Plant a Seed Designing with Wood and Bio based Materials
Course Overview
Concrete, steel, and aluminum are responsible for 23% of the world’s total CO2 emissions. While a portion of those emissions come from other industries, the biggest sinner is without comparison construction. In this presentation, based on Henning Larsen’s recent publication, ‘Plant a Seed’, Fabia will present an alternative, sharing Henning Larsen cases studies and insights on designing with wood and biobased materials for significantly reduced carbon.
Fabia is a Structural Design Engineer and Timber Expert at Henning Larsen with both theoretical knowledge about timber from her engineering degree and practical experience from her work as a carpenter. She has a passion for timber construction and understands the potential of wood in developing unique, sustainable projects. Given her experiences, Fabia has extensive knowledge about incorporating wood in construction processes. She supports design teams by integrating wood into many projects like Henning Larsen’s World of Volvo experience center in Gothenburg, Sweden; Marmormolen, one of Denmark’s largest wooden structures; and Fælledby, Copenhagen’s first wooden district, and winner of Fast Company’s 2021 World Changing Ideas Awards. Having co-authored Henning Larsen’s Plant a Seed publication, innovative solutions are always in focus for Fabia, by which she strives to promote wood and biomass as essential materials for building a climate-neutral future.
Overview of the Canadian Mass Timber Technical Guide
Course Overview
Join us for an introduction to a new, comprehensive Canadian technical reference guide to mass timber. Canada’s inherent building-with-wood culture lays a solid foundation for the continued growth of mass timber construction. Learn more about why mass timber is right for your next project, the design process and building systems, code acceptance, our expertise and more.
Learning Objectives
How mass timber can be incorporated into a variety of structural projects that typically utilize other materials.
Design considerations for utilizing mass timber and how the Mass timber guide can provide them with the information to navigate mass timber design.
How to use the mass timber reference guide for cross laminated timber and glue laminated timber design and construction.
Overview of the economic and sustainable benefits of mass timber construction.
Course Video
Speaker Bio
Orlagh McHugh – BSc, M.Eng, EIT Mass Timber Specialist Structurlam Mass Timber Corporation Vancouver/Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada
Orlagh McHugh is a Mass Timber Specialist at Structurlam Mass Timber Corporation, overseeing the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island. Before relocating to BC almost a decade ago, Orlagh earned her Degree in Structural Engineering and Architecture at University College Dublin, Ireland, and went on to complete a Masters of Structural Engineering at the same institution.
With over 7 years of experience working with top Vancouver firms as a design engineer, she has contributed to a diverse catalogue of projects across a number of sectors, with a particular focus on wood and mass timber construction. Orlagh is inspired by the innovative nature of mass timber construction and keen to promote creativity, technology and sustainability in our built environment.
Ron McDougall Mass Timber Specialist Structurlam Mass Timber Corporation Western/Eastern Canada
Ron brings 30 years of heavy timber experience to the mass timber industry that combines a unique perspective on the evolution of hand built timber construction to the technologically advanced practices utilized in Structurlam’s state of the art production process.
Ron’s expertise is the facilitation of incorporating BIM practices in pragmatic and meaningful ways to ensure efficient construction of complex mass timber structures.
Sound and Vibration in Mass Timber Buildings: A Practical Guide
Course Overview
Following an introductory overview of building acoustics, the presenter will explore both airborne and impact sound transmission in mass timber buildings. While direct sound transmission (i.e., through floor/ceiling assemblies) has been thoroughly tested, indirect sound transmission (i.e., around wall or floor/ceiling assemblies) remains more of a challenge. To address this, the presenter will share findings from recent R&D initiatives aimed at helping maximize exposed mass timber while still adhering to code requirements.
This webinar will also examine the sound absorptive properties of mass timber, which play a critical role in environments such as schools, offices, and event spaces. Finally, we’ll conclude with specific design strategies to help prevent late-stage acoustical issues, especially when projects have progressed to a point where certain solutions are no longer feasible.
Learning Objectives
Gain familiarity with basic acoustic terminology and principles.
Understand how sound and vibration can transmit directly and indirectly through the mass timber structure.
Discover approaches to addressing sound and vibration transmission through continuous mass timber (CLT) panels.
