Mass Timber costs are coming down! How? With Sterling Structural’s innovative approach to the cross laminated timber market.

Michaela Harms, the Senior Director of Mass Timber breaks down how they’re lowering mass timber prices and bringing domestically manufactured materials back into buildings at an affordable rate.

She unpacks how Sterling is optimizing Mass Timber prices through standardized, commodity-style production.

Michaela shares the differences between custom and off-the-shelf CLT options and when to use each. She also explores the affordable housing projects they're working on, and how she advocates for the next generation to join the engineering (and Mass Timber) industry.

Check out Sterling Strucutral’s TerraLam CLT here

Connect with Michaela on Linkedin here

Looking to expand you mass timber network? Attend the Mass Timber Group Summit in Denver, CO!

Mass Timber construction meets affordable housing in this episode.

Patrick Chouinard, the CEO of Element5 breaks down the misconceptions around Mass Timber costs. 

He unpacks how Mass Timber can be optimized for cost through prefabrication, repeatable, and scalable building systems. 

We dive into their current and future affordable housing projects and then discuss the massive opportunities for cross laminated timber buildings in the United States and Canada.

View Element5's projects here: https://elementfive.co/

Connect with Patrick on Linkedin here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chouinardpatrick/

Looking to expand you mass timber network? Attend the Mass Timber Group Summit in Denver, CO!

Mass Timber construction is exploding in popularity in North America due to increased demand for green building practices, and Europe's largest cross laminated timber producer, Binderholz, is paying attention. This episode unpacks the differences between the European and North American lumber and mass timber markets. Then, we talk about Binderholz's plan for expansion into the United States. Sustainable construction is going mainstream!

Simon Siegert is known as the "US Guy" and head of Business Development here in North America. He's been highly involved in the Mass Timber industry for years, and is helping to lead Binderholz's entry into North America. 

View Binderholz's projects here: https://www.binderholz.com/en-us/products/clt-bbs/

Connect with Simon  on Linkedin here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simon-a-siegert-373b43157/

Looking to expand you mass timber network? Attend the Mass Timber Group Summit in Denver, CO!

Need answer's about Mass Timber construction? Look no further. We unpack the gaps in the Mass Timber market, the rising use cases for Cross Laminated Timber, and explore the network of collaborative AEC professionals you won't find anywhere else. 

Taylor Cabot is the Mass Timber preconstruction manager for TimberLab - a North American leader in Mass Timber preconstruction, fabrication and assembly. They have an extensive network of Mass Timber architects, engineers and contractors to get your Mass Timber building over the finish line.

View TimberLab's projects here: https://timberlab.com/

Connect with Taylor on Linkedin here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/taylor-cabot-040b389b/

Looking to expand you mass timber network? Attend the Mass Timber Group Summit in Denver, CO!

They tested thousands of earthquakes against a 10-story Mass Timber building on a shake table. The seismic performance of Mass Timber Construction shocked everyone, including the lead researcher Dr. Shiling Pei of the Colorado School of Mines. 

Dr. Pei is a 2-time world record holding researcher. He’s worked on or led the most important timber seismic resilience tests in the world. He’s the leader of the NHERI TallWood Project and a professor with the Colorado School of Mines. 

The seismic performance of cross laminated timber, glue laminated timber, and other forms of mass timber were put through the most rigorous earthquake testing of any tall building in the world. Dr. Shiling Pei unpacks the results int his episode. 

Follow the NHERI TallWood website to watch for the published findings here. 

Connect with Dr. Shiling Pei on Linkedin here.

Looking to expand you mass timber network? Attend the Mass Timber Group Summit in Denver, CO!

Why is Mass Timber so important to understand and use in the built environment? Lindsey Wikstrom, the academic powerhouse, author, and founder of Mattaforma tells us why. Her groundbreaking new book “Designing the Forest and Other Mass Timber Futures" breaks down this complicated question in a compelling and easy-to-understand way that's accessible to everyone.

Lindsey has been a professor with Syracuse, Cornell, Columbia and Yale. Her in-depth research and  practical insights from her experience in academia and the field are presented in her book. It unpacks why adopting sustainable building methodologies is so urgent and then dives into the history, present and future of Mass Timber. We cover the history of forest management, our current knowledge infrastructure and how the verticality of Mass Timber can connect small businesses and then finish with how we can truly get to a fully biogenic urban environment.

Closing out with her excitement for the mass timber movement and a sneak peak at some of her current projects, this episode is a treasure trove for anyone yearning to understand how sustainable design can reshape our world. Join us for this enlightening journey into the future of architecture, where mass timber isn't just a material—it's the cornerstone of a greener, more resilient urban landscape.

Connect with Lindsey on LinkedIn

Read Lindsey’s Book

Work with Lindsey & Mattaforma

Looking to expand you mass timber network? Attend the Mass Timber Group Summit in Denver, CO!

Kris Spickler is a mass timber leader with over 150 projects under his belt, including tech giants such as Google and Microsoft. Kris share’s his journey from an engineer in “sales” to becoming one of the most experienced and respected professionals in the industry.  We dive deep into his belief in the power of passionate individuals driving organizational success.
 
