-Lam's Director of Operations, was sponsored by the Softwood Export Council and the American Institute of Timber Construction on this trip.

“Una-Lam has supplied material for a number of international projects in the past, but this was an excellent opportunity to get in front of a large number of potential buyers,” commented Leif Van Cott. “Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Saudi Arabia and other Arabian Gulf state builders are just beginning to construct with wood products. Until recently they relied on suppliers in Australia and New Zealand, as well as Europe, but since the market has grown they have begun looking to producers like us in North America. By attending this trade show I was able to meet face-to-face with the decision makers and make connections that will lead to new business.”

Van Cott was also able to visit several prominent locations around Dubai, including the Grand Hyatt resort that features glulam construction, Una-Lam's wood products manufacturing specialty. “I believe that there is a market for us in that area, even though the real estate crash of 2008 put a dent on investments. I was happy to seize this opportunity to build long term relationships with owners and developers there to position Una-Lam for future growth,” concluded Van Cott.

About Una-Lam – Una-Lam is a division of Unadilla Silo Company, Inc. Now in business for over 100 years, Una-Lam is a wood products manufacturer focusing on glue laminated (glulam) beams and arches for use in construction. Una-Lam specializes in a wide range of complex custom engineered products. For more information about Una-Lam's products and services call 607-369-9341, visit us at www.unalam.com, or follow us on twitter at twitter.com/unalam.

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Una-Lam Arches Feature Prominently in New York's First Certified Passive House

2011-03-29T07:25:00.000-07:00

As we reported last July, our glulam tudor arches were used in the Hudson Passive Project home in Claverack, NY. We were excited to learn that this project has officially been certified as the first passive house in New York state. Congratulations to Dennis Wedlick, the architect who designed and developed the house, and everyone else involved in the project. Beautiful photos of the finished house (showing our arches) can be found here.

Glulam Pavilions and Picnic Shelters by Una-Lam

2011-03-24T07:07:00.000-07:00

Your picnic won't be a washout again with Una-Lam's beautiful and practical pavilions. From small gazebos to our much larger standard rectangular, or custom shape and size, shelters, we have the experience and know-how to create the project you have envisioned.

Una-Lam's standard pavilions include:
Glulam Southern Yellow Pine (SYP) Pitched and Tapered Beams

-2 foot standard overhang
-3/12 roof pitch
-Typical for spacing 8 foot on center or less
Glulam Columns Pressure Treated to .6 pcf Prior to Gluing
-Typical 4 foot embedment
Beam to Column Connections with Hardware
SYP 2"x6" Tongue and Groove Decking
-#1 SYP
-Random Lengths
Engineered Shop Drawings
FOB Trucks to Jobsite
Factory Staining Available
Manufactured Per AITC Standards - With AITC Certificate furnished

Whether you're in the market for our standard package or would like something custom, we can make it work for you! Call our sales team at 607-369-9341 or email info@unalam.com for more information.

Glulam Wood, Appearance and Finish Options: Part 2

2011-03-09T06:34:00.000-08:00

Surface Finishes

Stains and sealers
We recommend all glulam members receive a factory coat of penetrating stain or clear sealer. Please ask for samples of our standard stains.
Surface Texture
Typically a smooth, factory planed finish with eased corners is provided for all members. Other textures are available, which simulate rough sawn lumber, hewn timber, etc.
End Grain Sealer
Penetrating end sealer is factory applied to all cross-grain cuts in the factory.
Flame Retardant Coatings
Coatings which affect the flame spread values of glulam are available. However, we recommend they be field applied because surface marring during handling can occur with these coatings.

Strength Properties

Design values are available in AITC 117-2004, which can be downloaded free from the AITC website.
Typical SYP combinations used are:
24F-V3 for simple span beams
24F-V5 for continuous span beams
#47/1:8 or #48/1:10 for columns or other members not loaded primarily in strong axis bending

Steel Connections and Hardware

Una-Lam designs and fabricates custom steel connections and hardware for almost all of our projects. Contract documents can show fully detailed connections or specify whether factory designed connections should be fully concealed, partially concealed (bolts visible but plates concealed,) or fully visible.
Steel Finish
Una-Lam's default steel finish is galvanized hardware (bolts, nuts, shear plates, etc.) and gray primer on steel plates and shapes. Other options include: All galvanized, all powder coated, and stainless steel.
Steel Grades
Typically steel shapes and plates are A36, and bolts are A307.

Glulam Wood, Appearance and Finish Options: Part 1

2011-03-02T05:58:00.000-08:00

Una-Lam offers a variety of options which affect the finished appearance, strength, and longevity of our glulam products – from raw materials to coatings. Here is an overview of the variables that should be specified for your next glulam job.

Raw Materials
Wood Species
Southern Yellow Pine (SYP) makes up the majority of Una-Lam's work. It is our material of choice for economy and strength – and highly recommended for curved members.
Douglas Fir, Alaska Yellow Cedar, Red Maple, and other species are also available.

Treated Lumber
For glulam members exposed to weather or harsh indoor environments, Una-Lam offers CCA and Penta treated material. Partially exposed members can even be fabricated with treated and non-treated zones.

Forest Stewardship Council Certification
Una-Lam is Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) chain-of-custody certified, making us the right choice for LEED certified projects. FSC material must be specified.

Appearance Grades
Appearance grade refers to visible knots and defects on the wood surface. One of the following grades should be specified:

AITC Premium – For jobs where appearance is of critical importance. Allows only very small knots and voids on exposed surfaces. Any other voids and defects are plugged with clear wood inserts, not just wood filler.

AITC Architectural – The most common appearance grade for Una-Lam jobs. Ideal for exposed projects, where the appearance of natural knots and small voids in the wood is acceptable. Any other voids and defects are plugged with clear wood inserts, not just wood filler.

AITC Industrial – For projects where glulam will be hidden from view or appearance is not critical. Sides of members are planed, but voids or other defects on the edges of laminations are not repaired.

Tune in next week for more finish options.

Una-Lam Technical Notes: Curved Glulam Beams

2011-02-23T06:56:00.000-08:00

The flexibility of glulam and the expertise of Una-Lam can turn almost any shape a designer can imagine into reality. The best economics can, of course, be realized by following the minimum radius guidelines listed below.

We recommend using Southern Yellow Pine (SYP) for curved members due to its material properties, particularly radial tension strength.

Types:
Pitched & Tapered Beams
These beams follow the straight roof pitch on their top edge while the bottom forms a radius curve. Pitched and tapered beams taper from the tangent point to a minimum end depth to provide maximum economy. Optimal roof pitch is 2/12 to 3/12, though other roof pitches are possible. Inside radius of 20'-0” or more allows use of 2” nominal laminations. Use “beam” stress combinations, e.g. 24F-V3

Curved Beams
Beams with constant cross section and radius to form barrel or dome roof profiles. Use “beam” stress combinations, e.g. 24F-V3

Horizontally Curved Beams
Glulam beams that curve in plan use plies that are oriented vertically, therefore the finished height of the beam is based on standard glulam widths. Larger cross sections can be made via special manufacturing processes. We can even fabricate complete circles. Use “other member” stress combinations, e.g. #48/1:10

Tudor Arches
A traditional 3-hinge arch design commonly used in glulam structures. Outside edge of glulam follows the straight wall (arch leg) up to the eave (arch knee), then follows the straight roof slope (arch arm.) Arch leg and arm taper down to the base and peak depths. The interior side of the arch uses a continuous ply, curved at the knee. Standard inside radius at the knee is typically 7'-0”. Optimal roof pitches are 3/12 or higher. Use “beam” stress combinations, e.g. 24F-V3

Complex Curves
Reverse curves, combination curves, S-curve arches, spirals – we've done them all, and would love the challenge of something new!

Sizes:

Specify glulam by true finished dimensions.

Widths: 3”, 5”, 6.5”, 8.5”, 10.5” standard, 12”, 14”, 16”, 18”, 20”

Depth:

Multiples of lam thickness based on table below:

Minimum radius 20'-0” or greater: 1.375” laminations (standard 2” plies)

Minimum radius 7'-0” or greater: 0.667” laminations (standard 1” plies)

Una-Lam Fabricated Hockey Arena Voted "Best Atmosphere" by Wall Street Journal

2011-02-14T06:09:00.000-08:00

Several years ago, we supplied glulam for the Alfond Arena at the University of Maine. This arena was just voted the "Best Atmosphere" in the Friday, February 11 edition of the Wall Street Journal.

