Course Overview

Do you want to build with Mass Timber but don’t know where to start?

Join Mark Wigston and Andre Lema of Western Archrib on the “How-To’s” of project managing a Mass Timber Building.

Learning Objectives

1. When should you engage trade partners.
2. What to expect from a mass timber partner.
3. How does design influence cost.
4. Preconstruction planning.
5. Staging and constructing a Mass Timber Building.
6. Understanding and mitigating risks.
7. Unique things about a Mass Timber Building.

Course Video

Speaker Bio

Coming Soon

Course Overview

Timber is a naturally sourced material that provides warmth to almost any design, and castings are manufactured from recycled material that offers free form geometric capabilities, strength and ductility. Used together, steel castings and timber hybrid-construction offer designers the ability to leverage the best attributes of both materials for architectural and structural design, while opening up a world connection solutions. In this webinar, explore projects leveraging both standardized “off-the-shelf” and custom-designed castings for timber structures, such as, Vancouver International Airport: Pier D Expansion, the John W. Olver Design Building at UMASS Amherst, and Roy Bickell Public School in Grand Prairie, and learn how designers successfully married timber and steel castings. We’ll also explore various fastening methods, study lessons learned when using stainless steel castings, and review different coating systems for cast steel connections.

Learning Objectives

1. Identify opportunities for steel castings to improve the aesthetics of connections in timber construction.
2. Discuss key considerations when using structural stainless-steel castings in contrast to typical structural steel castings.
3. Explain the merits of various coating systems for exposed steel castings to project stakeholders and assist in the selection of an appropriate system for a project.
4. Understand how cast steel components may be used within a timber project’s seismic lateral force resisting system.
5. Create a specification for custom-designed and standardized “off-the-shelf” castings which successfully communicates architectural and structural design criteria to castings suppliers such that the casting products delivered to the project can safely and efficiently carry structural loads and achieve the desired aesthetics.

Course Video

Speaker Bio

Tarana Haque, M.A.Sc., P.Eng.
Engineer, Technical Representative (Canada)
CAST CONNEX

Tarana Haque has been a design engineer with CAST CONNEX for over eight years, and is currently the Technical Sales Representative for Canada. Tarana holds a Bachelor and a Master of Applied Science degree from the University of Toronto, a registered professional engineer in the Province of Ontario, and a member of the Future Leaders Committee with the Council of Tall Building and Urban Habitat. Her project highlights include the cast steel design for the Salesforce Transit Center in San Francisco, CA, YVR International Airport in Richmond, BC, and The Leaf: Diversity Gardens in Winnipeg, MB.

Course Overview

In Canada, we are fortunate to have both structural engineers and architects who, because of the numerous benefits, would like to work with wood whenever they can. While many are comfortable using wood in traditional applications and in buildings that are relatively small in scale, not all have the requisite experience working with wood (whether traditional light wood-frame, heavy timber, or new engineered mass timber systems) in larger, non-traditional applications. In this context, the main purpose of this presentation is to demonstrate how a variety of structural wood systems can be successfully applied to a range of large-scale, low-rise building types – ones more typically constructed of steel. We believe that providing sound examples of structural wood systems for non-traditional applications can be a powerful tool to encourage developers, builders, architects, and engineers to use wood as the primary structural material in these types of buildings.

Learning Objectives

1. Importance of the Low-Rise Market.
2. Scope and Content of the Low-Rise Guide.
3. Review of Mass Timber and Hybrid Structural Systems Applicable to Low-rise Buildings.
4. Review of Light Framing Structural Systems Applicable to Low-rise Buildings.

Course Video

Speaker Bio

Claude Lamothe
President
Intra-Bois Inc.

Claude Lamothe, President Intra-Bois Inc. Claude graduated from McGill University in 1985 with a Civil Engineering Bachelor Degree. He worked four years in the lumber truss and steel industries before joining Trus Joist. After five years as a Technical Sales Representative and three years as Eastern Canada Regional Sales Manager, Claude joined Domtar Lumber Division as Marketing Manager and then worked for Goodfellow as Manager Engineered Wood Products. From 2002 to 2012, Claude was Sales Manager Structural & Industrial Segments for the Lumber Division of Resolute Forest Products. In 2012, Claude founded its own consulting firm Intra-Bois Inc. Intra-Bois offers structural engineering services and has performed several market studies for major North American forest products companies.

Course Overview

Mass Timber has arrived in the world capital infrastructure marketplace while architects and structural engineers are trying to get educated about how to design with this new advanced engineered wood material. This paper discusses three important aspects of mass timber design in outdoor and indoor (wet and dry service) conditions as well as important design questions such as major and minor axis horizontal shear as it relates to column and wheel point loads. Other design considerations will be discussed as well.

