GAB Report event briefing

Tour of Junction and Goldfinch Lofts in Des Moines, IA

  • DateOct 22, 2026 · 2:00 pm GMT-0500
  • FormatIn Person
  • LocationWest Des Moines, IA

About the event

This regional in-person tour explores two pioneering multi-family mass timber developments in Iowa. Participants will visit Junction Lofts, the state first residential mass timber building and recipient of a US Forest Service Wood Innovation Grant, alongside Goldfinch Lofts, a hybrid mass timber and light-frame project targeting Passive House and Zero Carbon certifications. Guided by structural engineer Jason Bahr and the project developer, attendees will examine real-world construction techniques, connection detailing, fire resistance strategies, and material selection across completed and active job sites, followed by an informal networking reception.

What you’ll learn

  • Discuss typical construction practices for mass timber projects, including safety best practices, installation efficiency, and coordination with follow-on trades.
  • Highlight a variety of structural and architectural uses of mass timber and light-frame wood in hybrid design through an in-person tour of both an under-construction and completed project, highlighting the biophilic benefits of exposed mass timber and sustainable benefits of wood framing for occupants and visitors.
  • Demonstrate connection detailing techniques used in code-compliant mass timber buildings to ensure appropriate structural capacity, fire resistance, and consideration of the project construction type.
  • Explain the diverse methods of project development and approaches used by the design team, including owners, contractors, architects, and engineers, to achieve a successful mass timber project.

Attendance notes

Public parking is available throughout Historic Valley Junction, including street parking and public lots accessible from 4th and 6th Streets. Transportation is provided by bus between tour projects.


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