You can view photos of the arena here or read the article "Why College Hockey Arenas Are the Cathedrals of Sports".

Una-Lam fabricated hyperbolic paraboloid panels for Maine's Alfond Arena. If you are looking for a unique glulam arena, field house, or natatorium, call us at 607-369-9341.

Glulam Band Shell By Una-Lam

2011-02-08T06:57:00.000-08:00

We are often asked to supply band shells or pavilions for parks. Below are photos showing one that we recently completed in Endicott, NY.

This band shell is based on a typical hexagonal pavilion with Tudor arches. But, to create the open visible stage the front quarter of the building is sliced off. The legs of the front arches are moved to the new corner points. And, to follow the natural line of the hexagonal roof, a double jointed eave beam is used on the front facade.

For more information on our pavilions and shelters, call 607-369-9341 or email info@unalam.com.

Una-Lam Technical Notes: Straight Glulam Beams

2011-02-02T07:42:00.000-08:00

Since we are often asked by architects and contractors for technical information pertaining to our glulam, we have put together flyers with some basic design guidelines. The first one pertains to straight glulam beams. This is also available in hard copy or .pdf format, so please give us a call at 607-369-9341 if you would like the full set of flyers for your design reference.

Description:
Our standard glulam beams simply and attractively provide support to roofs and floors. Factory made to give clear span lengths, the dimensions of these members are designed to give maximum economy in size and cost.

Finger jointed laminations maintain high strength and eliminate weak defects. A variety of finishes are available, from industrial to architectural to premium grade. Load bearing beams can be pre-cambered to compensate for deflections.

These standard beams can be accurately cut to length and arrive on site sealed or stained (if required) and ready for erection.

Laminated posts are also available.

Manufactured for interior or exterior use, these members provide a stability that is not possible in standard timber.

Sizes:
Glulam beams are specified by actual finished dimensions. Any dimensions are possible, but it most efficient to use the following standard sizes:

All profiles are available with or without camber.

Glulam By Una-Lam Used Extensively In Religious Structures

2011-01-25T06:31:00.000-08:00

Almost since we began our glulam business, we have been manufacturing material for religious structures. Very often we supply tudor arches for churches. A tudor arch is a 3-hinge arch design that is common not only in churches but many other glulam buildings.

Building with a tudor arch design has many advantages. It is a highly efficient structural system that supports gravity and lateral loads. It provides a large, open and column free interior space with a minimal structural footprint. And, as you can see form the photo below, it shows off the natural beauty and aesthetics of wood.

As I said, we have been supplying material for countless religious structures over many years. Below is an old photo from the archives showing a church under construction.

Tudor arches can even provide the structure for more massive buildings. An example of this is the Great Buddha Hall in Carmel, NY, shown below.

But, religious structures do not always incorporate tudor arches. The Church of St. Aloysius in Jackson, NJ, below, was built using a hyperbolic paraboloid roofing system and shows how our glulam fits well within a more contemporary church design.

Reflecting on Una-Lam's Long History

2011-01-18T07:11:00.000-08:00

As some of you may remember, our area flooded in June 2006 and most of our Una-Lam archives were destroyed. We recently came across some old brochures and printed photos that survived and this discovery got us thinking about our history as a wood products manufacturer. Here are some of the most interesting finds from the Una-Lam wayback machine.

This first photo shows our employees manufacturing and assembling a glulam truss in the Community Field next to our Unadilla office. This would have been taken prior to the construction of our manufacturing plant in 1963. In fact, this truss may be for our glulam plant. We now have a modern, indoor manufacturing facility, but it is fun to see where we started.

These next two photos were found among a stack of old jobsite photos. The project names are most likely lost, but they are good examples of our glulam expertise and the wide variety of work we have been doing for many years. In keeping with the saying "what's old is new" we were also surprised to see how the second photo looks so similar to our recent Vertical Screen, Inc. project.

This next piece is an old flyer, showing a church we supplied glulam for locally.

Our final photo shows a covered bridge under construction that we fabricated more recently (in 2000.) It is the Smith Bridge in Plymouth, NH. With a total length of 176' incorporating over 250,000 board ft. of timber and a HS 20 Load Capacity it was dubbed the "Worlds Strongest Covered Bridge" at the time. It shows another example of our experience manufacturing glulam bridges, especially covered bridges.

We're fond of saying that "If it can be done with wood, Una-Lam can do it." These photos show how we have the experience necessary to do just that. If you're thinking of using glulam on your next building project, please give us a call at 607-369-9341 to find out how we can put our expertise to work for you.

Vertical Screen, Inc. Headquarters Nears Completion

2011-01-11T06:10:00.000-08:00

A few of our team members recently visited the new headquarters of Vertical Screen, Inc. in Warminster, PA to check on its progress. As we reported earlier, this building is made up of eleven glulam arches that span 145' and rise 40' high. We actually had to manufacture the arches in four pieces and then they were connected by the contractor in the field.

Because the bottom of each arch leg is exposed outside, we needed to feather treated material into the untreated material that is not exposed. The photo, above, shows how the transition looks on the inside of the building. And, this project is looking to achieve LEED certification so we had to use Forest Stewardship Council, FSC, certified lumber throughout the building.

Glulam Groton St. Bridge Featured in Construction Specifier Magazine

2010-12-01T06:14:00.000-08:00

Recently, the Groton Street Bridge was featured in Construction Specifier magazine. To read the full article, visit: http://www.kenilworth.com/publications/cs/de/201011/pageflip.html The article titled, "The Bridge Back to the Future" is on page 10 of the online issue.

This was a great project to be involved with and we are excited that it is now being used.

On-Site Photos of Una-Lam Glulam at New Ambler Area YMCA

2010-11-02T08:30:00.000-07:00

Back in March we posted some photos of Una-Lam arches being fabricated in our manufacturing plant. This material is now installed at the Ambler Area YMCA in Philadelphia, PA. Below are some beautiful photos of the finished product that were taken by staff at the YMCA.

The first three photos show the pool area. We used pressure treated wood and mill finish stainless steel connections here to protect the material from the humid pool environment.

This final photo shows a bit of the lobby ceiling. In the corner you can just see that this is actually a double arch.

Thank you to the Ambler Area YMCA for choosing Una-Lam and for letting us share your photos.

Educational Glulam Projects by Una-Lam

2010-10-20T05:39:00.000-07:00

Una-Lam glulam has been installed in a number of educational and institutional buildings. From universities to community colleges to public grade schools and more, Una-Lam's beams provide a beautiful structure that lends itself naturally to the learning environment. We have been involved with a great variety of educational projects including student centers, libraries, classroom buildings, entrances and pool enclosures. Below are photos of some recent highlights.

Above is a classroom in the new Quinnipiac University Student Center in Hamden, CT.

The Hudson Valley Community College TEC Smart facility in Malta, NY.

The entrance at Northeast Academy Elementary School in Groton, CT.

These are only a few examples of our educational work. For more information, contact us at info@unalam.com or call 607-369-9341.

Glulam Indoor Water Parks and Swimming Pool Enclosures by Una-Lam

2010-10-13T05:53:00.000-07:00

There are many considerations when enclosing a pool, regardless of whether it is a residential, institutional, or commercial project. Designers must ensure that the humid environment will not damage the structure or cause unsightly rust. Treated glulam is a natural choice when designing a pool enclosure or indoor water park because it not only stands up to the humidity but it gives the structure a warm and beautiful look.

Una-Lam has supplied glulam for countless indoor pools and water parks for customers ranging from private individuals to YMCAs to universities to the Great Wolf Lodge. These photos represent only a few of the endless possibilities glulam offers to designers. If you are looking for a beautiful pool enclosure, look to Una-Lam.

Article: Wood framing tops Rocky Top on Quinnipiac Campus

2010-10-05T06:45:00.001-07:00

By Donald Jaenicke

This article was originally published in the October 2010 edition of Structural Engineering and Design Magazine.

A historic past meets a colorful future at Connecticut’s Quinnipiac University as construction nears completion on the elegant 85,000 square foot octagon Rocky Top student center. The original Rocky Top lodge dates back to the last century. It is being replaced by the new student center, which is a showcase of glued laminated (glulam) timber. The architects, Centerbook Architects, specified exposed glulam framing to create warm aesthetics, showcase the golden-colored interior of this popular engineered wood, and to pay homage to the original Rocky Top lodge, which was a timber building.