Learning Objectives

1. Mass timber design details for outdoor and indoor environmental exposure. 
2. Point loads due to column loading in mass timber systems both post and beam and CLT and simple platform and column.
3. Fire resistance ratings and advanced materials in mass timber buildings
4. Minor and major axis shear characteristics of CLT and impacts on design considerations for civil infrastructure.

Course Video

Speaker Bio

Dan Tingley, Ph.D., P.Eng., MIEust, CPEng., RPEQ,
Senior Wood Technologist / Structural Engineer
Wood Research and Development (WRD) Oregon, USA and Caboolture, QLD, Australia

Dr. Dan Tingley graduated from University of New Brunswick with a B. Sc. F.E. and later a M.Sc.C.E. Following this in the 90’s Tingley finished his Ph.D. in wood technology and structural engineering at Oregon State University. He has worked in the wood products field for 40 years. He currently serves as senior engineer for Wood Research and Development and Advanced Research and Development and makes his base in Portland Oregon. He has won the Civil Engineering Research Foundation’s Charles Pankow Award for Structural Innovation as well as the Nova Award for all construction products issued by Construction Innovation Forum for his pioneer work in high strength fiber reinforcement of wood and wood composites. Tingley holds over 40 patents worldwide and has over 125 referred and non referred publications. He specializes in timber structures design and restoration with a significant interest in timber bridges. He is currently acting as senior engineer providing oversight on 20 timber bridge restoration projects world-wide.

Course Overview

This webinar will discuss the fire-related national building and fire code changes related to a new construction type called Encapsulated Mass Timber Construction (EMTC) to be used for wood buildings up to twelve storeys. As well, it will provide an overview of ongoing fire research at the National Research Council of Canada into various performance aspects of mass timber construction and tall wood buildings.

Learning Objectives

1. Proposed new construction type EMTC.
2. Proposed new ULC encapsulation rating test.
3. Proposed additions for EMTC in the 2020 NBC and NFC.
4. Mass timber fire testing.

Course Video

Speaker Bio

Marc Alam
Manager, Codes and Standards in the fire division Canadian Wood Council

Marc Alam is a member of the Canadian Wood Council. As Manager, Codes and Standards in the fire division, Marc assists through participation in CWC’s building code and standards fire‐related initiatives and the development of CWC’s fire design tools, as well as code‐related fire research projects.

Course Overview

With so many compelling reason to build with mass timber the question is no longer ‘why?’ but ‘how?’. As a construction method in its own right, mass timber construction has its own rules and regulations which need to be understood by all if mass timber is to achieve its potential of becoming the construction method of choice for most building types. This presentation will focus on best practices in terms of design, procurement and construction through a number of case studies of recent projects that Eurban has been involved in, particularly mass housing projects.

Learning Objectives

1. Understand what is being done in the UK in order to optimise the delivery of mass timber projects in terms of design and construction.
2. Understand the role of a CLT designer/specialist contractor on mass timber building projects and how knowledge and experience can inform design decisions and help deliver such projects effectively and safely.
3. Understand the risks associated with the design and delivery of large-scale mass timber buildings and how one might overcome such risks.
4. Understand how mass timber construction differs from concrete construction and stick build construction, particularly in terms of the perceived risks of fire and moisture, and how to design for them.

Course Video

Speaker Bio

Liam Dewer
Director
Eurban Limited, London, England

Liam Dewar is a trained Architect and Director of Eurban Limited, a UK consultancy and construction company that specialises in the design, supply and installation of mass timber building structures. Having introduced solid timber construction to the UK market 12 years ago Eurban have considerable experience in the delivery of buildings using mass timber.

Course Overview

Melissa will discuss the role of the specialty structural engineer in glulam connection design for your project. Tips will be provided to help streamline the work of the project architect and engineer of record, and also highlight specific detailing situations to help construction run more smoothly. Glulam fabrication will be discussed: from chisels to CNC machines. Some examples will be given to see what is possible during this timber connection renaissance, made possible by 3D fabrication models and CNC machines.

Learning Objectives

1. Mass timber fabrication processes and the role of shop drawings.
2. Detailing to accommodate for differing tolerances of different trades on the construction site.
3. Tailoring timber specifications to meet architectural needs.
4. Information required in construction documents for delegated design of mass timber connections.
5. New timber connection possibilities through use of CNC Fabrication.
6. How to communicate scope delineation for multiple suppliers of structural systems on your project and where are the potential gaps / overlaps.
7. How involving your mass timber supplier early in the design process can create material and construction efficiencies.

Course Video

Speaker Bio

Melissa Kindratsky, P.Eng., LEED® AP BD+C
Structural Project Engineer
ISL Engineering and Land Services

Melissa Kindratsky, P.Eng., LEED® AP BD+C, is a structural project engineer for ISL Engineering and Land Services. With 400 people in 14 offices in western Canada, ISL established a Buildings Group in 2012 with the acquisition of Cascade Engineering Group, and Melissa joined the growing team in the Canmore office in 2015.