Gain an appreciation of various design considerations affecting the control of noise in mass timber buildings.
Course Video
Speaker Bio
Simon Edwards, M.Eng., P.Eng., ing. Senior Acoustical Engineer, Associate HGC NOISE VIBRATION ACOUSTICS
Simon is a member of HGC’s built environment division, with extensive experience in acoustical work across the permitting, design, construction, and post-occupancy phases of residential and commercial buildings. He has worked with poured concrete, hollow-core, wood-frame, and steel-deck structures and has particular expertise in mass timber projects, including Ontario’s first mass timber building, R-Town Vertical 6, and the acclaimed YW Supportive Housing project in Kitchener. Simon’s growing experience in designing and testing various CLT configurations has positioned him as a leader in mass timber acoustics.
Simon is also an expert on sound transmission, with a background in both theoretical calculations and experimental sound transmission testing (“Kij Testing”) to evaluate flanking transmission in line with ISO 12354 and ISO 10848. He is a member of both the ISO and ASTM Technical Committees on Building Acoustics and contributes to the development of standards for measurement and calculation methodologies across the industry.
Shearwall Connections and Lateral Systems for Wood Buildings
Course Overview
This comprehensive course delves into the latest advancements in wood shearwall systems and connections, featuring critical updates from the 2020 National Building Code of Canada (NBCC). This course will cover essential topics, including advancements in lateral systems and rod holdowns, and provide a step-by-step approach to accurately calculating deflection for rod holdowns. Dive into key details on relevant connections and fasteners that enhance performance and resilience. The session will culminate with a overview of the outcomes of a groundbreaking 10-storey mass timber seismic test conducted in San Diego as part of the NHERI Tall Wood Project, showcasing how these innovations perform under real-world conditions. This webinar is designed for engineers, architects, and construction professionals looking to stay current with advancements in seismic design for wood structures.
Learning Objectives
Gain insights into the latest advancements in seismic and lateral force-resisting systems for timber construction.
Learn effective methods for calculating deflection in rod hold-down systems, ensuring compliance with structural performance standards.
Explore best practices and expert recommendations for specifying connections in shearwalls to optimize strength and resilience.
Understand key findings from the NHERI TallWood test, highlighting lessons from the tallest mass timber building ever tested on a shake table.
Course Video
Speaker Bio
Tim Wagner, P.Eng., MBA Field Engineer Simpson Strong-Tie
Tim joined Simpson Strong-Tie in 2014 as an EIT, and earned his Professional Engineering designation in 2018. His primary role is building relationships with specifiers in western Canada, with major focuses on connections, lateral systems fasteners and anchors.
Mass Timber Construction at Canadian Nuclear Laboratories
Course Overview
Canadian Nuclear Labs’ Chalk River Laboratories comprise the largest single complex in Canada’s science and technology community. The site contains more than 50 unique facilities and laboratories including a three new buildings constructed with mass timber.
These three buildings are the focus of a detailed environmental impact study. This webinar will offer a case study of the three buildings and share the results of the environmental impact study. Topics covered by the presentation include: -Why Wood? (drivers that led CNL to chose mass timber) -Carbon Impact (operational, embodied, sequestered, avoided, and a life cycle assessment) -Procurement (Integrated Project Delivery Method) -Building Performance (construction elements, energy performance, envelope performance, fire performance, durability, resiliency, and potential for adaptive reuse) -Code Requirements (regulatory approvals, permit process)
The projects are considered successful examples of sustainable procurement aligning with the ‘greening government’ strategy which supports the Government’s commitment to net-zero emissions by 2050, and includes a 40% reduction by 2025 for federal facilities.
Learning Objectives
Understand the strategic importance of using mass timber construction at CNL and its alignment with sustainability goals, including carbon reduction and the promotion of sustainable building practices.
Analyze the logistical and engineering challenges associated with implementing mass timber in a large-scale infrastructure project.
Evaluate the benefits of mass timber in the context of operational efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and environmental impact.
Discuss the implications of mass timber construction for future building projects in terms of regulatory compliance, market trends, and technological advancements.