Almost the entire primary building framing system (columns and beams) of Connecticut's Quinnipiac University Rocky Top student center is constructed from glulams.
Una-Lam/ Phillip Holowacz

Structural engineers designed all of the connections to be exposed, leveraging concealed knife plate connections when necessary.
Una-Lam/ Phillip Holowacz

The new structure has a gross square footage just under 85,000 feet and capacity for 3,000 people. The octagon-shaped structure is 105 feet high from the top of the first floor slab to the top of the chimney structure. It has a point-to-point diameter of about 185 feet on levels one and two, and then tapers significantly moving up the next two levels. Unadilla Laminated Products (Una-lam), one of the nation’s historic wood laminators, was actively involved in producing and specifying the glulam framing, along with the structural engineers Gilsanz, Murray Stificek LLP. At the entry of the building, the walls in the foyer are wood paneling. A massive double staircase carries students and staff to the second floor. Constructed by O & G Industries, the structure houses a 500-seat dining hall, three-story fireplace, fitness center, computer room, and security. The new student center has stunning views of New Haven, Conn., and Long Island Sound.

Another accomplishment of the massive glulam structure is concealed connections and the incorporation of wood into almost every interior and exterior finish other than the floors. Almost the entire primary building framing system (columns and beams) is constructed from glulams with concealed knife plate connections. Glulams were also used for roof purlins and trusses as well as the elevated floor decks and laminated timber roof deck. Most of the structure and floor decking is exposed, and great care was taken to coordinate the location of ducts and electrical feeders so as not to take away from the warm aesthetics. The center ring of the primary structure has columns approximately 55 feet tall and 17-1/2 inches by 24 inches in dimension. Some trusses span more than 40 feet and the heaviest member weighs more than 16 tons.

The fact that the finish was completed once the timbers and mechanical systems were in place helped save construction time because no gypsum board was required at that point. The glued laminated timbers used for roof trusses and interior beams are stress-rated engineered wood products comprised of wood laminations bonded together with strong, waterproof adhesives. The individual “lams” or layers are typically 1-1/2 inches thick. Besides their attractive appearance, the timbers also eliminated the need for a dropped ceiling.

Early reports on the building indicate students and staff like the openness provided by the exposed timbers.

Glulam Student Center Opens at Quinnipiac University in Hamden, CT

2010-09-28T06:19:00.000-07:00

Last week we visited Quinnipiac University to tour the finished York Hill Campus Student Center. Below are several of the photos we took of the interior. As you can see, the warmth and beauty of our product creates a visually stunning structure throughout the entire interior. This was one of the most complex projects we have ever supplied material for and we enjoyed seeing the finished product.

We have covered this project in our blog since the we began work last year. In case you have missed it, you can view the past entries at these links April 27, 2010, March 16, 2010, March 2, 2010, February 23, 2010, February 2, 2010, January 19, 2010, and October 20, 2009.

Glulam Equestrian Projects by Una-Lam

2010-09-13T11:25:00.000-07:00

Our Una-Lam material has been used in many riding arenas and horse barns. Glulam by Una-Lam works well in these types of projects because it is strong enough to create the structure and it is naturally beautiful. You can see in these photos how our glulam adds warmth to these equestrian structures.

If you are working on an equestrian project, think Una-Lam!

Groton Street Covered Bridge Opens in Pepperell, MA

2010-09-08T06:56:00.001-07:00

It's been a year since we held our 100th Anniversary Covered Bridge Showcase and we made our last delivery of material this past Spring. We were excited to learn that the Groton Street Covered Bridge in Pepperell, MA had its grand opening on Saturday, September 4. Community members and local governmental representatives were on hand for the festivities, which were featured on: http://www.pepperellcoveredbridge.org/ Local reenactors even portrayed events from Revolutionary times.

Una-Lam is proud to have supplied the glulam for such a big historic project.

Una-Lam makes it easier for customers to achieve LEED certification

2010-09-01T06:56:00.000-07:00

Una-Lam is Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Chain-of-Custody certified for purchasing, manufacturing and selling FSC pure and FSC mixed lumber for use in our custom glulam material. This makes it possible for our customers purchasing this material to obtain the LEED Certified Wood Credit (MRc7) from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC.)

If you are considering LEED certification for your next project, look to us for help.

Glulam from Una-Lam Adds Warmth and Character to Unique Residence

2010-08-11T06:04:00.000-07:00

Recently Una-Lam manufactured curved and straight glulam beams for a unique local home. The curved piece helps create the soft wave-like shape of the roof (as seen in the following exterior shot.) Below that is an interior photo. This homeowner chose to keep the structural glulam visible on the inside of the home, giving the whole project a warm feel.

For more information on custom residential glulam by Una-Lam, call us at 607-369-9341 or email info@unalam.com.

Project design by Altonview Architects PC. Photos by Richard Walker.

A Closer Look at Glulam Arch Manufacturing

2010-07-13T10:23:00.000-07:00

This video takes a closer look at the gluing part of glulam manufacturing. Here employees are gluing together what will become an arch leg for the Vertical Screen, Inc. headquarters in Warminster, PA.

Boards first get fed through a glue spreader and then placed onto forms that have been specifically set-up for the job. When all of the boards are in place, employees begin winching the material toward the forms and then securing it with clamps. In this case, we also needed the added force of a forklift to coax the end of the material toward the forms.

When the glue has cured, employees will remove the arch from the forms and plane and finish it to the customer's specifications. There's a photo of a finished arch leg shown at the end of the video.

Glulam Incorporated into Energy Efficient Hudson Passive Project

2010-07-12T08:26:00.000-07:00

Recently, the Albany Times Union reported on a model energy efficient home under construction in Claverack, NY. Una-Lam fabricated the glulam arches used in this home. This home is thought to be the first of its type in New York.

For more information on the project, check out the article "Model Home" by Chris Churchill from the Sunday, July 11, 2010 edition of the Albany Times Union which includes visuals of the house in a photo gallery.

Glulam Arch Components Manufactured

2010-06-29T06:54:00.000-07:00

As we reported earlier, we are in the process of manufacturing large arches for the new headquarters of Vertical Screen, Inc. in Warminster, PA. In our last post, we included photos of the two pieces that make up the top of each arch. Here is a photo of one of the bottom legs:

In this photo you can see how the bottom of the leg is made using pressure treated material, while the top of the leg is untreated. This was done because the bottom will be exposed to the elements, while the top is interior so it does not require treatment. This feathering technique showcases our great expertise in glulam manufacturing.

Large Glulam Arches Take Shape at Una-Lam

2010-06-14T12:10:00.000-07:00

We're now in the midst of manufacturing glulam for the new Vertical Screen, Inc. headquarters building in Warminster, PA. One of the most prominent features of the completed building will be eleven glulam arches that span 145' and rise 40' high. These arches are made up of four different pieces of glulam, two arch legs and two top pieces of the arch. Below is a photo showing two of the top pieces awaiting completion in our finishing department.

The photo may not show this clearly, but each of these pieces is over 55' long and 5' deep and has a slight arch to it. We will need to manufacture 22 of these to complete the project. Also, you can see that there is an orange mark on each ply of the glulam arch. This denotes that the board came from our Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified stock. The owners of the project specified FSC material on this project because they are looking to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification from the US Green Building Council.

We will be sure to post more photos as we continue to manufacture the arch components.

Glulam Groton Street Bridge Nears Completion

2010-06-01T06:47:00.000-07:00

As you may remember, we manufactured material for a huge covered bridge in Pepperell, MA. We just received this great photo, taken by Pepperell local Dave Pease, of the bridge nearly completely installed. Dave has his own website where he has documented everything to do with this large project.

We hope to be able to travel to see this bridge in person in the near future. Thank you, Dave for sending this photo.

Article: SAP Americas Headquarters Expansion

2010-05-25T05:43:00.000-07:00

The May 2010 issue of Architect magazine features an article on the SAP Americas Headquarters in Newtown Square, PA where Una-Lam provided glulam. You may remember this building from earlier blog posts. This article describes the building and includes a slideshow that shows some of the glulam in detail. You can view the article and slideshow online here.