Melissa supports the successful delivery of building engineering to a range of clients, from independent homes owners to internationally renowned architects, timber framers, and mass timber fabricators. With over 15 years of experience in design engineering and construction, Melissa has experience in commercial, residential, and industrial developments of various shapes and sizes. Her material of choice is timber and she focuses most of her time on both concept and detailed design of timber structures. These range from modern developments to repairs of heritage structures and even playgrounds.

She passionately believes that to engineer a structure in wood, one must respect the unique properties of this natural material and even use them to enhance the design, both structurally and architecturally. Close attention is paid to the contribution of the structure to the sustainability features of a building project and these are even more easily achieved when the structure is timber.

Course Overview

This presentation defines Acoustic building code requirements and discusses important acoustic principles in mass timber construction.

Learning Objectives

1. Acoustic complaints & Law Suits.
2. Customer negative perception of your building (ex; wood frame vs concrete).
3. Code regulations (ex; need to reduce weight, acoustic requirements, etc.).
4. Abundance of possibilities and unclear information.

Course Video

Speaker Bio

André Rioux
Co-Owner/Business Development
AcoustiTECH

André has been working alongside building professionals for more than 15 years and is recognized for his passion for the field of acoustics and his expert knowledge.

Promoting wood construction across Canada and the US has been a great focus of his, participating in various organizations, giving conferences and joining innovation projects.

André’s experience with wood construction combined with over 20 years of research and development from AcoustiTECH has resulted in a group being able to bring invaluable expertise and knowhow.

Course Overview

This 2-hour technical webinar will begin with an overview of ongoing fire research at the National Research Council of Canada into various performance aspects of mass timber construction and tall wood buildings. From there, code experts from Morrison Hershfield will discuss the new building code provisions related to Encapsulated Mass Timber Construction (EMTC), which is a new construction type in the code, that permit mass timber structures up to twelve storeys in building height. Participants will receive a complimentary electronic copy of the CWC’s recently published “Guide to Encapsulated Mass Timber Construction in the Ontario Building Code” authored by Morrison Hershfield.

Learning Objectives

An overview of the Ottawa Mass Timber Demonstration Fire Tests:

1. The presentation will provide an overview of the Mass Timber Demonstration Fire Test Project which were conducted during the summer and fall of 2022. Past research on the fire performance of mass timber construction will be reviewed briefly to provide the background necessary to understand how the latest tests support the design of taller and larger mass timber buildings. Each of the five tests performed will be reviewed along with what it means for future mass timber building design.

Guide to Encapsulated Mass Timber Construction in the Ontario Building Code:

1. Encapsulated mass timber construction (EMTC) showcases recent advancements in fire safety engineering. These advancements are reflected in recent adoptions of EMTC as a new construction type across various jurisdictions and specifically in Ontario, through O.Reg. 451/22, which became applicable as of July 1, 2022. This presentation introduces designers and authorities to the “Guide to Encapsulated Mass Timber Construction in the Ontario Building Code.”
2. The purpose of the guide, and this presentation, is to introduce users to the new provisions governing EMTC in Ontario, so that readers are aware of the content, intent, and application of the new provisions. The guide introduces the new provisions and highlights where new EMTC features align with similar well-known provisions of the OBC for noncombustible construction and where the new provisions differ or are unique. Through highlighting these differences, this guide seeks to broaden awareness of OBC application to the design of this new building type.

Course Video

Speaker Bio

Marc Alam
Senior Manager, Codes & Standards – Fire & Acoustics
Canadian Wood Council

As Senior Manager of Codes and Standards in fire and acoustics, Marc participates in CWC’s building code and standards fire and acoustics related initiatives and the development of CWC’s fire design tools, as well as code‐related fire and acoustics research projects. He is finalising a PhD in Fire Engineering from Carleton and has a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering with a concentration in Management.

Dana Scherf, P.Eng.
Senior Code Consultant, Director of Code and Life Safety Group
Morrison Hershfield

Dana has been applying Building and Fire Codes across Canada since 1997 and has been with Morrison Hershfield since 2001. She has extensive experience in interpretation and application of the Codes to new and existing buildings, development and negotiation of Alternative Solutions, resolution of unusual fire protection construction issues, fire hazards analysis, and application of fire and smoke modelling to support design solutions. She started her career as a plans examiner with the City of Hamilton. Dana supports clients in applying the Building Code to achieve their project vision while providing the level of safety required by the Code.

