INTRO Columbus

Where We Are

Full height. Now we close it in.

The timber structure reached its full height of 158 feet on September 8, about ten weeks earlier than originally planned. The work has now shifted to enclosure, the stage when exterior walls and windows seal the building so interior work can continue through winter. Next up: hard hat tours, targeted for November 2026, and resident move-in, targeted for Fall Semester 2027.

1. ✓Sep 2025Groundbreaking
2. ✓May 2026Mass Timber Deliveries Begin
3. ✓Sep 8, 2026Topped Out
4. Fall 2026Enclosure & Interior Buildout
5. Nov 2026 (targeted)Hard Hat Tours
6. Fall Semester 2027 (targeted)Resident Move-In

Rendering to Reality

From the drawing board to your kitchen

The rendering shows glulam beams and columns arching over the kitchen and the cross-laminated timber ceiling exposed in the living room. Those are not decorative finishes. They are the building's actual structure, and with the structure topped out, every one of them is now in place. The design keeps timber exposed everywhere residents spend time, including homes, corridors, and study lounges, not just the lobby.

This Month at INTRO Columbus

Building from the inside out

Because the timber went up early, other trades started early too. Work now runs on several fronts at once.

Looking Ahead

Sealed up before winter

The ten weeks gained on the structure carry forward. The team's goal is to finish the most weather-sensitive phase, closing in the exterior, before winter arrives, so interior work can keep moving through the cold months. For future residents, that means more schedule cushion between now and Fall 2027 move-in.

The Full Picture

From climbing to complete

In late August, the timber structure was still climbing, with topping out targeted for early September. On September 8, 2026, the final beam went in at 158 feet, one year after groundbreaking and roughly ten weeks ahead of the original November target. The team credits prefabrication: panels arrived from the manufacturer pre-cut to specification, so crews assembled rather than built on site.

That early finish changed the shape of the fall. Facade, framing, plumbing, electrical, and masonry crews are now working in parallel instead of waiting their turn. Resident move-in remains targeted for Fall 2027, with first homes targeted for August 2027.

Who's Building INTRO Columbus

The team behind every timber

Elford Construction, a Columbus-based general contractor founded in 1910, leads construction and holds the schedule. Elford's site team coordinates every trade on the job and reports progress to the development and management teams on a regular call cadence, which is where the dates on this page come from.

General Contractor: Elford Construction

Developer and owner: Harbor Bay Ventures · Architect and interiors: DLR Group · Structural engineer: Forefront Structural Engineers · Mass timber manufacturer: SmartLam North America · Property manager: Coastal Ridge

Construction terms explained

Mass timber

Mass timber is a building system made of large engineered wood panels and beams that replace much of the concrete and steel in a typical high-rise.

Cross-laminated timber (CLT)

Cross-laminated timber is a structural panel made by gluing layers of lumber at right angles, used for floors, ceilings, and walls.

Glulam

Glulam, or glued laminated timber, is a strong engineered wood beam or column made by bonding layers of lumber together.

Topping out

Topping out is the point when a building's structure reaches its full height.

Enclosure

Enclosure is the stage when exterior walls, windows, and the roof seal a building so weather can no longer stop interior work.

MEP rough-in

MEP rough-in is the first installation of mechanical, electrical, and plumbing lines inside walls and ceilings, before drywall closes them in.

Hard hat tour

A hard hat tour is a guided walk through a building while it is still under construction, with safety gear provided.

INTRO Columbus construction FAQ