SAP Americas Headquarters Expansion
Newtown Square, PA/FXFOWLE Architects
By: Katie Gerfen

If, in this era of declining print subscriptions, executives at the Harvard Business Review want proof that their articles have a direct impact on business, they need look no further than the SAP Americas Headquarters Expansion. An article in that vaunted journal about Renzo Piano and FXFowle’s collaboration on the ultra-green New York Times Building caught the eyes of SAP executives and spurred the German company—a manufacturer of workplace software—to shortlist FXFowle for an invited competition to design a new building at its North American headquarters. As the creators of programs such as SAP Carbon Impact (a software tool that records and manages carbon consumption across business operations), going green was the only option. “This is concrete evidence of our commitment to sustainability,” says Brian Barrett, facilities project manager for the company.

The RFP for the 210,000-square-foot building in Newtown Square, Pa.—15 miles outside Philadelphia—included a requirement for LEED Silver compliance. One of the reasons SAP chose FXFowle was that the New York–based firm said: What about going for Platinum?

Also in the RFP was a request that the new building integrate well with the site—a bucolic expanse, speckled with old-growth chestnut trees. In 2006, when FXFowle won the commission, the plot contained only a three-story tract office building, which held roughly half of SAP’s Pennsylvania workforce. The other half was housed in rented office space not far away; the expansion was intended to bring everyone together in one complex.

The serpentine curve of the new building was designed and sited to create a Wi-Fi–enabled courtyard, a work and break-out space for employees, while maximizing views from the open office floors. To maintain the scale of the existing building, the site was excavated and the first floor of the new headquarters building sunk down into the ground, with a substantial light trough to ensure daylight still reaches the interior. Separated into four floors, the bulk of the new building is open-plan office space. Conference rooms and private offices are organized into corridors across the width of the floor plates, to keep views unobstructed.

But getting to LEED Platinum takes more than just careful siting. The building doesn’t employ any systems that are new to FXFowle, but “it does combine them in ways we have not before,” says Guy Geier, partner-in-charge of the project. To minimize heat gain and control heat loss during the winter, the team wrapped the structure in a triple-glazed curtain-wall system (see below). This intense insulation is paired with an HVAC system that includes underfloor air distribution, geothermal wells for heating, and ice chillers and evaporative cooling towers. There are electric HVAC diffusers embedded in the ceiling plane, but design partner Bruce Fowle describes them as backup. “They are there in the event of an extreme condition, but would rarely be used,” he says. Site plantings manage stormwater runoff, while green roofs help to limit the heat island effect and provide an accessible outdoor space. Sharing the roof plane is an array of solar panels.

These individual systems are all brought together by a sophisticated Building Management System (BMS). Barrett describes a necessary learning curve—the running of exhaust fans had to be tweaked to reduce the static pressure in the building, for example—but the BMS allows Barrett to drill down to how much energy is being used by each system, and to predict the results of any changes. Energy usage is just over 1 kW per square foot, a reduction of 60 percent over the old building. SAP’s corporate parent in Germany is so impressed that it is looking at installing a similar BMS in the older building. And if green begets green, look for other sustainable projects from this corporation in the future.

Toolbox

Unitized Aluminum Curtain Wall
Schüco
schuco-usa.com

Triple-Glazed IGUs
Viracon
viracon.com

One of the largest sustainable systems in the new SAP Americas headquarters building is, ironically, one of the least obvious to the naked eye: a triple-glazed curtain-wall system. First suggested for the project by engineers WSP Flack+Kurtz, who had experience working with the product overseas, the glass skin looks like that on many modern structures. But within each insulated glass unit, there are three glass panes instead of two, radically improving the heat-gain coefficient. The extra width of the units (which are 1-3/4 inches thick instead of the standard 1 inch) was accommodated by the aluminum curtain-wall system. Thin mullions—roughly 2 inches wide—and large module widths and heights minimize the disruption of the glazing.

The curtain wall’s thermal performance eliminates the need for perimeter heating that wouldn’t be supported by the building’s underfloor air distribution and radiant heating systems. The cost savings of eliminating the perimeter HVAC helped cover the more expensive glazing system. In addition to the cost savings of avoiding a fully customized system, “there wasn’t a lot of time to develop custom dies,” says project director John Schuyler, “so we challenged ourselves by using off-the-shelf systems.” Still, some things had to be specially designed, including customized connectors to attach the snap-on 12-inch-deep horizontal sunshades. One downside to a triple-glazed system, the extra weight, wasn’t an issue here because of low overall height.

The color of the glass had to complement the existing building while still meeting efficiency requirements. “We ended up using a so-called ‘clear,” Schuyler says, “but it actually picks up a little bit of color. We were looking to set up the right relationship with [the glazing] on the existing building.” On-site mock-ups helped the color selection process, which resulted in the architects choosing slightly bluer and greener tints for the east, north, and west façades.

Project Details

Project Credits

Project SAP Americas Headquarters Expansion, Newtown Square, Pa.

Client/Owner SAP Americas

Architect FXFowle Architects, New York—Guy Geier (senior partner, partner-in-charge); Bruce Fowle (founding principal, design partner); John Schuyler (associate principal/project director); Gustavo Rodriguez (senior designer); Sara Agrest (senior designer); Frank Lupo, Kimberly Garcia, Raphael Pereira (competition design team); Alvaro Quintero, Robert Lanni, Ervin “Dash” Hirsan, Woo-Hyoung Lee, Nick Tocheff, Louise Smith, Nathan Herber, Max Carr, Toby Snyder (core and shell design team)

Interior Designer FXFowle Architects, New York—Joseph White, Auddy Banny, Lisa Cheung, Nina Kinoti-Metz, Tom Scarda, Stephanie Schreiber, Robert Hills (interiors design team)

Mechanical Engineer WSP Flack+Kurtz

Structural Engineer Severud Associates

Electrical Engineer WSP Flack+Kurtz

Civil/Site/Geotechnical Engineer Advanced GeoServices Corp.

Construction Manager Gilbane Building Co.

Landscape Architect Wallace Roberts & Todd

Green Roof Roofscapes

Cistern Design Rainwater Recovery

Geothermal Gipe Associates

Lighting Designer S+S Lighting Design

Wayfinding Ex;it

Parking Structure Architect of Record AECOM

Size 210,000 square feet

Materials & Sources

Ceilings Armstrong armstrong.com; ACGI (80% recycled content ceiling tiles) acgiwood.com

Curtain Wall Schüco (unitized aluminum curtain-wall system) schuco-usa.com

Fabrics and Finishes Corian (Bamboo cabinetry) dupont.com

Flooring Roman Mosaic and Tile Co. romanmosaic.com; Johnsonite johnsonite.com

Glass Viracon viracon.com

HVAC Trane (ice storage tanks) trane.com; Air Zone International (raised floor air system) airzoneinc.com; Tate Access Floors tateaccessfloors.com

Lighting Gammalux Systems gammalux.com; Lightolier lightolier.com

Lighting Controls Lutron lutron.com

Paints and Finishes Sherwin Williams (low-VOC paints) sherwin-williams.com

Plumbing Vola (waterless urinals) vola.com; Kohler (dual-flush toilet valves) kohler.com; Sloan Valve sloanvalve.com

Structural System Unadilla Laminated Products (glulam ribs) unalam.com

Boy Scout Centennial Parade in Unadilla

2010-05-18T07:21:00.001-07:00

This weekend, Boy Scouts from far and wide came to our hometown to celebrate the 100th anniversary of scouting in America. Unadilla happens to be home to Troop 1, the longest continuously chartered Boy Scout troop in the country. Una-Lam participated in the celebration by decorating a float for the parade. Here are some photo highlights:

Here we are putting the finishing touch on our float in the staging area. Notice the glulam basketball pole. Una-Lam has sold these pole and backboard kits for a number of years and if you are interested in adding one to your property please call us at 607-369-9341.
President Theodore Roosevelt was on hand to observe the centennial festivities. Here he is posing with the Van Cott family in front of our float.
Troop 1 marches down Main St. Unadilla.
The Una-Lam float in the parade.
This photo gets back to our roots. It is a small silo that we used to take to fairs and trade shows as a demo model when we used to be in the silo business.