Trisha Ashworth, P.Eng., M.Eng.
Senior Code Consultant, Department Manager of Code within the Code and Life Safety Group
Morrison Hershfield

Trisha has been working in the building consulting industry since 2007 and has been with Morrison Hershfield since 2017. Trisha actively applies her knowledge of Building and Fire Codes across various Canadian jurisdictions for both new building designs and existing building retrofits across a range of occupancy types. Trisha’s fundamental knowledge of fire dynamics and fire protection design, inherent in the formation of the Building Codes, allows her to apply judgment in the application of prescriptive requirements of the Codes and develop alternative solutions to meet the areas of performance required by the Codes.

Course Overview

Mass timber has garnered a lot of interest in Ontario in recent years and with the recent adoption of the encapsulated mass timber construction requirements into the Ontario Building Code, the path to approvals for these buildings has become less onerous. Building with mass timber has many benefits vs. conventional concrete or steel construction from sustainability to construction time to occupant health. However, cost is often a deterring factor, particularly for developers. There are many considerations that need to be made to make tall mass timber buildings a competitive option and we will share some with you in this presentation using the recently completed Tallwood 1 building in Langford, BC. Tallwood 1 is the first 12-story mass timber-steel hybrid building in Canada and located in one of the highest seismic zones in the country. In addition to sharing lessons learned from this project, we will also discuss how this building may be different if it were to be built in Ontario.

Learning Objectives

1. Understand the design and construction advantages of using mass timber in tall building projects like Tallwood 1 – structural benefits, aesthetic possibilities, and environmental impact.
2. Analyze the engineering challenges and solutions involved in the project, focusing on mass timber integration with other construction materials.
3. Evaluate the implications of prefabrication and modular construction techniques used in the Tallwood 1 project – to enhance construction efficiency, reduce waste, and potentially lower project costs.
4. Discuss the impact of innovative structural systems like point-supported CLT and hybrid seismic systems on the architectural design and functionality of tall buildings.

Course Video

Speaker Bio

Mehrdad Jahangri, P.Eng., Dipl. Ing.(Germany)
Principal
ASPECT Structural Engineers

Mehrdad is a principal at ASPECT and has more than three decades of international experience on notable, architecturally oriented commercial, educational, recreational, and residential projects. He is internationally recognized for his innovative approach and consulting with North American and international architects. He has a sound knowledge of building physics and sustainable design concepts that allow him to actively engage in sustainable design challenges and decisions. Mehrdad understands the challenge of creating carefully detailed yet efficient structural designs and provides an unparalleled level of service to all his clients.

Eva Chau, P.Eng., M.Eng.
Associate
ASPECT Structural Engineers

Eva is an Associate at ASPECT and holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Toronto and a master’s degree in Structural and Earthquake Engineering from the University of British Columbia. Over the course of her career, she has worked on a wide range of residential, institutional, civic, and transit projects. Eva is proficient with all major building materials but has been strongly focused on mass timber building for the past 4 years. Eva is passionate about structural engineering and always strives to help clients realize their unique visions and achieve their project goals.

Course Overview

The Sara Cultural Centre broadens the application of a full timber construction and proves that timber is a viable solution for virtually any building type. This project has become a showcase guiding others in our collective transition toward carbon neutrality. Located in Skellefteå, Sweden, just below the Artic Circle, Sara Culture Center is home to a regional theatre, a museum, an art gallery, a hotel, and a public library. Together the institutions benefit from each other and empower the local community. Since the opening last year, the development has helped attract green energy companies resulting in 3000 + new jobs in the region. Time Magazine named Skellefteå one of the world´s greatest places 2022.

The cultural center is constructed of over 13 000 m3 of locally sourced timber. The diverse areas of use employ a range of innovative solutions in mass timber and steel construction to handle spans, flexibility, acoustics, and overall statics. At 20 storeys tall, the hotel section was constructed with premanufactured 3D-modules in cross-laminated timber, stacked between two elevator cores entirely made of CLT in each corner. The low-rise portion of the project is built with columns and beams of GLT and cores and shear walls in CLT. The prefabricated elements of the building are produced in a local off-site factory and assembled and screwed together on site. The integrated structural design has eliminated the need for concrete entirely from the load bearing structure, speeding up construction and drastically reducing the carbon footprint. LCA shows that Sara Cultural centre is carbon negative over a period of 50 years.

Learning Objectives

Coming Soon

Course Video

Speaker Bio

Robert Schmitz
Partner
White Arkitekter, Sweden

Robert Schmitz is an architect and partner at White Arkitekter. He has a long history of experience in complex design projects with an emphasis on commercial office projects, cultural buildings, hotels, and urban planning. Robert is the Stockholm Office’s Director of Competitions and is part of the Office Management Team. Robert has won many prestigious architectural competitions including Täby City Hall, for which he received an IDEA gold medal award in Los Angeles 2017 and, most recently, the internationally acclaimed competition about Skellefteå Cultural Centre, which at 73m is one of the tallest timber high rises in the world. Robert Schmitz was the project architect, together with Oskar Norelius, for the Sara Kulturhus.