Podium construction is a building technique that divides a building into lower and upper portions. The lower portion, called the "podium," is typically a single story or two and is built of a robust structural system, such as steel or reinforced concrete. The upper portion, which is typically four-to-five stories on top of the podium, is built of a more economical structural system, such as wood light frame construction (WLFC) . Podium construction is often used in mixed-use development, where the lower floor of a building is often a use that requires a stronger structural system for long open spans and a more fire-resistant system for more vulnerable uses, such as restaurants, retail, or automobile parking.

The advantages of podium construction lie in the use of the most appropriate and economical structural system for each user. Podium construction allows for increased density with additional stories, maximizing the use of smaller urban lots while benefiting from wood-frame cost and speed of construction advantages. Podiums are a product of the horizontal building separation provision, which allows for a building to be built on top of another. The total building height is limited by the maximum allowable height of the most vulnerable construction type.

Podium construction is characterized by horizontal divisions between an upper tower and a lower "podium". The podium is usually made of steel or concrete and then topped by multiple wood frame stories. Common podium configurations include 4-5 stories for residential spaces on top of commercial, retail, and parking spaces below. Podium buildings are generally wood construction sitting atop concrete parking or mixed-use.