Practical and Advanced Modeling for Design and Performance of Mass Timber Structures
Course Overview
FPInnovations’s Modeling Guide for Timber Structures is the result of global collaboration from over 100 experts. This definitive guide for timber structure modelling is the first of its kind, bringing together the experience gained from recently built timber projects with the latest research development in the modelling of timber structures. Computer modelling is essential for analyzing and designing mid- and high-rise buildings and long-span structures. It is also a valuable tool for optimizing wood-based products, connections, and systems that improve structural performance. This useful guide supports the application and development of timber construction given that timber structures increasingly require demonstration of performance or equivalency through computer modelling, regardless of whether prescriptive or performance-based design procedures are used. This session offers an overview of the guide, which includes a wide range of practical and advanced modelling topics, such as key modelling principles, methods, and techniques specific to timber structures; modelling approaches and considerations for wood-based components, connections, and assemblies; and analytical approaches and considerations for timber structures during progressive collapse, wind, and earthquake events. It also presents the differences in the modelling approaches to timber, steel, and concrete structures.
Learning Objectives
Coming Soon
Course Video
https://vimeo.com/1046545354
Speaker Bio
Dorian Tung Manager Building Systems of Sustainable Construction Innovation Centres of Excellence FPInnovations
Dr. Dorian Tung is currently the Vancouver Manager for Building Systems of Sustainable Construction Innovation Centres of Excellence in FPInnovations. He has 20 years of experience in industry and academia. He has dealt with intellectual properties, knowledge transfer, and research dissemination. In addition to delivering research and development, he has been responsible for project management, sales, and marketing, as well as developing and maintaining business relationship. Dorian is a licensed professional engineer in Canada and USA, and also holds LEED certification, Building Design + Construction, from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). He has designed a variety of structural systems and is experienced with various construction materials. Dorian has a strong portfolio in developing innovative structural solutions to achieve resilience. He has ongoing collaborations with researchers and scientists around the world to apply state-of-the-art technologies.
International Perspectives on Sustainable Housing Development
Course Overview
Around the world there is a significant and growing housing shortage that is exacerbated by rapid urbanization and population growth. This challenge demands innovative solutions that prioritize sustainability, occupant comfort, and efficient land use. This panel discussion brings together three internationally renowned architects: Francine Houben (Mecanoo, the Netherlands), Christophe Ouhayoun (KOZ Architects, France), and Geoff Denton (White Arkitekter, Sweden) to explore their approaches to sustainable housing. Each panelist will share their unique perspective on how to address housing shortages and sustainable densification, offering insights into the latest design strategies, materials, and technologies that can contribute to more resilient and equitable urban environments. Join us for a dynamic conversation that will delve into the future of housing and the role of architecture in creating livable, sustainable cities.
Learning Objectives
Understand how international architects approach sustainable housing development, including wood‑based construction, urban densification, and low‑carbon strategies.
Compare differing regulatory, cultural, and construction‑industry conditions that influence mass timber, modularity, prefabrication, and approval processes in Sweden, France, and Canada.
Identify urban‑design principles used to create healthy, community‑oriented neighborhoods.
Course Video
https://vimeo.com/1021827951
Speakers Bio
Francine Houben Founding Partner, Creative Director Mecanoo, the Netherlands
Francine Houben is founding partner of Mecanoo (1984) and has led the firm to success in The Netherlands and abroad, amassing a portfolio of work that is wide-ranging, inspired by global challenges and with a sustainable view on society.
Mecanoo combines the disciplines of architecture, urban planning, landscape architecture and interior design to produce unorthodox design solutions born from a strong sensitivity to context and a highly interdisciplinary design process.
Each of her projects illustrates the four fundamental elements of her architectural vision: People, Place, Purpose, Poetry.
Francine Houben was professor of mobility aesthetics at Delft University of Technology and taught at the universities of Harvard, Yale and Mendrisio. As curator of the First International Architecture Biennale Rotterdam (2003), she brought the theme of the aesthetics of mobility to the forefront of international design consciousness.
