Moving the Masses toward Timber Construction

As members of the AEC industry, it is our responsibility to understand and champion low embodied-carbon building materials. Concurrently, mass timber products such as cross-laminated timber have opened the door to many new opportunities for construction. In January 2019, the International Code Council (ICC) approved a set of proposals to allow tall wood buildings, and the intent of this session is to give attendees the ammunition they need to advocate for mass timber in low-rise to tall structures, navigate codes and standards, and inspire interest/ support from clients, contractors, permitting and approval agencies, community members and beyond. We will hear from four industry experts - a contractor, a structural engineer, a tall wood expert, and a sustainability professional.

Session Chair(s): 

Event Time: 

Thursday, September 24, 2020 - 10:30am to 12:00pm

Experience Level: 

2 (some prior experience/knowledge helpful)

CEU Information: 

AIA 1.5 LU/HSW
BPI 1.5 hours
GBCI BD+C, ID+C 1.5 hours

Learning Objectives:

  • Understand the benefits and potential uses of mass timber for high performance buildings
  • Compare the environmental impact of mass timber construction as opposed to traditional concrete or steel, and understand the principles of procurement to harvest this resource sustainably
  • Discuss the barriers to mass timber construction on the East Coast and the tactics to overcome them
  • Identify key stakeholders, organizations, and commitments which others have taken on to encourage the development of sustainable mass timber applications in the region

Session ID: 

NYC20-102