Wooden building facade with vertical panels and multiple windows, individuals sitting and interacting in courtyard.

Mississippi Office

  • Situated on a lot that had been vacant for 15+ years, Mississippi Office is a welcome addition to its neighborhood. The 3-story 9,500 SF building is composed of six rooms, two per floor. The rooms are stacked in three on opposite sides of a semi-private internal courtyard connected by a corridor that houses restrooms, an elevator, and utilities. The courtyard acts as both a retreat from the busy pedestrian area and a space for events and gatherings. The building is designed to be resilient to changing needs over the course of time. By designing each room with all the necessary utilities, the Waechter team created a flexible building that could easily convert between office and residential in the future.

    An exciting but challenging project, Waechter turned to Owen Gabbert, LLC for construction management while the building was already under construction. Our team helped shepherd and accelerate it to the finish line by tackling the completion of siding, right of way, courtyard paving and planting, and all of the interiors, including carpentry work, building partitions, and final details self-performed by the in-house carpentry team.

    In addition to managing the construction itself, Owen Gabbert, LLC handled much of the commercial inspection process and bank draw requests. Beyond the typical commercial inspections, the team had to coordinate and educate building inspectors and reviewers about the characteristics of CLT that impacted the construction detailing, particularly the fireproofing details. This innovative, first-of-its-kind CLT building required collaborative brainstorming with the whole project team in order to balance aesthetics with structure, budget, and regulatory requirements, but the end result is a functional, beautiful design-build showcase.

  • Architect: Waechter Architecture
    General Contractor: Waechter Architecture
    Construction Manager: Owen Gabbert, LLC with Cutwater Design & Build Solutions LLC
    Structural Engineer: KPFF
    Civil Engineer: KPFF
    Photographer: Lara Swimmer Photography


  • Read more about the project on Designboom, Metropolis, The Architect’s Newspaper and Architectural Record.

Three-story modern building with vertical wooden slats, several windows, people walking and biking in front, and a cloudy blue sky.
Modern building facade with rust-colored metal cladding and windows against a blue sky with clouds.
Courtyard with rusty metal facade, windows, chairs, potted plants, and a bicycle against a blue sky.
A courtyard with a wooden facade, featuring large windows. Two people are seated on chairs talking while another person walks by. Plant pots and a bicycle add to the courtyard setting.
Wooden building exterior with a walkway, person walking outside, and indoor seating visible through window.
Interior of a minimalist coffee shop with wooden decor, showing a long counter with coffee-making equipment and two people, one customer and one barista, interacting.
Modern coffee shop interior with wooden walls and ceiling. A woman sits on a black leather sofa holding a cup. Blue armchairs and a wooden table are nearby. A person walks near a shelf of packaged goods.
Modern interior with wooden walls, ceiling beams, large windows, black sofas, a wooden coffee table with a red rug, and plants. A person is seated, reading a book.
Modern office interior with wooden walls, ceiling beams, and large windows. Features include a long table with white chairs, architectural models, and a shelving unit displaying various items. Natural light fills the space.
Modern office space with wooden walls and ceiling, open desk layout, computers, and people working.
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Interior hallway with wooden walls, windows on the left, bright lighting, and a person walking.
Wooden staircase with natural light and modern design.