Course Video
Speaker Bio
Donald Chong, OAA, MRAIC, B.Arch Design Principal, Associate Vice President HDR
Don has firmly established himself in Toronto’s architecture culture through his inventiveness and investment in placemaking. His project skills volley between the strategic planning of urban and institutional work through to the detailing of finely crafted furniture, as well as research-based design. Don has held numerous design conference speaking engagements, from the Wood at Work Conference to the Architectural League of New York, and has been featured in print publications, such as Design Lines, related to mass timber design.
Susan Croswell, OAA, MRAIC Project Delivery Principal HDR
Susan is a project architect with over 27 years of diversified experience. Her expertise in both architectural design and technology allows her to excel in the profession from concept design through to contract administration. Susan’s ability to deliver complex projects and documentation on time is a hallmark of her work and is achieved through effective leadership and teamwork. She has developed a reputation as a highly competent, efficient, effective and approachable project architect who loves the challenges that each and every project brings to the team. Some of her recent, award-winning projects include the CNL Chalk River Laboratories “New Builds,” Queen’s University John Deutsch University Centre, and Kingston Frontenac Public Library.
Ryan Zizzo, PEng, MASc, LEED AP ND Founder & CEO Mantle Developments
Ryan Zizzo is a professional engineer and Founder & CEO at Mantle Developments, a consultancy focused on climate-smart infrastructure and buildings, based in Toronto. Mantle helps projects go beyond energy efficiency, incorporating resilience, embodied carbon emissions, and life cycle approaches to make projects future-proof and net-zero carbon ready. Ryan is a recognized leader in helping large organizations and governments transition to a low-carbon future. He has directly supported the Government of Canada, several provincial Ministries, the City of Toronto, the YMCA of Greater Toronto, and numerous developers, property managers, and real estate investors.
Joining Tradition and Innovation with Mass timber Connections
Course Overview
An overview of traditional, state of the art and innovative wood fasteners and connectors. This course is of particular interest to structural engineers and design professionals interested in structural engineering.
Learning Objectives
Wood Properties and their influence on timber connection design.
Overview of traditional, state-of-the-art and innovative fasteners and connectors.
Ductility and durability aspects in connection with dowel type fasteners.
Modern carpentry – a resurrection of traditional framing through CNC.
Best practices for the design of mass timber connections.
Course Video
Speaker Bio
Patrick Geers Senior Structural Designer, Head of Quality Control Western Archrib
As the company’s senior engineering designer Patrick is in charge of the design of structural wood systems including fabricated steel connections and hardware He is involved in the development and presentation of building proposals to support sales efforts and cooperates with the production team to develop manufacturing solutions In addition, he is responsible for the supervision of quality control department Patrick has over 17 years experience in the glulam industry an currently sits on CSA 086 Sub-committee.
Harnessing Prefabrication: How to Navigate the Design and Construction Process
Course Overview
This course offers an in-depth discussion on the evolving landscape of modular and prefabricated construction. The course will explore how to evaluate and integrate different levels of prefabrication based on project goals, site conditions, and logistical constraints. Key topics include site planning, design coordination, transportation logistics, and navigating regulatory requirements.
We’ll also delve into technical considerations—comparing mass timber and drywall fire ratings, evaluating STC performance, and planning for MEP sub-module integration. The session will conclude with strategies for structural design of modular systems and insights on avoiding common post-construction pitfalls.
Grounded in lessons learned from a completed multi-family volumetric modular CLT project, this presentation offers practical tools for design professionals, engineers, and developers looking to optimize prefabrication in their projects.
Learning Objectives
Understand key decision-making criteria for selecting appropriate prefabrication strategies.
Apply a framework for integrating prefabrication into project planning and delivery.
Recognize technical challenges and solutions in modular design, including fire ratings, acoustics, and MEP coordination.
Identify best practices for optimizing structural integration and avoiding post-construction issues.
Course Video
Speaker Bio
Melissa Kindratsky Head of Engineering Kalesnikoff
Devin Harding Sales Manager Kalesnikoff
Dowel Laminated Timber A new mass timber product in North America
Course Overview
Dowel‐laminated timber is a next generation mass timber product commonly used in Europe, where it is also known as brettstapel. Panels are made from softwood lumber boards stacked like the boards of NLT, friction‐fit together with hardwood beech dowels instead of nails. DLT is the only mass timber product which is 100 per cent wood – it involves no glue or nails. Unique to DLT as a mass timber product, acoustic profiles can be integrated directly into the bottom surface of a panel. DLT panels processed using CNC machinery create a high tolerance panel which can also contain pre‐integrated electrical conduit and other service runs. StructureCraft will be the first manufacturer of DLT in North America, with a new automated manufacturing line and plant beginning production in 2017. This presentation will discuss how DLT differs from other mass timber products in its use and specification. Topics will include potential applications, introduction to the design and construction process and costs.