Una-Lam Brochure Wins Award, Plus Unadilla to Celebrate 100 Years of Scouting

2010-05-14T06:10:00.000-07:00

We just learned that last night our brochure won Best In Show at the 2010 CAST (Communications Association of the Southern Tier) Genesis Awards. All of the credit really goes to Vibrant Creative who did a great job designing our brochure. We just supplied photos of some of the gorgeous projects we work on regularly, many of which are also posted on our website. We're really excited about this positive reception our brochure has received.

Also, this year the Boy Scouts of America are celebrating their centennial. As the home of Troop 1, Unadilla is hosting a large encampment with over 750 scouts this weekend. If you happen to be in the area on Saturday, be sure to attend the parade down Main St. from 4:30 - 5:30 pm. Una-Lam will even have a float!

Congratulations to Vibrant Creative and the Boy Scouts for their achievements!

Glulam Conference Table by Una-Lam

2010-05-04T08:32:00.000-07:00

Although Una-Lam typically manufactures structural glulam, we do have the expertise to make custom furniture. The following photographs show a conference table we recently completed for Vibrant Creative (formerly GrafiQa.)

These two photos show the top and the legs before they were finished in our plant.

Here is the table in Vibrant's new Binghamton office.

Una-Lam Glulam Installed at Quinnipiac University

2010-04-27T05:33:00.000-07:00

We wanted to share recent construction photos of the Quinnipiac University Student Center in Hamden, CT. The following photo shows the grand staircase that we wrote about the fabrication of earlier, now installed in the field.

The next close-up shows an integration of glulam and log framing. This showcases no only our talent in wood, but also our custom steel work. The steel connections were fabricated by Una-Lam.
Here you can see the building taking shape, from a distance.

We will be sure to publish more photos as the building nears completion.

Glulam from Una-Lam at the HVCC TEC-SMART Facility

2010-04-22T06:20:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, members of the Una-Lam team attended the grand opening of the Hudson Valley Community College TEC-SMART facility in Malta, NY. This facility prominently features our glulam as a structural element of the building.

The TEC-SMART campus was created to train students on microprocessor manufacturing and a wide range of green technology including solar, wind, and geothermal energy. The building also employs these technologies for heating, cooling, lighting, and power. Above, Una-Lam's material both allows natural light into the windows and shades them during peak daylight hours. The photo below shows the second story skylights that also light the facility.

Business of the Year Photos

2010-04-19T12:39:00.000-07:00

As we mentioned before, Una-Lam was named the Business of the Year by the Unadilla Chamber of Commerce. Last night, members of the Una-Lam team received the honors at the Unadilla Chamber's Annual Dinner.

We received a lovely plaque from the Chamber to commemorate the occasion. (From left to right in the photo: Rik Vandermeulen - Una-Lam Engineer, Zoe Vandermeulen - Una-Lam Director of Communication, Leif Van Cott - Una-Lam Director of Operations, and Greg Davie - Unadilla Chamber of Commerce President)

We were also very excited to receive a New York State Assembly Citation from Assembly member Peter Lopez, pictured below.

We are truly thankful for this great honor.

Glulam Rafters for Nature Center Take Shape

2010-04-13T11:17:00.000-07:00

Una-Lam is now working on rafters for the Robinson Nature Center in Maryland. This photo shows one rafter being completed in our finishing department. For this project we used Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified material, per the customer's request. Because some of the material will be exposed to the outdoors, we needed to have some FSC material from our warehouse treated to better withstand the elements.

This photo shows how the end of the rafter has been end capped with treated material for aesthetics and to protect the end grain when it is exposed to weather. The end grain of wood susceptible area to absorbing water, causing the wood to swell and check or potentially leading to decay. For that reason, the cut ends of our beams are typically treated with a special end grain sealer. An end cap or cover board, as shown here, provides even greater protection.

Una-Lam Named Business of the Year

2010-04-08T10:54:00.000-07:00

Una-Lam is honored to have been named 2010 Business of the Year by the Unadilla Chamber of Commerce. We look forward to seeing many of our local friends when we receive the award at the annual Chamber dinner on Sunday, April 18th. There is also a nice article about this honor in the Sidney Tri-Town News today.

We wish to sincerely thank the Unadilla Chamber of Commerce for their recognition.

Glulam Frames Create Structure for Unique Home

2010-03-23T06:42:00.001-07:00

We'd like to share some construction progress photos for a unique project that we fir st wrote about last October. For this project we supplied the glulam frames (a series of cantilevered columns with curved beams with a varying profile down the length of the building.)

Each frame spans 40 feet (out to out) and varies from around 17 feet high on one side to around 25 feet high on the other. This creates a very large open space. In these photos you can also begin to see the framing for the windows that will create the glass facade of the home.

Glulam Rafters for Quinnipiac University Student Center

2010-03-16T08:13:00.000-07:00

These unusual looking beams are actually rafters for the Quinnipiac University Student Center in Connecticut. In these photos you can see how our finishing department has cut out a channel (or kerf) where a steel reinforcement plate (called a kerf plate) will fit. This is another example of the complex work Una-Lam does regularly.

Glulam Arches Take Shape at Una-Lam

2010-03-09T06:05:00.000-08:00

Una-Lam is now completing a project for the Ambler Area YMCA in Philadelphia, PA. It includes a lobby and pool enclosure (treated glulam is often the first choice for indoor pools because of its durability in a humid environment.) The lobby features a square hip roof with diagonal arches (shown in the drawing below) that presented a challenge for our design and production teams.
This photo shows the upper arch (shown in brown on the drawing above) being fabricated in our finishing department. You can see the ridge cut we made on the upper arch surface (on the left) and where we cut out material on the top to create the square peak connection (in the foreground.)

Below, you can see the back side of the upper arch and the connections where we will frame in the lower arch (shown in the drawing above in orange.) The lower arch is actually made of two pieces. When all of the material is done, the three parts of the arch assembly will be shop fit and matched, then shipped to the job site.

One Side of Glulam Grand Staircase Complete

2010-03-02T10:45:00.000-08:00

Una-Lam recently completed one half of the glulam grand staircase we are fabricating for Quinnipiac University's student center. Before we removed it and rearranged the area for the other half, we took some photos of the project.

The last photo shows our employees who worked on the project taking a moment to enjoy their accomplishment before moving on to the second half. Great job!

More Photos of the Unique Glulam Grand Staircase

2010-02-23T08:34:00.000-08:00

These photos show the recent progress on the glulam spiral staircase we are pre-assembling in our manufacturing facility for the Student Center at Quinnipiac University. On this side, all three glulam stringers are in place and we have nearly finished adding the log risers where the treads will attach.
This photo shows a close-up of the risers that give the staircase its rustic look.

Glulam Grand Staircase Pre-Assembly

2010-02-02T05:59:00.000-08:00

One of the most visually stunning features of the Quinnipiac University student center is the glulam and timber grand staircase. The staircase is so complicated to fabricate, that we are pre-fitting everything in our plant before shipping it to the jobsite.

The first phase of pre-assembly is happening now, as the glulam stringers, landings, and support posts are being fabricated. A large area of our plant floor is now dedicated to the assembly of the grand staircase so it can be assembled exactly as it will be in the field. The staircase is particularly complicated because each spiral stringer has a different radius and a different radial work point, creating a dramatic splayed shape.

Our drafting department used its expertise in 3D modeling to make the staircase a virtual reality, and now our fabrication expertise will make it a physical reality.

Here are some photos of the staircase work so far. We will post more as it progresses.

Glulam Elementary School in Groton, CT

2010-01-26T06:15:00.000-08:00

Una-Lam often supplies glulam material on projects for educational institutions, from college student centers, to field houses, to hockey arenas and more.

This photo showcases the work we did for the Northeast Academy Elementary School in Groton, CT.

In the same district, we also supplied glulam for the nearly identically designed Catherine Kolnaski Magnet School. The natural and contemporary look of the glulam gives these schools a fresh and inviting feel.

Una-Lam Manufactures Pyramids for Student Center

2010-01-19T07:49:00.000-08:00

Since much of our work is custom, we are often asked to glue and fabricate complicated shapes, from spiral staircases to complete circles to pyramids. The pieces shown in this photo will be installed at Quinnipiac University in Hamden, CT in their new student center.

Whether the job involves complex curves, cuts or shapes, or simply straight beams, if it can be done with wood, Una-Lam can do it.

A Guided Tour of Unadilla Laminated Products (Part 8)

2010-01-12T06:18:00.000-08:00

This week we conclude our online tour of Una-Lam with our steel shop. Coming next week - more project photos.

