Harbor Bay Ventures has broken ground on 9th and High, a 186-unit, 493-bed off-campus student housing development near The Ohio State University in Columbus. At 13 stories, it is touted as the nation’s tallest mass timber student housing building in the nation and the first mass timber development in Columbus, according to the Chicago-based real estate and development investment firm.
9th and High, which will provide a mix of townhomes and apartments, will feature a mass timber structure manufactured and sourced in Alabama by SmartLam North America. Columbus-based Elford Construction is leading construction as the general contractor, with design by DLR Group, a global integrated design firm with expertise in mass timber and student housing design.
“On behalf of Harbor Bay Ventures, I want to thank the city of Columbus, Franklin County, and the great state of Ohio. They have consistently exhibited a pro-business mentality that helps attract investment,” said Harbor Bay Ventures CEO Mark J. Bell. “This cutting-edge project hits on so many important topics, including sustainability, affordability, forest management, an evolving workforce, and American timber production from our friends at SmartLam. This project epitomizes innovation.”
This is Harbor Bay Ventures’ second significant mass timber investment in Ohio. It opened INTRO Cleveland, a mixed-use, transit-oriented development in 2022, marketing it as the largest LEED Gold certified timber structure in the nation at the time.
According to Harbor Bay Ventures, mass timber was selected for its environmental benefits, efficient construction timeline, and aesthetic.
“This project paves the way for the future of low-carbon, innovative student housing in Columbus and beyond, where mass timber’s natural warmth and texture shape vibrant, engaging housing communities that support both connection and focus,” said Cameron K. Jacobson, senior associate and project architect at DLR Group. “9th and High is more than student housing; it’s a prototype for the next generation to live, learn, and thrive. By integrating traditional and contemporary design elements, it honors the neighborhood’s historic architectural heritage while reflecting the modern spirit of Columbus.”
Forefront Structural Engineers, in collaboration with SmartLam, is leading the structural design of the building, including all mass timber systems. The development incorporates domestically sourced cross-laminated timber floor panels alongside glulam columns and beams from Alabama. The building also integrates off-the-shelf concealed connectors by Simpson Strong-Tie, located in Columbus, to achieve a Fire Resistance Rating of two hours.
“This project was optimized for the North American supply chain, demonstrating that we can build mass timber cost effectively in the heart of the Midwest, with our own forests in truly sustainable ways,” added Josh Dortzbach, CEO of Forefront Structural Engineers. “In the process, we will realize a net sequestration of 1,128 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent—the equivalent of 2,169 round-trip flights from Columbus to Key West.”
The development, which is expected to open by summer 2027, will be managed by Coastal Ridge.