The first building with load-bearing walls made of CLT panels in Mexico

The new Rothoblaas Mexico branch: the project  

In Querétaro, Mexico, the local branch needed new space – a natural part of growth. And for a company like Rothoblaas, it was naturally fitting to choose timber as the primary construction material.   
With on-site support from the team at Riparia Mex, Rothoblaas’ technical staff developed the country’s first building featuring load-bearing walls made of CLT.  
This project draws on more than thirty years of knowledge and expertise in close contact with the timber construction industry, now being shared globally. 
 
The structure will house both the new offices and a showroom dedicated to the company’s products. Constructed with glulam beams and columns, and featuring walls and floors in CLT, the building allows a close-up view of the application of Rothoblaas products – to the benefit of visiting professionals in the months and years to come – since many of the structural elements will remain exposed.  

The building’s construction was a balanced blend of theory and practice, driven by Rothoblaas’ need to establish a stable point of reference in Mexico, alongside the desire to strengthen the technical team’s expertise in both design and execution. 

Design and assembly amid complex logistics 

Completing the Rothoblaas Mexico branch in record time with CLT panels posed significant logistical challenges: the materials were designed and produced in Italy, then shipped to Mexico where they were assembled by Rothoblaas’ technical team, alongside two local carpentry firms. 
The construction site, located within an operational warehouse, required alternative approaches to traditional assembly methods. The inability to use a crane during many stages of construction made manual handling essential, requiring careful coordination to avoid disrupting the ongoing warehouse operations throughout the entire build. 

Despite these constraints, assembly was completed right on schedule: works began on 15 July and wrapped up on 2 August, allowing Rothoschool to hold an event at the new site just days later, on 6 August, as planned. 

The Rothoblaas technical team in action 

Rothoblaas’ technical consultants closely oversaw each stage of construction, from design through to final assembly. Amid CLT panels and post bases, the technical team – who personally support hundreds of professionals worldwide from our headquarters – had the opportunity to apply their specialised expertise and explore the potential of structural timber in a new setting. Starting with the structural calculations and simulations, every detail was reviewed to ensure stability, resulting in a smooth, on-schedule assembly process.  

The opportunity to test technical theory on site marked the moment when concepts previously only seen on a computer screen transformed into actual walls, floors, beams and columns. The team was able to pinpoint critical areas, tackle challenges and demonstrate how the human factor can shift the outcome of an equation, allowing adaptations to local contexts and practices.  

Building with load-bearing walls in CLT: the benefits 

CLT panels offer high stability, making them ideal for multi-storey buildings and large structures. Their layered composition gives them excellent structural properties, despite having a lower specific weight, thus improving their seismic performance.  
The panels are prefabricated and assembled on site, thus reducing installation times and minimising the impact of the works. 

This building method also allows for customisation to meet specific project requirements. 

The Rothoblaas products that made for record-time construction 

In the “home” of Rothoblaas Mexico, built with the support of the Rothoblaas team, the full range of Rothoblaas solutions was, of course, put to use. 
Various types were used depending on specific project needs, starting with the best screws for timber, VGZ, HBS PLATE, TBS and LBS to name a few, not to mention versatile angle brackets like NINO and innovative connectors for structural panels like SLOT.   
ALUMIDI and WHT took the lead when it came to plates, while FLEXI BAND was the most widely used product to achieve airtightness, and XYLOFON was key in ensuring acoustic comfort.  
Transport and support during the critical stages of construction were entrusted to WASP, MANTIS and GIRAFFE. 

The human factor: technical expertise and hands-on support 

The true added value of this project was undoubtedly the direct involvement of the Rothoblaas consulting team, who worked to ensure a smooth and on-schedule process. This expertise and physical presence are resources that Rothoblaas provides for any project requiring consultation. From design through to execution, you can count on us – connect with our consultants directly by selecting your needs on this page.