Steel Shop

We have a separate steel shop across from our main manufacturing facility where we fabricate the hardware for your job. We can weld connections, thread rods, punch holes in the steel and more. For complicated shapes, we often send our material to be plasma cut at York Modern in Unadilla, NY. If required for your project, we send the material to be galvanized, usually at Hubbell Galvanizing in New York Mills, NY.

In our steel shop we also have the forms for making hyperbolic paraboloid (HP) shaped roof panels. These uniquely shaped roofs are often used for field houses, gymnasiums, and churches. Below is an example of a church using HP panels for its roof.

A Guided Tour of Unadilla Laminated Products (Part 7)

2010-01-05T06:52:00.000-08:00

Finishing and Truck Loading

Finishing is where the raw timbers are turned into your finished product. We have the tools and the expertise to produce the final shape that you have requested. Whether it is a simple square end cut, a compound miter cut, a rectangular beam with one or with varied tapered eave cuts, or a beam with 1/4” or 24” holes, the Una-Lam finishing department can do it. In the finishing area we also remove and plug any surface defect on the beams and apply stains or other surface finishes. In this photo you can see two employees cutting the end off of a beam with a large circular saw.

Once the material is finished, we wrap and load it onto a trailer for shipment. We have a truck fleet and drivers to deliver material and can also ship via common carrier or load the material onto your truck.

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A Guided Tour of Unadilla Laminated Products (Part 6)

2009-12-22T06:04:00.000-08:00

The Planer

After your beams have cured overnight, we send them through a large planer to smooth the sides and remove any glue that has squeezed out and dried. This photo shows the outfeed side of the planer. The material stacked along side of it has been planed and will soon be sent to the finishing department. The glue room, finishing and loading areas are connected via an overhead hoist system, so the beams will be lifted to finishing.

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At long last, covered bridge is taking shape

2009-12-18T09:57:00.000-08:00

From the Pepperell Free Press:

At long last, covered bridge is taking shape

By Don Eriksson, Correspondent

Posted: 12/18/2009 11:49:12 AM EST

PEPPERELL - "This is the biggest thing to hit Pepperell in years," Rep. Robert Hargraves said last week as he and DPW Director Robert E. Lee stood on the pedestrian walkway spanning the Nashua River beside the foundation of the covered bridge.

"This should be named 'The Pepperell Covered Bridge,'" he said. "I couldn't agree more," Lee said.

The two watched as S&R Construction workmen placed another section of the plywood covered aluminum framing over the rapidly flowing water to the granitefaced concrete piers that were finished this past summer.

The so called "safeway" is the platform from which construction crews will put together, piece by piece, the giant laminated support beams and underpinnings for the spanning into place. It is, workers explained, the platform from which construction crews will be working.

The 95-foot main support beams arrived by truck from Unadilla Laminated Products facilities in Unadilla, N.Y. last week.

Not far away a giant, red crane slowly swung another section of the safeway toward the lengthening platform. Its extra-wide steel treads rested on thick beams that stretched from Groton Street to the pier closest to Railroad Square. It had taken three days to assemble the vehicle and its supports.

The three foot-thick laminated support beams lay some distance away, carefully covered with heavy plastic to protect them from unsupported exposure to the elements.

"It's not going to take to mid-2010 to finish this, despite (news) reports," Hargraves opined. "They're going to keep going" A recent report quoted Executive Office of Transportation spokesman Adam Hurtubise as estimating project completion won't be until mid-2010 rather than the originally scheduled fall of 2009.

Highway workers on site, none of whom were authorized to speak to the press, said privately that although an estimated completion date is elusive, they will work on the bridge, weather permitting, throughout the winter. Hurtubise reportedly confirmed recently that S&R Construction has submitted a proposal to work long hours through the winter to make up for lost time.

Lee, along with private Pepperell watchdog David Pease, who is taking personal vacation time from work to follow the project, said the initial plan to put the 475,000-pound bridge together and slide it across the river has changed. It will now be reconstructed on site as pieces arrive.

Acquisition of federal and state funding for the project and design has taken more than 10 years. Hargraves and Lee both have been working on the planning process. Lee from his Town Hall office insisting it remain a covered bridge and Hargraves, pushing the funding process along in Boston.

"It was entirely possible that this could have been a roadway over steel beams," Lee said. "The project started about the time I was hired in 1998. This is going to be beautiful."

Lee said the town is also planning to create a scenic view and river access at the upstream mill site, as well as a gravel riverwalk alongside the water downstream. He explained that the Fisheries and Wildlife Department is quite particular about the words used to describe the public access concept.

Lee showed Hargraves how electric lines that once crossed the former Chester A. Waterous Covered bridge had to be moved so construction could take place. That process and the discovery of fresh water mussels had contributed to the project's delay. Lee said the electric lines will be reset into their former location upon completion of construction.

The Pepperell bridge will be the only traffic-bearing covered bridge in Massachusetts. Reconstruction of the 95 foot-long, 47-foot-wide main span involves about 1,800 pieces of glulam (glued wood laminate), 700 pieces of solid timber and 42,000 pieces of steel hardware. It will measure 33 feet from the bottom of the floor beams to the tops of the trusses.

When assembled, a bituminous covering will be placed on top of the wooden roadway. Threaded rods concealed within the wood trusses fastened top and bottom to steel plates will afford a 25-ton weight limit. That might be reduced to 20 tons. Last Saturday at the Fire Department Christmas party, Hargraves reiterated his completion time frame prediction.

"The bridge is coming along. It will take shape during the next few weeks, save the hot top," he said. "I'm finishing 15 years (on Beacon Hill) and a I have more than a year to go. You'll always have our support in Boston."

A Guided Tour of Unadilla Laminated Products (Part 5)

2009-12-15T06:21:00.000-08:00

Glue Room

Before being glued, the material is run through a planer to create a smooth, even surface for gluing. Next, we apply glue using our glue spreader and the boards are placed on the forms. These forms are set using the template we created earlier for your project. When all of the boards have been placed on the forms, we apply clamps and use air wrenches to tighten the clamps around the material. This pressure ensures that the material forms to the desired shape and that the glue adheres properly. The material then sits overnight so the glue can cure. In the photo that follows, glue room employees are laying material onto forms after it has gone through the glue spreader.

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A Guided Tour of Unadilla Laminated Products (Part 4)

2009-12-08T06:21:00.000-08:00

Scarfer & RF Tunnel

The next step in our manufacturing process is to finger joint the material to the proper length. We do this using a scarfer. Wood enters the scarfer on a turntable and knives in the machine cut the finger joints. Then, the machine applies glue to the joints and sends the material on a chain up to the Radio Frequency tunnel. This tunnel is basically a giant microwave oven and rapidly cooks, or cures, the glue in the finger joints. At the other end, a flying cutoff saw automatically trims the material to the specified length. Essentially, if we had the material and the space in our plant, this machine could create an infinitely long board for gluing. In fact, the longest beam we've ever glued was just under 174 feet long and was used to create the bottom chord of the covered bridge over the Delaware River in Downsville, NY.

The following photo shows finger-jointed boards coming out of the scarfer and tunnel.

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A Guided Tour of Unadilla Laminated Products (Part 3)

2009-12-01T06:15:00.000-08:00

Lumber Receiving and Inside Storage

When you place an order, we then order the lumber for your project. Most of the material we glue is nominal 1” or 2” thick Southern Yellow Pine or Douglas Fir lumber (1”x6”, 2”x8”, 2”x12”, etc.), although we do occasionally glue other wood species. As its name suggests the Southern Yellow Pine comes from tree farms in the southern states, mostly in Arkansas, Georgia and Alabama. We source the Douglas Fir from western states such as Oregon and Washington.

We can glue pressure-treated Southern Yellow Pine material for use in outdoor and marine applications. We are also proud to be Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC) Chain-of-Custody certified for purchasing, manufacturing and selling FSC pure and FSC mixed lumber in our custom glulam material. Many of our customers choose to use FSC certified material if they are looking to achieve a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating on their project.

The material arrives by truck, or very infrequently rail, and each piece must be visually inspected on our grading chain. Here is a photo of the grading chain.

Una-Lam is a member of the American Institute of Timber Construction (AITC) and the employees on the grading chain are trained to inspect and classify the lumber according to AITC standards. Some of the things they are looking for are moisture content, density and any cosmetic defects in the material. All of these characteristics determine how the lumber can be used in our production process.