Learning Objectives
What is Dowel Laminated Timber?
Potential applications of DLT.
Introduction to design and construction detailing.
Product availability and cost.
Course Video
Speaker Bio
Lucas Epp Head of Engineering StructureCraft
Lucas Epp is a structural engineer with 10 years of experience working throughout Canada, the UK, and New Zealand. While in London he designed a range of projects with world class architects and developed an expertise in complex geometry and challenging structures. Lucas leads the engineering department at StructureCraft where he has been involved in large-scale timber structures including the 2012 Vancouver Olympics Oval and more recently as lead engineer for the T3 Minneapolis office building.
Diversify Your Structural Portfolio: Wood in Low-Rise Commercial Construction
Course Overview
This course will explore the use cases for incorporating more wood into a sector that is typically dominated by structural steel construction. We will look at Light Wood Framing (LWF), Structural Composite Lumber (SCL), Mass Timber (MT), and Hybrid Systems that may incorporate any or all of these materials, as well as structural steel. What is important is using the right material in the right application. Several examples from the CWC Publication “Low-Rise Commercial Construction in Wood: A guide for Architects and Engineers”, as well as real project examples from the presenter.
Learning Objectives
Identify strengths and weaknesses of various wood products.
Learn to select the right wood material/system for the most efficient and cost effective structure.
Highlight critical details and identify potential red flags to ensure a successful project.
Provide useful examples, resources and tools for the practitioner to add to their “tool belt”.
Course Video
Speaker Bio
Alex Nowakowksi Engineer, Senior Associate, and Barrie Team Lead Tacoma Engineers
Alex is a Professional Engineer, Senior Associate, and Barrie Team Lead for Tacoma Engineers. Alex has been with Tacoma Engineers since 2012. As a Senior Structural Engineer and Project Manager, Alex has been the Primary Structural Engineer and Specialty Structural Engineer on a wide variety of wood projects in the Commercial, Institutional, Multi-Family, Agricultural and Residential Sectors.
Design Guide for Timber Concrete Composite Floors
Course Overview
As part of its work related to wooden buildings, FPInnovations recently published a comprehensive technical Guide for designing timber-concrete composite floors in Canada. This construction technique could be an economically profitable solution for longer-span floors since the mechanical properties of the two materials act in complementarity. The presentation overview of the recently published guide, which contains numerous illustrations and formulas to help the user in the design of his project. The connection systems, the ultimate and service limit states, the vibratory performance of the floor and the fire resistance is presented.
Learning Objectives
Discovering the recently published timber-concrete design guide for timber-concrete composite (TCC) floor in Canada.
Leaning the different types of connection systems for TCC floor.
How to design for serviceability and ultimate limit states.
Learning the fundamental theory of TCC floor.
Course Video
Speaker Bio
Samuel Cuerrier Auclair, P.Eng., M.Sc. Scientist, Building Systems Group FPInnovations
Samuel Cuerrier Auclair completed his master thesis in 2016 at Laval University where the subject was to optimise the ductility of timber-concrete composite beams. He started to work at FPInnovations in 2015 as a scientist in building system group. He participated on the research project of several subjects as timber-concrete composite floor, the structural performance of mass-timber shear wall, the vibration performance of mass-timber floor, the acoustic performance of building and more recently on wind-vibration of tall timber building.
CLT classrooms: A pilot project in Washington State
Course Overview
A pilot project in Washington State tests the use of CLT to design and construct three modular classroom buildings in Western Washington. Funded by the Washington State Legislature, the project investigated the viability of CLT as a means to build quality K‐3 classrooms to accommodate increased population and new WA State education laws. By using CLT, the project team designed a building that could be deployed on almost any existing school site and be built over a summer break without impacting ongoing operations. Compared to traditional portable classrooms, the CLT classroom buildings are longer lasting, more functional, and aesthetically superior.
