Heavy timber construction is widely admired for its warmth, craftsmanship, and strong architectural presence. But beyond aesthetics, designing a successful timber frame building requires a solid understanding of how it performs structurally. Timber behaves differently from steel or concrete, and its performance is shaped by a clear set of structural…
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For years, designers and developers have celebrated mass timber for its sustainability, warmth, and beauty. Its natural appeal is undeniable, but now other qualities, along with a convergence of outside forces, are driving a rapid acceleration of mass timber construction across the United States. To better understand what’s fueling this momentum…
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Recent research into timber-concrete composite (TCC) systems highlights their growing potential for sustainable, high-performance structures. In a study by the University of Santiago de Compostela in Spain, a simply supported beam was compared with a frame-connected TCC beam, with both beams measuring 370 millimeters (1.2 feet) wide and testing…
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Europe has become a testing ground for innovative mass timber architecture, driven by policy, public support for sustainability, and a cultural shift toward renewable materials. For builders in the United States, these high-rise projects offer valuable technical lessons and design inspiration, demonstrating how hardwoods and engineered wood composites…
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Mass timber is increasingly popular in commercial architecture, and now healthcare and educational buildings are poised to embrace it in meaningful ways. Regulatory Shifts Unlock Possibilities The 2024 International Building Code (IBC) introduced new commercial construction types — IV-A, IV-B, and IV-C — that allow mass timber structures…
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Evaluating and approving a property’s drainage, topography, environmental conditions, and code compliance spurs a building project forward in earnest. For a timber frame build, additional requirements should be considered early in the planning process to ensure structural integrity as well as performance and durability for years to come. As…
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Even though mass timber construction was introduced in the 1990s, misconceptions about it persist, sometimes even among experienced builders, architects, and developers. Their uncertainty about mass timber’s strength, fire resistance, and cost can make them hesitant to consider the material for their projects. Here, we’ll explore some of the…
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In the years since the pandemic kept us all home and isolated, demand for outdoor living spaces has grown dramatically. Homeowners and developers alike are looking to counteract that sense of confinement with environments that extend daily life with outdoor living rooms, kitchens, fireplaces, bars, and entertainment systems. For architects,…
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There’s a new tool in timber’s toolbox, one that promises to revolutionize the efficiencies of the industry and produce astounding works of machine-assisted architecture. With the help of artificial intelligence, the heavy timber AEC industry is on the precipice of the extraordinary: computer-aided design that includes machine learning and…
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The benefits of building with heavy timber and mass timber (such as cross-laminated timber or glued laminated timber) for residential purposes are well-known, from biophilic advantages to sustainability and durability. These benefits are also present in commercial builds that use timber, but there are even more that might not be evident at first…
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