It’s only 30 units, but the recently opened Juno East Austin apartments are different than most. The property is constructed mostly out of wood. While there are a number of office buildings taking advantage of the benefits, this is the first mass timber residential building in Austin. Construction on Juno began in the 2021 fourth quarter. Located on less than two-tenths of an acre at 400 Comal St., it houses 24 studio and one-bedroom apartments ranging from 457 square feet to 685 square feet.

The Austin Business Journal reports benefits include, the project can be built faster and cheaper. Many of the components are made off-site and brought in. It’s faster than the standard concrete mold process. Pre-manufacturing of joints, beams and columns also allows builders to save money on labor. In addition, mass timber construction in general, is more sustainable than concrete or steel construction.

Partners on the project included Ennead Architects and IE2 Construction as general contractor.

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