Thornton Tomasetti Here’s How

Thornton Tomasetti

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Join experts in engineering, science, and technology for conversations about how to make the built environment – and the world – better for everyone. In Season Two, Mainstreaming Mass Timber, we talk with innovators who are pushing the limits of mass timber about the ways new technologies and creative design are making mass timber viable for more projects than ever before.

4D AGO

S2. Ep. 03: Mass Timber for Simpler Low-Rise Residential | Mass Timber Podcast

In this episode, hosts Paul Becker and Kristina Rogers talk with Chris Williams about how hybrid mass timber systems are emerging as a practical solution for low-rise residential construction, particularly in markets already reliant on light-frame wood buildings. Rather than fully replacing traditional systems, mass timber is introduced strategically in elements such as floor slabs and shafts. This approach creates a flexible entry point for developers looking to adopt mass timber without fully committing to all-timber structures. And low-rise structures can take advantage of IBC Type 3 and Type 5 code requirements, which are simpler and less costly to achieve than Type 4 construction.* Two projects, the Mayflower Hill Residence Hall at Colby College and Goldfinch Lofts, an affordable housing development in Des Moines, Iowa, illustrate the discussion. Chris highlights how prefabrication of mass-timber components off-site is enabling faster on-site assembly with smaller crews. But this shift requires strong up-front coordination, particularly for MEP systems. Early collaboration and detailed planning become critical to fully realize the benefits of speed and efficiency. The conversation also explores the benefits of having the structural engineer take on the role of special inspector during construction. The episode examines how mass timber can address broader industry challenges, including labor shortages and the need to accelerate housing delivery. As adoption grows, hybrid systems offer a scalable model for both affordable and market-rate housing. * In the International Building Code (IBC), mass timber (or “heavy timber”) is categorized as Type 4 construction. Type 3 (“ordinary”) combines noncombustible exterior walls with combustible interior elements. Type 5 (“wood-frame”) uses conventional light-wood studs and joists with plywood sheathing.

19 min
APR 28

S2. Ep. 02: Best Practices for Developer-Led Mass Timber Projects

In this episode, hosts Paul Becker and Kristina Rogers talk with Alejandro Fernandez about how the role of the engineer has evolved into a true strategic partnership within developer-led mass timber projects. When engaged at the earliest stages, experienced engineers can prevent complications by sharing effective approaches to schedule, accurate early pricing, insurance strategy, and permitting pathways. They can also help shape project teams and guide decision-making around delivery methods. This early collaboration ensures that all stakeholders are committed to designing for mass timber from the outset. A major focus is placed on how close coordination among all team members directly impacts project feasibility and cost. Open communication and collaboration among architects, engineers, manufacturers, erectors, and contractors early on can identify cost drivers, enabling the team to optimize the design to lower costs. The episode explores strategies for working with jurisdictions to facilitate approvals for code variances, using the real-world example of Ascent. It also covers ways in which the use of mass timber reduces construction costs, offsetting the cost of the material itself.

20 min
SEASON 2 TRAILER

S2. Ep. 00: Season 2 Trailer: Mainstreaming Mass Timber Out Now!

Interested in designing or building with mass timber but unsure where to start or if it’s right for your project? This podcast provides practical information on how to efficiently and cost-effectively integrate mass timber into projects of every size and type. Owners, developers, architects, and engineers will learn how to overcome concerns about cost, code compliance, insurance issues, fire safety, acoustic and vibration challenges, and more. Hosts Paul Becker and Kristina Rodgers talk with experts in mass timber analysis, design, and construction to uncover effective strategies, best practices, and lessons learned from a large portfolio of projects. They discuss ways the advantages of mass timber – sustainability, low embodied carbon, biophilic benefits, construction efficiency, and circularity – can be successfully incorporated into a widening array of projects, including commercial buildings, high- and low-rise residential, healthcare and labs, academic buildings, data centers, cultural and arts centers, sports and recreation, aviation facilities, and bridges and transportation infrastructure.

19 sec
APR 21

S2. Ep. 01: Pushing the Limits of Mass Timber

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.

19 min
TRAILER

Thornton Tomasetti Here's How Trailer

Join experts in engineering, science, and technology for conversations about how to make the built environment – and the world – better for everyone. In Season Two, Mainstreaming Mass Timber, we talk with innovators who are pushing the limits of mass timber about the ways new technologies and creative design are making mass timber viable for more projects than ever before.

15 sec
11/12/2024

S1. Ep. 16. 12 Minutes on Climate Action in Engineering

In the final episode of the first season, host Amy Hattan speaks with Scott Schneider, Senior Principal and co-leader of Thornton Tomasetti’s Structural Engineering practice, about the role of engineers in meeting the climate-change crisis by making smart, integrated design decisions early in the process. They discuss Scott’s motivations for taking the lead on the firm’s efforts to reduce embodied carbon in all the projects we design. The episode also explores wider AEC-industry opportunities for reducing the negative impacts of buildings on the environment.

13 min
11/05/2024

S1. Ep. 15. 13 Minutes on Ethical Decarbonization

In this episode, host Amy Hattan talks with Bridget Kane and Lisa Bolle, leaders of Thornton Tomasetti’s ethical decarbonization working group. Together, they explore how the construction industry can reduce embodied carbon while also addressing labor ethics in material supply chains. They discuss how the manual, labor-intensive manufacturing of materials like solar panels is prone to labor violations, often hidden deep within supply chains. They also review challenges in tracking these risks and emphasize the need for tools like SourceMap to visualize supply chain ethics. Bridget and Lisa also point out that everyone in the AEC industry has a role in building a sustainable, ethical future through solutions such as using vetted materials lists and supporting initiatives like Design for Freedom to push industry-wide change.

14 min
10/22/2024

S1. Ep. 14. 15 Minutes on The Structural Engineer’s Influence

In this episode, host Amy Hattan talks with Jackson Pitofsky, a structural engineer in Thornton Tomasetti’s Denver office, and co-leader of the firm’s embodied-carbon community of practice assessments working group. Jackson shares practical strategies structural engineers can use to dramatically reduce embodied carbon in the buildings they design. He discusses the impacts of structural system selection and “optioneering” – comparing different systems like steel, concrete, and mass timber material optimization – as well as the importance of specifying low-carbon materials, including cement replacements, and using environmental product declarations (EPDs) to verify embodied-carbon reductions. The conversation covers the importance of collaboration with clients, architects, and contractors for setting clear targets and meeting carbon reduction goals.

14 min

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5

out of 5

2 Ratings

Join experts in engineering, science, and technology for conversations about how to make the built environment – and the world – better for everyone. In Season Two, Mainstreaming Mass Timber, we talk with innovators who are pushing the limits of mass timber about the ways new technologies and creative design are making mass timber viable for more projects than ever before.

Creator

Thornton Tomasetti
Years Active

2024 - 2026
Episodes

22
Rating

Clean
Show Website

Thornton Tomasetti Here’s How

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Daily News

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Thornton Tomasetti Here’s How

S2. Ep. 03: Mass Timber for Simpler Low-Rise Residential | Mass Timber Podcast

S2. Ep. 02: Best Practices for Developer-Led Mass Timber Projects

S2. Ep. 00: Season 2 Trailer: Mainstreaming Mass Timber Out Now!

S2. Ep. 01: Pushing the Limits of Mass Timber