ttr

He told me that VA updates its codes every three years to the latest IBC codes, which means they're basically just always a year behind the IBC; so they are working on updating the codes sometime this calendar year. Sounds like it's really only a matter of time before tall mass timber construction is allowed, possibly starting at the beginning of 2023. Pretty cool stuff!

I think Upzoningisgood is right, I just looked and that building is five stories of CLT on top of a concrete podium. So the Virginia code allows mass timber but just doesn't treat it any differently than stick frame. Other parts of the world and country allow CLT to go significantly higher. There's a guy in Charlottesville who's trying to get VA to allow taller single stair buildings, I'll ping him and see if he can put mass timber on the docket as well. https://www.virginiamercury.com/2022/05/05/how-allowing-single-staircase-buildings-could-change-virginias-housing-market/

What makes you say it isn't legal in Richmond? As far as I can tell, Richmond just follows the VA codes, which mostly follow the IBC (and we know there is a six story CLT building in Charlottesville) : https://library.municode.com/va/richmond/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIICICO_CH5BUBURE Do they specifically disallow it somewhere else?