 Kris shares his insights from project experiences and team leadership stressing the significance of collaboration as a key predictor of success in this field. We also examine the impact of large-scale cross-laminated timber (CLT) projects and their role in pushing mass timber into the limelight, thanks to their sustainability and aesthetic appeal.
 
 Looking ahead, the future of mass timber faces an increasing need for skilled professionals in this field. We underscore the importance of leadership and a strong work culture in propelling the industry further. Wrapping up, Chris talks about his future plans and his continuing role as an industry consultant and advocate with his company, The Heavy Timber Group. This is a conversation about growth, challenges, and the future of the mass timber industry.

Connect with Kris here – https://heavytimbergroup.com/

Reach out to him on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/krisspickler/

Looking to expand you mass timber network? Attend the Mass Timber Group Summit in Denver, CO!

Here’s what you need to know about structural hardware and Mass Timber. Max Closen, the president and founder of MTC Solutions, takes us through what MTC Solutions does for the industry. Max's extensive knowledge and passion for the topic make it an incredible resource for AEC professionals working with Mass Timber. 
 
 With over 600 mass timber projects under MTC's belt, including the iconic Spruce Goose hanger, there's no shortage of experience and insights to share. We chat about the rigorous manufacturing and quality control process of mass timber hardware, and the longevity and potential of wood as a modern construction material will amaze you. Last, we address the structural hardware industry's need for standards and certifications in fire performance. Max and his team have exciting plans for a groundbreaking one-year research project addressing the problem.
 
 We finish with a topic Max is an advocate for – making Mass Timber attractive to top AEC talent.  We discuss a variety of resources and events that will help spread the Mass Timber Movement and keep you updated and engaged. 

Find out more about structural hardware applications and options for Mass Timber here > https://mtcsolutions.com/

Connect with Max on LinkedIn here> https://www.linkedin.com/in/max-closen-90380b2b/

Looking to expand you mass timber network? Attend the Mass Timber Group Summit in Denver, CO!

Aaron Gould is the Head of Sustainability for VaproShield – a market leader in protecting mass timber projects from disaster. Their innovative water resistive barriers and air barrier membranes are protecting hundreds of structures around the country. Their systems are market leaders on cost, labor, performance and versatility. 
 
Aaron takes us through the world of moisture management and how VaproShield is perfectly positioned to tackle all things moisture-management.  We explore the grim reality of moisture damage, and how it presents a longer-lasting and more prevalent risk than fire to mass timber structures. But worry not – we also cover the mitigation and protection strategies that take care of those problems before they ever occur. Our conversation also covers VaproShield's collaborations with manufacturers to apply their products in the factory for early protection.
 
To cap off the episode, Aaron discusses the contrasts between North American and European mass timber building environments, underlining the need for protection in all climates. We also take a trip down to hot and humid climates like Miami, Florida where moisture management plays a critical role. They helped pioneer mass timber acceptance in one of the strictest building environments in North America. Aaron’s expert insights and riveting tales from the field make this episode is a must-listen for anyone wanting to protect mass timber projects from disaster. 

If you’re in Colorado on November 9, 2024 – be sure to check out VaproShield’s AIA workshop with Sterling Structural on the benefits of Mass Timber and how to protect it taking place in Golden, Colorado. 

Details here > https://drive.google.com/file/d/1GzJqsegAG1hJhS0mZK0Pi8W-podC6pbz/view?usp=sharing

Connect with Aaron on LinkedIn > https://www.linkedin.com/in/goulda/

Check out VaproShield’s impressive project list on their website > https://vaproshield.com/

Looking to expand you mass timber network? Attend the Mass Timber Group Summit in Denver, CO!

Tye Farrow is the senior partner at Farrow Partners Architecture and is an internationally renowned expert on the intersection of architecture and health. With a Masters of Neuroscience in Applied Architecture and dozens of world-class, mind-blowing projects under his belt – its easy to see why. His projects include hospitals, education centers, and even entire plans for iconic cities like Venice, Italy. And to top it off – Tye just released his thought-leading new book Constructing Health: How the Environment Enhances Mind Health.
 
 We dive deep into Tye's new book and explore how the spaces we design and inhabit, from cities to our homes, significantly impact our mental and physical health. We address the shocking fact that the average North American spends 87% of their life indoors, underscoring the importance of creating positive indoor environments. Tye's insights into how educational settings and workplaces can affect mental health, and the role of materials like mass timber in reducing stress, are critical for anyone interested in creating healthier, more productive spaces.
 
 We don't stop there; Tye enlightens us on how nature, art and complex patterns stimulate our creativity and enhance our well-being. Ever heard of forest bathing, or embreathment? Tye explains these concepts and how they contribute to our health. Last, we discuss how health-generation, or salutogenesis, can revolutionize building design and create high-performance buildings that promote physical and mind health. 

Get a copy of Tye’s book here > https://utorontopress.com/9781487557232/constructing-health/

Connect with Tye on Linked In > https://www.linkedin.com/in/tye-farrow-a1739917/

Visit Farrow Partners Architects > https://farrowpartners.ca/ 

Looking to expand you mass timber network? Attend the Mass Timber Group Summit in Denver, CO!