After we have graded the material, it is sorted and stacked together and transferred to our lumber yard where it will wait until we pull it out for your job. You may see the grade markings on lifts of lumber in our yard, C for clear boards, O for strong outside plies, W for wane (the edge of the tree), etc. Most of the material in our lumber yard, shown in the photo below, was ordered and will be used on a job going through our plant shortly.

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A Guided Tour of Unadilla Laminated Products (Part 2)

2009-11-24T05:35:00.000-08:00

This week, we focus on the sales and design aspects of our operations.

Taking Customers from Concepts to Completion

Estimating
When you call into Una-Lam with a pricing request, one of our knowledgeable estimators will take your information and price the job. Once you have accepted our quote, the job either goes directly to our manufacturing facility or it goes to our engineering and drafting department, depending on the complexity.

Engineering/Drafting
Una-Lam employs two licensed professional engineers and two drafters who have expertise in wood products design. If your project requires engineering analysis or shop drawings, this department will do the design work and send it to you for approval before it goes into production.

Template
After the design is finished and approved, shop drawings are sent to our Sidney plant where they are turned into full-scale mock-ups in our template loft. These templates accompany your project through the plant and are used in the glue room to set our gluing forms and in the finishing department to make final cuts and attach hardware in the right places. This photo shows how we made the templates for the Groton Street Bridge trusses.

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A Guided Tour of Unadilla Laminated Products (Part 1)

2009-11-19T05:55:00.000-08:00

Here at Una-Lam, we love giving tours and telling people about our long company history. But, we know that not everyone can make it to our plant, so we've put together some photos and descriptions to share with everyone, near and far. The following is the first in an eight part series of stories about Una-Lam that we will post over the coming weeks. Enjoy!

In the Beginning: About Unadilla Laminated Products (Una-Lam) and the Unadilla Silo Company, Inc.

In 1892, the Van Cott family began selling lumber in Unadilla, NY. In 1906, we made the first Unadilla silo, beginning a product line that would serve farmers until the 80s. We incorporated as the Unadilla Silo Company, Inc. in 1909, and we're excited to celebrate a century of incorporation this year.

To further our commitment to farmers, the Unadilla Silo Company experimented with glue laminated barn rafters in 1928. By 1963, this business had picked up steam and we expanded our laminated products division into a new facility in nearby Sidney, NY where we continue production today.

For more than a century, Una-Lam has built its reputation on a constant commitment to quality and an eye on the future of building. Today’s leaders at Una-Lam continue to embody the spirit of tradition meeting innovation.

Now, with members of the sixth generation of the Van Cott family working here, we continue the tradition of wood products manufacturing.

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Unique Glulam Residence Under Construction

2009-10-27T12:00:00.000-07:00

Una-Lam often provides material for unique projects. This residence, now under construction, is no difference. In this case, we were not only the material supplier, our in-house professional engineer provided the design expertise for our beams. This photo shows the house framing from the north end, and shows six of the ten arches that will form the structural framing for the house. Each frame is 40' out to out, with a curved upper "beam" section with a kerfed shear splice to the column sections. All members have a constant 6.5" x 24" cross section and the inside radius is 5'-0". To get the tight 5' radius, we had to use even thinner material than usual. 1" nominal (0.667") plies can only be bent to 7' radius. These are true 0.5" plies.

All of the columns have fixed moment connection bases, which provide the building's lateral resistance in both directions. When complete, most of the facade will be glass with no shear walls. You can see the base connection on the nearest frame in the photo. For the other frames, the columns and base connections extend below the floor level for concealment. Also, for cosmetic reasons we worked to line up the glue lines at the splice.

Glulam Student Center Rises in Connecticut

2009-10-20T11:11:00.000-07:00

Quinnipiac University in Hamden, CT recently began constructing its new glulam student center using Una-Lam supplied material. This construction photo shows the central framing bay of the building from the concrete core to the ring of glulam columns.
All of the glulam members and connections are fire rated, meaning that the connections have the required 1.5" glulam protection over all steel parts. The top of each connection is protected by 3" decking, and the connections are all narrower than the members to protect the sides. Bolt holes will be plugged using custom fabricated glulam plugs. And, underneath the members, bottom plugs cover the steel seats.

In the photo below you can just barely make out the rectangular outlines of some of the bottom plugs and see one beam, at the top of the photo, where the plug has not yet been installed.

Check back often for regular updates on the progress of the project.

Glulam Spiral Staircase Stringers

2009-10-13T07:52:00.000-07:00

Occasionally we are asked to make some complicated glulam shapes for projects, from S-curves to complete circles and everywhere in between. In those cases, we still glue up the material on our forms close to the floor. For this particular project, we needed to extend our forms vertically so we could make helical shaped stringers for a spiral staircase. This is just another example of our unique capabilities.

Glulam Pre-Assembly Nearly Done on Groton St. Bridge

2009-10-01T06:38:00.000-07:00

Now that we have added the roof trusses to the top of the Groton St. Bridge it won't be long before we have to disassemble it and ship everything to Pepperell, MA for final installation.

These photos show some of the more recent progress. The first shows the roof truss being carefully installed on top of the bridge side trusses. The second and third photos show the bridge with all roof trusses installed.

Una-Lam Provides Glulam for SAP Leed Platinum Certified Headquarters

2009-09-23T10:41:00.000-07:00

Recently Una-Lam provided Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified glulam for global business software provider SAP's new US headquarters in Newton Square, PA. View an article, here that describes the building and SAP's environmental philosophy and includes photos of the glulam provided by Una-Lam.

Church Built Using Una-Lam Material Receives Award From New York Construction Magazine

2009-09-15T10:26:00.000-07:00

We just heard that the Church of St. Aloysius in Jackson, NJ received the Best Architectural Design and Best Worship Project of 2009 from New York Construction magazine. The church was designed by Erdy McHenry Architecture in Philadelphia, PA and roof design consultant Daniel F. Tully of Santa Fe, NM.

Una-Lam manufactured the hyperbolic paraboloid roof panels that give the church its unique shape. For more information on the awards, visit New York Construction magazine online.

Una-Lam Celebrates 100 Years of Incorporation With Covered Bridge Showcase

2009-09-03T07:44:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, we briefly paused production to celebrate a century of incorporation with our family members, customers, suppliers and friends. Nearly 375 people joined us for an open house, covered bridge showcase and barbecue at our Sidney manufacturing facility. This photo shows the crowd gathering around what will one day be the Groton Street covered bridge in Pepperell, MA while our president, Craig Van Cott, makes a presentation.

One of the many highlights of the day was when we recognized our vice president of engineering, Robert Kaseguma, who recently completed his 45th year of service with Una-Lam. During the showcase, we presented Kas with a clock with a plaque inscribed "All our thanks to Robert Kioyoshi Kaseguma for 45 years of excellence as our friend, mentor and co-worker. Unadilla Laminated Products 2009."

Several local elected officials also joined us for our celebration including Jim Warren - Sidney Mayor, Linda Bickos - Unadilla Mayor, Assemblymember Pete Lopez, State Senator Jim Seward, and a representative from Assemblymember Cliff Crouch's office. These officials brought an Assembly Citation and Proclamation and a Proclamation declaring September 2, 2009 "Una-Lam Day" in Unadilla, which we are very excited about.

Our event was covered by WBNG - Channel 12 in Binghamton and you can view the story here.

We thank everyone for coming out and making the day a success!

Glulam Covered Bridge Begins Taking Shape

2009-08-26T07:53:00.000-07:00

This photo shows workers installing the top chord on one of the side trusses of the Groton Street covered bridge. The bridge will have an identical truss installed on the other side of it and then roof trusses will be installed on top of these trusses. The workers shown on the right side of the photo give some perspective on how large the bridge will be when complete.

Installing glulam deck panels for Groton Street bridge

2009-08-18T06:59:00.000-07:00

Recently, Una-Lam began installing deck panels for the Groton Street covered bridge.

The panels were first loaded onto a truck in Una-Lam's manufacturing facility and were driven outside to where the bridge is being assembled. There, a crane picked up the deck panel off of the truck.Then, the deck panels were hoisted over to the bridge.Next, the panels were guided into place.
The deck panels were finally set down and fastened to the bridge.