Francine holds Honorary Fellowships of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), the American Institute of Architects (AIA), the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) and was granted lifelong membership to the Akademie der Künste in Berlin as well as receiving the International Honorary Fellow Award by the Architecture Institute of Taiwan.
In 2014 Francine was named Woman Architect of the Year by the Architects’ Journal and in November 2015 Queen Máxima of The Netherlands presented her with the Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds Prize for her wide-ranging career. Francine was awarded Honorary Doctorates from the Université de Mons, Belgium (2017) and the Utrecht University (2016).
In 2018 she received the BNA Kubus Award for her oeuvre; the International Prize, Prix des Femmes Architectes (2019) and distinguished with the TU Delft Alumnus of the Year (2020). In 2024, King Willem-Alexander appointed Francine Houben as a Knight in the Order of the Netherlands Lion.
Christophe Ouhayoun Founding Partner Architect KOZ Architects, France
Christophe Ouhayoun is a graduate of the École Nationale Supérieure d’Architecture de Paris-Belleville. He currently serves as a State Architect Advisor in the Aveyron department. In 1999, he co-founded KOZ Architectes with Nicolas Ziesel. A pioneer in wood architecture since 2001, he recently delivered Lot E of the Paris 2024 Athletes’ Village as co-coordinator within the Nexity-Eiffage team.
In addition to his architectural work, he co-founded:
KOZTO, a workshop dedicated to the creation of up-cycled furniture.
PLAN01, a collaborative “”second office”” active from 2003 to 2014, in partnership with Atelier du Pont, BP Architectures, and Philéas.
PLAN02, an integrated environmental consulting firm.
Alongside his private practice, Christophe Ouhayoun works as a visiting professor at the École Nationale Supérieure d’Arts et Métiers and at the École spéciale d’architecture de Paris.
Geoff Denton Partner Architect White Arkitekter, Sweden
Geoff Denton is an architect and urban designer who has led residential, educational and mixed-use urban design and architectural projects across the UK, Europe and North America. Educated at Sheffield University in the UK, his career in Sweden notably led him to the role of lead architect for the implementation of Greenwich Millennium Village for Ralph Erskine Architect. This project marked the beginning of his focus on socially and environmentally sustainable urban development and regeneration.
He joined White Arkitekter in 2011 and is now a partner and member of the board of directors. During his time at White he has led award winning urban design projects and was responsible for starting White Arkitekter’s London Studio. The studio has been built on the goal to share knowledge and experience of sustainable development and offsite fabrication methods used throughout the Nordics. Key projects developed during the first years of the London studio include the Climate Innovation District in Leeds and the Gascoigne estate regeneration in London.
Geoff is now based in Stockholm where he works with diverse complex international projects. His approach to architecture is collaborative and he strongly believes that good design solutions are very much about creating places where people feel secure and invigorated.
The Sara Cultural Centre
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
https://vimeo.com/1046545227
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.
Demystifying Acoustics for All Wood Buildings
Course Overview
This presentation defines Acoustic building code requirements and discusses important acoustic principles in mass timber construction.
Learning Objectives
Acoustic complaints & Law Suits.
Customer negative perception of your building (ex; wood frame vs concrete).
Code regulations (ex; need to reduce weight, acoustic requirements, etc.).
Abundance of possibilities and unclear information.
Course Video
https://vimeo.com/1046520207
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.
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
https://vimeo.com/1066672032?share=copy
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.
Across Canada, the low-rise non-residential sector—think offices, retail stores, warehouses, and restaurants—presents a major growth opportunity for structural wood systems, including light wood-frame, heavy timber, mass timber, and hybrid construction.
Together, retail, office, and light industrial warehouse buildings account for nearly 75% of new floor space in this market each year. Yet despite their scale, these segments continue to show low uptake of structural wood.
As retailers adapt to the shift toward online shopping and businesses compete to attract talent, the design and performance of their buildings matter more than ever. Wood offers a sustainable, visually appealing solution that enhances employee well-being and elevates commercial spaces.
This new technical publication explores the market potential, challenges, and the role wood can play in redefining this sector.
