Amazon DII5 Mass Timber Delivery Station (Elkhart, Indiana)

Amazon’s DII5 project in Elkhart, Indiana, is a recently developed delivery station that demonstrates the viability of mass timber in large-scale industrial logistics facilities.

Designed to operate as a fully functional last-mile delivery station, the project also serves as a sustainability testbed. DII5 incorporates a mass timber structural system alongside lower carbon materials, advanced water and energy strategies, and site-based environmental approaches.

This session offers a focused overview of DII5 — examining the business drivers, design and construction approach, challenges, successes, and project-specific outcomes.

Asher Cousin

Construction Manager
Amazon

View Bio

Sidney Filippis

Director of Design
Sterling Structural

View Bio

Marty Brennan

Principal
ZGF Architects

View Bio

John Denbo

Project Executive
Graycor

View Bio

Amie Sullivan

Principal
KPFF

View Bio

Session CEUs

Course Description

This session takes a close look at how mass timber is being used on real projects through in-depth case studies. Attendees will hear directly from the project team behind Amazon’s DII5 mass timber delivery station. This project demonstrates how mass timber construction can advance sustainability goals, reduce embodied carbon, and introduce new ideas to large-scale industrial and commercial developments. Speakers will share what worked, what didn’t, and what they learned along the way—including design decisions, construction challenges, and regulatory considerations—giving attendees practical insights they can apply to their own projects.

Learning Objectives

1. Identify the key drivers behind choosing mass timber for large industrial and commercial projects, including sustainability targets, carbon reduction goals, and project constraints.
2. Understand how design and construction teams coordinated mass timber systems with other building components, from early design through construction.
3. Recognize the opportunities and challenges of using reclaimed timber in modern mass timber construction, including testing, code compliance, and risk management considerations.
4. Apply lessons learned from these case studies to better anticipate challenges and make informed decisions on future mass timber projects.