A unique project, a net zero wood barn, was featured on Build with Matt Risinger. This project was the culmination of quality craftsmanship by a wide range of building experts including architect Steve Baczek, and builder Howell Custom Building Group, with a little help from timber frame specialists, Normerica.
This incredible Net Zero project is a combination boat barn, boat workshop, and party barn built on the New England coast powered by free heating, cooling, and electricity.
The owners wanted to capture an old barn look and feel while incorporating a modern flair, and modern amenities to create the ultimate green barn.
Matt Risinger, a builder who specializes in architect-driven and fine craftsmanship work, uses his YouTube Channel to cover building science and best practices for building and remodeling.
In his Net Zero Party Barn YouTube video, Risinger tours a beautifully and scientifically designed and constructed moment frame barn and dives into the details of the systems used to ensure this project is not only Net Zero, but can also deliver excess power to other structures on the property.
Risinger states emphatically:
| "When I die and go to heaven... this will be my barn! Join me as I tour this beautiful moment frame barn with an all wood interior! The craftsmanship and systems are really interesting and well done on this project." |
Watch Net Zero Party Barn on YouTube Now:
The Net Zero Party Barn features a wood-based moment frame. A moment frame is where the beams rigidly connect to the columns. Why a moment frame? As architect Steve Bascek explains, there are no lateral ties in the ceiling which frees up space to bring large vehicles and boats into the building, as the owners wanted. Usually, a moment frame is engineered with steel, however, the owners wanted to use wood to better fit with the New England aesthetic. The builders added grade beams that run across at the bottom of the columns in the slab to deliver stability to the moment frame structure. Steel hidden inside the joints help to keep the frame rigid.
Normerica Timber Frame Homes was contacted by Howell Custom Building Group to supply the wood frame and the ceiling panels. Normerica has worked on previous projects with Howell and was thrilled at the opportunity to work with them again on this exciting Net Zero Party Barn project. The wood frame structure was custom cut and preassembled in Canada by Normerica and then shipped to the New England location and reassembled by the builder. The wood frame structure is comprised of 5 huge pine glulam timber bents. Normerica also supplied the ceiling SIPS panels, prefinished with 1x6 tongue & groove pine on the bottom. ‘SIPS’ stands for ‘structural insulated panels’. The panels consist of an insulted foam core sandwiched between two pieces of oriented strand board (OSB) and results in a ceiling system that is extremely strong and energy efficient.
Normerica Timber Homes has lots of experience partnering with builders and architects on a variety of residential and commercial projects. Whether you are an architect or builder looking for someone to help with incorporating and/or supplying timbers in your clients' projects, or a client already working with a builder or architect interested in adding timbers into your project, we would love to help.
Check out the Architects & Builders section of our website for details on the services we can provide, as well as example collaborations.
At Normerica, we are truly impressed with the effort and focus the homeowners, architect and builder placed on sustainability for this project. This barn is net zero – this means it produces at least as much energy as it consumes. Here are some of the sustainable highlights that the architect Steve, and builder Brian detail in the show:
At Normerica we’re always excited to play a part in a green building project. We are passionate about marrying the tried-and-true craftsmanship of a timber frame home with the latest in building science and technology. The results are homes of the highest quality – homes that are not only beautiful in design, but energy efficient, eco-conscious, and long lasting. All our house plans are Net Zero and Energy Star ready.
To read more about making your building a green home read our blog, What to Consider When Building Your Timber Frame Green Home.
Normerica is wow-ed by Steve Baczek and the Howell group’s creativity and ingenuity around this project. Here are some other cool elements of this Net Zero Party Barn, as described in the video:
The team at Normerica was proud to play a part in the larger team dedicated to building this outstanding Net Zero Barn Project.
About the Net Zero Timber Frame Party Barn: Your Questions Answered
Q: What is the Net Zero Party Barn project that Normerica was involved in?
The Net Zero Party Barn is a wood-framed barn on the New England coast that functions as a combination boat barn, boat workshop, and entertainment space. It was designed by architect Steve Baczek, built by Howell Custom Building Group, and featured on the Build Show with Matt Risinger on YouTube. Normerica supplied the custom-cut wood moment frame structure and the ceiling SIPs panels for the project. The barn is net zero — it produces at least as much energy as it consumes — and was designed to capture an old barn aesthetic while incorporating modern high-performance building systems.
Q: What is a wood moment frame and why was it used for this barn?
A moment frame is a structural system in which beams are rigidly connected to columns, eliminating the need for diagonal bracing or lateral ties in the ceiling. For this project, that was essential: the owners needed clear, unobstructed ceiling spans to allow large vehicles and boats to enter and exit the building freely. Moment frames are typically engineered with steel, but the owners wanted a wood structure to suit the New England aesthetic. Normerica supplied five large pine glulam timber bents as the moment frame structure, with steel hidden inside the joints to maintain the rigidity of the frame. Grade beams running across the bottom of the columns in the slab provide additional lateral stability.
Q: What did Normerica specifically supply for the Net Zero Party Barn?
Normerica supplied two elements: the custom wood moment frame structure, which was cut and pre-assembled in Canada and then shipped to the New England site for reassembly by the builder; and the ceiling SIPs panels, prefinished with 1x6 tongue and groove pine on the underside. SIPs — structural insulated panels — consist of an insulated foam core sandwiched between two layers of oriented strand board (OSB), delivering a ceiling system that is both structurally strong and highly energy efficient.
Q: How does the Net Zero Party Barn generate and manage its energy?
The barn's energy systems are roof-mounted and solar-based. Solar PV panels handle all electrical and cooling needs for the barn and produce more energy than the barn consumes — with the surplus piped to power a house and pool house on the same property. A separate solar hot water system provides all radiant floor heating and hot water needs for the barn. The building is fully insulated with EPS (expanded polystyrene) foam in the foundation and walls, with the Normerica-supplied SIPs panels forming the roof system.
Q: Does Normerica work with builders and architects on commercial or non-residential projects?
Yes — the Net Zero Party Barn is an example of Normerica working as a supplier to an architect-led project team rather than as a direct client-facing design-build company. Normerica has experience partnering with builders and architects on a wide range of residential and commercial projects, supplying timber frame structures and building components that are integrated into the broader project. Builders and architects interested in incorporating timber into their clients' projects can explore Normerica's professional partnership services at normerica.com/architects-builders/.
Matt started learning about construction by working summers at an inner-city ministry that fixed up row houses for elderly people who owned their homes but couldn’t afford to maintain them. He got a BS in Industrial Management from Grove City College and wanted to work for Toyota as he was fascinated with all things from Japan. He ended up working for one of the National Production Builders (NVR Ryan Homes) after college where he met his Texan wife in Washington DC.
His 7 years with that mega builder was really fun, but it didn’t satisfy his desire for “Craftsmanship” as he was building houses insanely fast. He moved to Portland, OR in 2002 and it was the national mold crisis that lead him to the path of Building Science. He wanted to learn why these houses were failing and learning everything about the science behind construction has been a passion ever since.
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