Newberry Customer Service Center

○ SDI Structures provided structural engineering services for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Newberry Customer Service Center, a new state facility located in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. The project consolidates multiple DNR functions—including customer service, field operations, and equipment storage—into a single campus designed to improve efficiency and public access. Developed in collaboration with Lord Aeck Sargent, the facility reflects a broader commitment to sustainability, regional materials, and long-term operational resilience in one of the state’s most remote service areas.

The building is a hybrid mass timber structure incorporating cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels and glue-laminated timber (glulam) framing, supported by supplemental steel elements where required. SDI worked closely with the design and construction teams to support the structural demands of exposed timber architecture, including coordination of long-span roof and wall systems, load path optimization, and integration of prefabricated panelized components. The resulting structural framework enabled efficient erection in a remote location while showcasing the use of Michigan-sourced red pine as a renewable construction material. The completed facility demonstrates how thoughtful structural design can support both high-performance public infrastructure and progressive, low-carbon building strategies.