The target audience for this technical resource includes building officials, fire service, architects, engineers, builders, code consultants and developers and other parties involved in the design and approvals of tall wood noted in Table 1 below. This technical resource is expected to help illustrate to applicants how tall wood buildings could be designed as alternative solutions in a way that achieves the level of performance required by Ontario’s Building Code.
A tall wood building is defined as a building over six-storeys that uses wood for its structural system and is built using mass timber construction. Mass timber refers to large dimension solid lumber, gluedlaminated lumber, cross-laminated lumber or other large dimension wood products referenced in this technical resource as opposed to conventional stick-frame construction typically used in low-rise and midrise buildings in Ontario. Mass timber offers the advantages of improved dimensional stability and better fire performance during construction and occupancy. Tall wood buildings are not new to Ontario – many such buildings are still in use in Ontario after nearly 100 years in service, however over time, changes to building codes and the introduction of steel and concrete for high-rise construction resulted in a decline in construction of tall wood buildings over the decades. But with new wood products and modern means of fire engineering, modern tall wood buildings are now being built in Canada. The new products and the way in which they are pre-fabricated and constructed offer tremendous opportunities to improve quality and speed of construction for buildings in Ontario.
Mass timber products have environmental advantages as well. Trees get their energy from the sun and absorb carbon from the atmosphere. As they grow, trees store carbon and by sustainably harvesting trees, the carbon is sequestered, which helps to reduce greenhouse gas. The carbon stored in wood is not released into the atmosphere when it is harvested. As new trees are planted to replace the harvested trees, the new trees will continue the cycle of carbon storage. Ontario and Canada have significant forest resources which, combined with sustainable forestry management practices, make tall wood buildings an attractive alternate to other materials which do not have these attributes. This technical resource has two main sections: Fire Safety and Structural Design.
These two major topics are normally of most concern during design and review of tall wood buildings and are at times interrelated. Thus, it is expected that design teams and building departments will work together at the early stages of design since structural decisions can affect fire performance and vice versa. The sections go into detail on aspects of compliance, methods of analysis, methods of design and the expected performance requirements for fire and structure. Other topics such as thermal performance, acoustic performance and constructability are covered in other references as noted throughout this technical resource.
In a context where wood construction is gaining momentum, acoustics remains a key challenge in ensuring occupant comfort and compliance with standards. With this in mind, AcoustiTECH, an expert in acoustic solutions, has partnered with FPInnovations, a leader in research and development in the wood sector, to conduct an in-depth comparative study in its laboratory facility.
Who We Are
AcoustiTECH is a broker specializing in acoustic solutions, supporting building professionals in selecting highperformance materials that meet and exceed industry standards. With 25 years of experience and unique expertise, we offer customized assemblies through a specialized brand ecosystem and reliable data. Our personalized service, backed by dedicated technical and engineering teams, ensures tailored and effective
solutions that enhance the acoustic comfort of occupants. FPInnovations is a globally recognized, private, non-profit organization specializing in research and development for the forestry sector. Its mission is to support businesses and building professionals in innovating and optimizing wood-based materials. With ISO 17025-accredited laboratories and state-of-the-art facilities, FPInnovations assesses the performance of wood structures in terms of acoustics, vibrations, fire resistance, and more.
Study Objective
At AcoustiTECH, our goal is to continuously innovate by delivering new data and acoustic solutions tailored to the specific requirements of each project. This collaboration with FPInnovations marks a significant milestone in our acoustic analysis of wood structures, as it represents our first large-scale data collection on a GLT masstimber slab and our second mass-timber campaign overall, building on a prior study.
Through this study, we obtain precise acoustic measurements for this structural system and conduct rigorous comparisons across numerous innovative market solutions. We take into account key project criteria such as acoustic performance, budget, thickness, weight, and even design, as different acoustic solutions can also influence the choice of floor coverings.
Grounded in a scientific approach and conducted in controlled environments with FPInnovations, this research aims to evaluate various acoustic configurations optimized for mass timber construction. By combining technical expertise, innovation, and in-depth analysis, we provide architects, engineers, and developers with high-performance solutions that meet and exceed the industry standards.
