Mass Timber: The Sustainable Solution for the Design Industry

Delivering sustainability and structural benefits, mass timber is an emerging building material that is revolutionizing the construction industry. Made from layered wood products that are bound together into large panels and beams, mass timber can be used to construct mid- and high-rise buildings up to 18 stories tall. As the mass timber industry continues to grow, knowledge sharing around best design and construction practices is critical.

This episode of the Gensler Design Exchange podcast features insights from leaders who are at the forefront of exploring mass timber design and construction. Guests include Gensler architects Erik Barth and Taylor Coleman, who share their experience designing some of the earliest mass timber projects in the U.S., as well as engineer Ian Boyle, of Fast + Epp, who discusses structural considerations and opportunities, and Erica Spiritos, of Timberlab, who explains mass timber fabrication.

Listeners will learn about significant differences in designing with mass timber compared to other building materials, gain tips for developers considering mass timber construction, and discover opportunities for its application across various regions and markets. The podcast also considers the vast potential of mass timber to advance sustainability in the built environment.

Top 5 Takeaways

1. Engage key players like engineers and manufacturers early in the design process.
2. Consider mass timber’s cost competitiveness due to reduced construction timelines.
3. Design mass timber buildings to highlight the material, rather than hiding it.
4. Consider mass timber’s sustainability benefits from using a renewable local resource.
5. Mass timber is well-suited for areas with high construction labor costs or challenging soil or seismic conditions.