The University of Maryland’s Stanley R. Zupnik Hall will soon welcome the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering into a dynamic, forward-looking facility. Funded through the A. James and Alice B. Clark Foundation’s Building Together initiative and a generous $25 million gift from Stanley R. Zupnik, this landmark building—designed by Ballinger and constructed by Whiting-Turner—centers on a dramatic six-story atrium framed by mass timber staircases and bridges.

As Timberlab’s first free-standing staircase built entirely from mass timber, this project highlights our expertise in fully delegated engineering, precise fabrication, and seamless installation. Each of the five staircases spans up to 40 feet, fabricated from European Spruce CLT by KLH and glulam by Hasslacher, and assembled at our Southeast fabrication facility. These monumental elements will be pre-assembled, clear-coated, and craned into place with exacting precision to align with SCBH hangers and field-welded connections, ensuring flawless integration with surrounding trades and finishes.

Collaboration is key, particularly with concrete and glass teams, to manage tolerances, avoid gaps, and achieve a seamless flow between staircases, guardrails, and terrazzo treads. This elegant feature not only anchors the atrium but showcases the aesthetic and structural potential of mass timber in high-profile academic environments.