Learn how creative design is bringing down the cost of mass timber buildings and making the material work in dramatic and unconventional structures.

In this episode, hosts Paul Becker and Kristina Rodgers talk with Eli Gottlieb about how mass timber is shifting from a niche material to a mainstream building system. Successful timber projects require early planning around layout, spans, orientation, and standard panel dimensions to optimize material efficiency and erection speed. Close attention to these issues reduces the cost of mass timber buildings.

The conversation also explores timber’s potential for dramatic architectural forms and unconventional uses, such as pavilion roofs and bridges. These ambitious designs succeed when teams standardize where possible and collaborate closely with fabricators on connections and detailing.

Eli uses real-world examples to illuminate the conversation, including Princeton University’s Hobson College, the Samuel H. Scripps Theater Center at Hudson Valley Shakespeare, and the High Line Moynihan Connector bridge.