Measurement of Airborne Sound Insulation of Wall & Floor Assemblies
The following report contains the Transmission Loss (TL) results measured in accordance with ASTM E90-09 of 8 cross-laminated timber (CLT) wall assemblies and the TL results and normalized impact sound pressure level results measured in accordance with ASTM E492-09 of 26 CLT floor assemblies and 3 glulam floor assemblies.
Reference tables containing the specimen number, sketch, short description, rating(s) as well as the page number of all the assemblies tested are found starting on page 16.
The wall assemblies were built and tested between November and December 2014. The specimen descriptions and the reported mass per area of the 8 wall assemblies that were previously published under report numbers A1-006070.1 to A1-006070.8 have been revised in this report.
The floor assemblies were built and tested between December 2014 and June 2015. The specimen description and the reported mass per area of floor specimen A1-006070-11F that were previously published under report number A1-006070.9 have been revised in this report.
The following discussion section contains analyses and graphical comparisons of the tested wall and floor assemblies used to highlight key findings:
In-situ TL vs. Laboratory TL Results
2. TL Results of Current Bare Assemblies vs. Previous Assemblies
3. TL Results of Walls vs. Floors
4. TL Results of CLT Walls
5. TL Results of CLT Floors
6. TL Improvement of Toppings and Resilient Membranes
7. TL Difference of Poured vs. Precast Concrete Topping
8. TL Interpolation for Floor Toppings
9. TL Improvement of Floor Coverings
10. TL Improvement of Hung Ceilings
11. TL Results of Glulam Floors
The last three pages of this report contain additional test setup information for each facility. APPENDIX: ASTM E90-09 – Airborne Sound Transmission – Wall Facility APPENDIX: ASTM E90-09 – Airborne Sound Transmission – Floor Facility APPENDIX: ASTM E492-09 – Light Impact Sound Transmission – Floor Facility
The Nordic Structures LAM+™ Technical Guide is a comprehensive reference for designers, engineers, and builders working with LAM+™ mass timber floor and roof systems. Developed by Nordic Structures, the guide provides practical technical information to support the efficient and reliable specification of LAM+™ panels in a wide range of building types.
The document outlines system characteristics, structural performance considerations, and typical applications, with clear guidance on panel configuration, spans, loading, and integration with supporting structural systems. It also addresses key design considerations such as vibration performance, fire resistance, acoustics, and constructability to help project teams make informed decisions early in design.
Intended as a design aid, the LAM+™ Technical Guide supports collaboration between architects, structural engineers, and contractors, offering a consistent technical foundation for incorporating LAM+™ systems into mass timber projects.
There is much to learn from the resilient and adaptable warehouse buildings that line the streets of Canada’s historic manufacturing districts. ‘Historical Tall-Wood Toronto’ is an evidentiary database of late 19th and early 20th century vernacular brick and beam buildings that were built using the fire restrictive specifications and construction technology of Heavy Timber Mill-Construction (mill-construction) in Toronto.
Wood is the most significant building material we use today that is grown by the sun. When harvested responsibly, wood is arguably one of the best tools architects and engineers have for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and storing carbon in our buildings. The Case for Tall Wood Buildings expands the discussion of where we will see wood and specifically Mass Timber in the future of the world’s skylines. As we pursue the solar and green energy solutions that Thomas Edison spoke of over 80 years ago, we must consider that we are surrounded by a building material that is manufactured by nature, a material that is renewable, durable and strong.
This report introduces a major opportunity for systemic change in the building industry. For the last century there has been no reason to challenge steel and concrete as the essential structural materials of large buildings. Climate change now demands that we do. The work of thousands of scientists with the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has defined one of the most significant challenges of our time. How we address climate change in buildings is a cornerstone in how the world will tackle the need to reduce emissions of green house gases and indeed find ways to store those same gases that are significantly impacting the health of our planet. Just as the automobile industry, energy sector and most other industries will see innovations that challenge the conventions of the way we will live in this century, the building industry must seek innovation in the fundamental materials that we choose to build with. In a rapidly urbanizing world with an enormous demand to house and shelter billions of people in the upcoming decades we must find solutions for our urban environments that have a lighter climate impact than today’s incumbent major structural materials. This report is a major step in that direction. Indeed it introduces the first significant challenge to steel and concrete in tall buildings since their adoption more than a century ago.
