Bexley Sugarloaf

Bexley Sugarloaf is a mixed-use residential project that demonstrates how light-frame wood construction can be successfully deployed in a nontraditional configuration—without a concrete podium—while meeting demanding programmatic, structural, and code requirements. The project combines ground-floor retail with upper-level R-2 residential occupancy, using a hybrid structural approach that prioritizes light-frame wood as the primary building system and introduces steel only where its performance and cost efficiency are essential.

The residential portions of the building are constructed using light-frame wood, selected for its economy, speed of construction, and suitability for efficient, repeatable residential layouts. At the ground-floor retail level, steel framing is strategically employed to accommodate double-height commercial spaces and longer open spans required by tenants. Rather than relying on a conventional concrete podium to separate uses, the design team pursued a cost-driven hybrid solution that reduced material and construction costs while maintaining light-frame wood as the dominant structural system.

A key design challenge was achieving the required 2-hour fire-resistance-rated horizontal assembly between the retail and residential occupancies. Instead of defaulting to a concrete transfer slab or extensive steel framing, the design team worked closely with the structural engineer to optimize the light-frame wood system spanning over the retail spaces. This approach met fire-resistance and structural performance requirements while minimizing reliance on steel.

Bexley Sugarloaf demonstrates how thoughtful detailing and system optimization can expand the viability of light-frame wood construction in mixed-use buildings. By avoiding a concrete podium in favor of a targeted hybrid strategy, the project balances performance, safety, and value while offering a replicable model for efficient and economically responsible mixed-use development.