With the foundation complete and backfill finished, the structure of the Camas Hilltop House is finally starting to take shape. Framing is where the lines on paper turn into something you can walk through, and where careful planning in design and engineering begins to pay off.

This home includes large beams and several structural steel elements, which makes framing more complex than most. I handle the coordination between the framers, the drawings, and the engineering details, making sure every bearing point, hanger, and connector lines up exactly as intended. In a house like this, precision matters. Small variations can ripple through the rest of the structure, so catching them early is key.

As we move through this phase, it’s also where the planning for systems starts to influence how we frame. The forced-air and hydronic heating systems will require careful routing, so we’re making sure to leave the right chases, clearances, and openings before sheathing and insulation go in. This early coordination helps avoid the all-too-common “where will the duct go now?” problem later.

The framing stage also gives everyone a clearer sense of space and proportion. Rooms that once existed as sketches and models are now defined by real dimensions and views. It’s the first point in the project where the client can stand inside their future home and begin to feel its scale and flow.

From here, we’ll move into the next round of collaboration with Tri Tech Heating & Cooling and Altree Systems as we begin planning the HVAC, hydronic, and controls installations. That process will become its own in-depth series, but for now, the focus is on bringing the frame together, square, level, and ready for everything that follows.