Press Release: Groton Street Covered Bridge Assembly Underway

2009-08-11T06:40:00.000-07:00

Below is a press release sent out today about our progress on the Groton Street covered bridge as well as a photo. In the photo you can see that the floor beam pairs are all down and the sidewalk beams are being installed perpendicular to the floor beams. The three sidewalk beams on the left of the photo are already installed and the workers are installing the ones to the right. To give a little perspective on the bridge size, when it is complete it will be just a couple of feet shorter than the silo you can see in the background, which is over 35 feet tall.

Groton Street Covered Bridge Assembly Underway

Unadilla, NY (August 11, 2009) – Unadilla Laminated Products (Una-Lam) of Unadilla and Sidney, NY recently began assembling the Groton Street covered bridge outside of their Sidney manufacturing facility. When assembly is complete, the bridge will be inspected and then disassembled and shipped to Pepperell, MA for installation over the Nashua River. This roadway bridge will span ninety-four feet over the river and is forty-seven feet wide.

Una-Lam hired Payne's Cranes, Inc. of Bainbridge, NY to assemble the bridge. “Payne's Cranes knows how to work efficiently with our material and has erected hundreds of our jobs,” says Phil Holowacz, Una-Lam's Vice President Sales, on his decision to hire Payne's Cranes. “Plus, they're a local business and by choosing them we're helping the area economy,” continues Holowacz.

Una-Lam will add photo and video updates of bridge assembly at its Sidney, NY plant to its website, www.unalam.com, regularly. For more information on the Groton Street Bridge project, contact Zoë O. van der Meulen, Director of Communication at 607-369-8508 or zvandermeulen@unalam.com.

About Unadilla Laminated Products – Unadilla Laminated Products is a division of Unadilla Silo Company, Inc. Now in business for over 100 years, the Unadilla Silo Company is a wood products manufacturer focusing on glue laminated beams and arches for use in construction. The Unadilla Laminated Products division specializes in a wide range of complex custom engineered products. For more information about Una-Lam's products and services call 607-369-9341, visit us at www.unalam.com, or follow us on twitter at twitter.com/unalam.

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Video: Nine Mile Creek Aqueduct Almost Complete

2009-08-10T08:59:00.000-07:00

Click here to view a news feature on the Nine Mile Creek Aqueduct in Camillus, NY. It not only shows Una-Lam's material as it was placed into the aqueduct, but it also gives some historical background on the area.

Assembly begins on Groton Street Bridge Project

2009-08-06T08:22:00.000-07:00

We've mentioned earlier in our blog that we are currently manufacturing material for a large covered bridge going over the Nashua River in Pepperell, MA. For this job we are required to assemble the bridge at our Sidney, NY plant so it can be inspected and then disassembled and shipped for installation at its permanent location. Previous posts have shown the template work we've done for the bridge trusses and also how the deck panels were glued. Right now, we're excited to share that we've begun the assembly process.

Before being moved outside to the assembly area, our finishing department drills holes and attaches the steel connections to the bridge pieces. This photo shows one of the glulam double beam assemblies. It will hang from the main trusses and provide direct support for the roadway decking and sidewalk framing. Una-Lam employees are about to load this beam assembly onto a trailer so we can drive it around to where it will be hoisted in place by a crane.

This photo is of a deck panel that is for the road edge. You can see the shear plates on the right side of it that are for connecting the curb and the railing crash barrier. This deck panel is waiting to go outside until the beam assemblies are in place because they will sit on top of them.

Here is a photo of the assembly area showing progress on placing the beam assemblies to date.

It's hard to believe that when the bridge is complete it will be almost as tall as the large wooden silo shown in the background. It is over 33' from the bottom of the floor beams to the top of the roof trusses. Check back often for more progress photos on the bridge assembly.

Article: Long-Span Trusses Remain Active Market

2009-07-21T06:13:00.000-07:00

From the July 2009 issue of Building Products Digest

When dealers and contractors are supplying glulam trusses for a light commercial or industrial job, they often need to call on laminating firms for long-span components that are not available at conventional truss outlets.

Like other construction materials, glulam framing has declined in sales volume, yet it continues to be a favored material for non-residential jobs such as schools, churches, stores and office parks.

In particular, glulam timber is still widely used for long-span roof trusses, according to Unadilla Laminated Products, Unadilla, N.Y. While Unadilla does not produce conventional residential trusses, they are a manufacturing resource for contractors and dealers for various long-span trusses, including timber bridges. This means that Unadilla can produce custom truss components that are beyond the capacity of most conventional truss plants.

In building trusses for a timber bridge at Pepperell, M.A., Unadilla created a full-scale mock-up of the components, including a complete template, marking construction holes, and cuts to be made after the material is glued. The templates completed for the timber bridge are 21 ft. deep and 92 ft. long, providing the main structural elements for the bridge span.

Since many of the larger trusses are left exposed because of their attractive aesthetics, Unadilla is equipped to finish and stain the glulam truss chords.

If customers want a more rustic look, Unadilla can rough saw the glulam before it is stained and steel fittings are added. They also offer graceful arched trusses in long lengths.

Boise Cascade is another long-time laminator and fellow American Institute of Timber Construction member. They sell glulam trusses to contractors and dealers because of their rustic appearance, strength and competitive price. Like Unadilla, Boise provides design and engineering services, and jobsite deliveries for glulam floor and roof trusses.

Additional photos of material at Erie Canal Aqueduct in Camillus, NY

2009-07-07T06:29:00.000-07:00

In an earlier blog entry we posted photos showing construction progress on the Erie Canal Aqueduct over Nine-Mile Creek in Camillus, NY. We recently received photos taken just before they began installing the stringers on the aqueduct. These photos show Una-Lam's material being delivered and unloaded on the site.

We look forward to showing off photos of the finished project shortly.

Finishing Supervisor celebrates 40 years with Una-Lam

2009-06-19T08:42:00.000-07:00

This month, Finishing Supervisor Ken Tilley (on the right in the photo) celebrates his 40th year with Una-Lam. Today we surprised him with a party to thank him for his years of hard work and dedication to the company. Congratulations Ken!

Glulam indoor riding arena

2009-06-16T05:45:00.000-07:00

These are photos of another indoor riding arena using Una-Lam's glulam for the exposed structure. Located in Millbrook, NY, the barn is 110 feet wide by 200 feet long and features a 1.4 million BTU heater making it comfortable to use year round. It was built by Dave Zublin of Old Town Barns in Pawling, NY.

Una-Lam glues covered bridge deck panels

2009-06-08T12:04:00.000-07:00

Here at Una-Lam, we're often asked about how we glue together our material. These photos of our employees gluing up deck panels for the Groton Street covered bridge show the process in more detail.

First, employees set up the lam stock that has been finger-jointed to the proper length (in this photo around 95') on carts for gluing. Next, the individual boards are fed through our glue spreader. Once the glue has been applied to the board, employees place it on a form. When all of the pieces are glued and on the form, they are clamped together so the glue can set. After the glue cures, the beam is taken off of the form and sent to the finishing department.

These deck panels are approximately 9" thick x 53" wide by 95' long and will be installed on their side (just like they are shown in the final photo.) The panels bear on the main floor beam pairs and create the actual roadway with up to 4" of asphalt paving added to the top just as a wearing surface.

Template work underway on Groton Street covered bridge project

2009-06-03T12:24:00.000-07:00

Before Una-Lam employees fabricate material, our template department creates a full-scale plywood mock-up of the piece being produced. The template team carefully follows the shop drawings provided and marks connection holes and cuts to be made by finishing after the material is glued.

Some jobs only require a few templates, if they are smaller projects or if many of the pieces are repeated.

For the Groton Street bridge in Pepperell, MA, Una-Lam has created many templates including those pictured here in the mock-up of the side trusses. These trusses are 21' deep and 92' long and provide the main structural elements of the bridge span, supporting the roadway beams below and roof framing above . In the photos, only half of the truss webbing has been completed on the template, showing what an enormous and complicated project this is.

New barn beautifully incorporates glulam into design

2009-05-27T06:44:00.000-07:00

These photos show the construction progress on a new barn and workshop. The first photo shows the seated roof purlin connections and timber truss framing from above before the roofing has been completed. The other photo shows the timber truss framing from the interior of the barn. When construction is complete, the truss will be unwrapped, leaving the glulam structure exposed to create aesthetic beauty in the building.