Learning Objectives
Building a broad‐based CLT coalition and the unified strategies for securing legislative state support and funding ($5.5 mil USD).
Architectural design and detailing strategies used to create an innovative learning environment by using CLT.
Project scheduling, costing, construction and lessons learned through building the modern classrooms at these three schools.
Utilizing a design‐build delivery method.
Course Video
Speaker Bio
Joe Mayo, AIA LEED AP Architect Mahlum Architects
Joseph Mayo is an architect in Seattle at Mahlum and author of Solid Wood: Mass Timber Architecture, Technology and Design, the first book devoted solely to mass timber commercial buildings.
He recently completed three CLT classroom buildings in Washington State, is currently designing modular CLT townhomes and is working with a broad coalition to allow taller mass timber buildings in Washington State.
Benefits of Building with Mass Timber
Course Overview
Building with mass-timber elements affords a contractor many benefits including quality, accuracy and time. But contractors are often unaware of these benefits until immersed in a new project. With the conversion experience had by Willmott Dixon the company advanced its skills has served to inform their clients and the designers with whom they work.
Learning Objectives
How a large construction company – transitioned to include mass timber projects in its portfolio.
How to evaluate key business considerations — cost, time, environment.
How building with mass timber can change the construction planning process — engaging with design teams and clients.
How mass-timber projects came to fruition.
Course Video
Speaker Bio
Duncan Purvis
With nearly a quarter of a century of experience in the construction industry in operational, commercial, sales, bid writing, marketing and most aspects of the delivery of complex construction projects and offers a 100% customer journey that is built on true trust. With many construction projects from Four Seasons Miami, Natural History Museum London, Pfizer’s European headquarters and many more high-prestige projects. Duncan is proudest of the Multiple Schools projects, that with his Structured Timber Solution, are providing high quality teaching environments that are not only fully sustainable and highly efficient, but also work out as some of the most economical teaching spaces available in Europe.
Plant a Seed Designing with Wood and Bio based Materials
Overview of the Canadian Mass Timber Technical Guide
Sound and Vibration in Mass Timber Buildings: A Practical Guide
Shearwall Connections and Lateral Systems for Wood Buildings
Mass Timber Construction at Canadian Nuclear Laboratories
Joining Tradition and Innovation with Mass timber Connections
Harnessing Prefabrication: How to Navigate the Design and Construction Process
Dowel Laminated Timber A new mass timber product in North America
Diversify Your Structural Portfolio: Wood in Low-Rise Commercial Construction
Design Guide for Timber Concrete Composite Floors
CLT classrooms: A pilot project in Washington State
Course Overview Concrete, steel, and aluminum are responsible for 23% of the world’s total CO2 emissions. While a portion of those emissions come from other industries, the...
Course Overview Join us for an introduction to a new, comprehensive Canadian technical reference guide to mass timber. Canada’s inherent building-with-wood culture lays a...
Course Overview Following an introductory overview of building acoustics, the presenter will explore both airborne and impact sound transmission in mass timber buildings....
Course Overview This comprehensive course delves into the latest advancements in wood shearwall systems and connections, featuring critical updates from the 2020 National...
Course Overview Canadian Nuclear Labs’ Chalk River Laboratories comprise the largest single complex in Canada’s science and technology community. The site contains more...
Course Overview An overview of traditional, state of the art and innovative wood fasteners and connectors. This course is of particular interest to structural engineers and...
Course Overview This course offers an in-depth discussion on the evolving landscape of modular and prefabricated construction. The course will explore how to evaluate and...
Course Overview Dowel‐laminated timber is a next generation mass timber product commonly used in Europe, where it is also known as brettstapel. Panels are made from...
Course Overview This course will explore the use cases for incorporating more wood into a sector that is typically dominated by structural steel construction. We will look at...
Course Overview As part of its work related to wooden buildings, FPInnovations recently published a comprehensive technical Guide for designing timber-concrete composite...
Course Overview A pilot project in Washington State tests the use of CLT to design and construct three modular classroom buildings in Western Washington. Funded by the...
Course Overview Building with mass-timber elements affords a contractor many benefits including quality, accuracy and time. But contractors are often unaware of these...
