Glulam and cross-laminated timber are now materials of choice for building low, mid-rise, and high-rise towers—and perhaps from now, in car parking too. It comes as Swiss-based start-up Urbanpv unveiled its new Urbanroof, a 48 kW timber-framed solar carport that delivers 60 per cent more PV output compared to traditional steel-framed carport designs.
By integrating 470 W semi-transparent panels into a wide-span glulam truss system, the covers ten parking bays plus an access lane, offering all-weather protection, expanded solar capacity, and optional EV chargers and LED lighting. In addition, its east–west pitched arrays maximise yield throughout the day and its minimal-column layout keeps drive lanes clear and maintenance simple.
Under 4.5 m-high cedar rafters, prefabricated glulam beams, timber trusses, and PV mounts are installed onto screw-pile foundations for rapid on-site assembly. “Larger designs can be ordered, as well as solutions that include optional LED lighting and EV charging equipment,” Urbanpv founder Arthur Buechel told PV Magazine. “The design is fully compatible with robotic panel-cleaning equipment.”
Last year, Wood Central reported a similar shift at Circle K’s Junction 20 fuel station on the Ireland–Northern Ireland border. There, Glenfort Timber Engineering replaced a steel canopy with glulam beams and cross-laminated timber built from Irish Sitka spruce C16. The structure won “Best Construct Product” at the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland’s Choice Awards.
“Glulam has a predictable burn rate,” said Glenfort managing director Cathal Campbell. “We design a sacrificial char layer over the beam size required—so the structure doesn’t bend or buckle like steel in a fire.” Campbell sees both projects as proof that engineered wood can deliver lightweight, high-strength, low-carbon structures—from parking lots to fuel forecourts—without compromising safety or performance.
- To learn more about the push to replace steel-framed fuel stations with mass timber, click here for Wood Central’s special feature from December 2024.