Practical and Advanced Modeling for Design and Performance of Mass Timber Structures
Course Overview FPInnovations’s Modeling Guide for Timber Structures is the result of global collaboration from over 100 experts. This definitive guide for timber structure modelling is the first of its...
International Perspectives on Sustainable Housing Development
...and construction‑industry conditions that influence mass timber, modularity, prefabrication, and approval processes in Sweden, France, and Canada. Identify urban‑design principles used to create healthy, community‑oriented neighborhoods. Course Video https://vimeo.com/1021827951 Speakers...
The Sara Cultural Centre
...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,...
Demystifying Acoustics for All Wood Buildings
Course Overview This presentation defines Acoustic building code requirements and discusses important acoustic principles in mass timber construction. Learning Objectives Acoustic complaints & Law Suits. Customer negative perception of your...
Diversify Your Structural Portfolio: Wood in Low-Rise Commercial Construction
...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...
Across Canada, the low-rise non-residential sector—think offices, retail stores, warehouses, and restaurants—presents a major growth opportunity for structural wood systems, including light wood-frame, heavy timber, mass timber, and hybrid construction....
...built using mass timber construction. Mass timber refers to large dimension solid lumber, gluedlaminated lumber, cross-laminated lumber or other large dimension wood products referenced in this technical resource as opposed...
...in our acoustic analysis of wood structures, as it represents our first large-scale data collection on a GLT masstimber slab and our second mass-timber campaign overall, building on a prior...
Measurement of Airborne Sound Insulation of Wall & Floor Assemblies
...descriptions and the reported mass per area of the 8 wall assemblies that were previously published under report numbers A1-006070.1 to A1-006070.8 have been revised in this report. The floor...
The Nordic Structures LAM+™ Technical Guide is a comprehensive reference for designers, engineers, and builders working with LAM+™ mass timber floor and roof systems. Developed by Nordic Structures, the guide...
Courtesy of the Mass Timber Institute There is much to learn from the resilient and adaptable warehouse buildings that line the streets of Canada’s historic manufacturing districts. ‘Historical Tall-Wood Toronto’...
...have for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and storing carbon in our buildings. The Case for Tall Wood Buildings expands the discussion of where we will see wood and specifically Mass...
Course Overview FPInnovations’s Modeling Guide for Timber Structures is the result of global collaboration from over 100 experts. This definitive guide for timber structure...
Course Overview Around the world there is a significant and growing housing shortage that is exacerbated by rapid urbanization and population growth. This challenge demands...
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....
Course Overview This presentation defines Acoustic building code requirements and discusses important acoustic principles in mass timber construction. Learning Objectives...
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...
Across Canada, the low-rise non-residential sector—think offices, retail stores, warehouses, and restaurants—presents a major growth opportunity for structural wood...
The target audience for this technical resource includes building officials, fire service, architects, engineers, builders, code consultants and developers and other parties...
In a context where wood construction is gaining momentum, acoustics remains a key challenge in ensuring occupant comfort and compliance with standards. With this in mind...
The following report contains the Transmission Loss (TL) results measured in accordance with ASTM E90-09 of 8 cross-laminated timber (CLT) wall assemblies and the TL results...
The Nordic Structures LAM+™ Technical Guide is a comprehensive reference for designers, engineers, and builders working with LAM+™ mass timber floor and roof systems....
Courtesy of the Mass Timber Institute There is much to learn from the resilient and adaptable warehouse buildings that line the streets of Canada’s historic manufacturing...
Wood is the most significant building material we use today that is grown by the sun. When harvested responsibly, wood is arguably one of the best tools architects and...
