Mass Timber Today

Episode Summary Jack Keays, an expert fire safety engineer and building code consultant, discusses his journey into the mass timber industry and the integral role of mass timber in his practice. He highlights the sustainability and aesthetic appeal of mass timber, as well as the importance of exposing the structure in design. Keays also addresses the misconceptions around fire safety in mass timbe...

Episode Summary Michael Suljak, Vice President of Strategic Development at Eastern Construction, discusses his journey into the mass timber sector and the benefits and challenges of building with mass timber. He highlights the beauty and satisfaction of working with mass timber, the need for coordination and collaboration among trades, and the importance of early involvement of fabricators and con...

Episode Summary In this episode, Craig Applegath and Ryan Going discuss various aspects of mass timber construction. They explore the longevity of mass timber buildings, highlighting the durability of various natural and engineered materials. Ryan speaks to his role and involvement in the construction of the University of Toronto's innovative Tall Academic Tower. They also delve into the econo...

Episode Summary Jeff Ranson, Director of Responsible Development at Northcrest Developments, discusses his interest in sustainability and how mass timber fits into sustainable building design. He highlights the beauty and form of mass timber as a compelling aspect and its potential for creating good urban density. Ranson describes mass timber in relation to the development goals of the Downsview A...

Episode Summary In this episode, Anne has a conversation with Jean-Marc Dubois, the Director of Business Development at Nordic in the United States. We delve into the significance of a business perspective within the mass timber sector. Jean-Marc shares insights from his unique vantage point at Nordic, shedding light on the company's distinctive stance in the mass timber industry and the demand fo...

Episode Summary Throughout this conversation, Eladia discusses her work in the mass timber sector and highlights the importance of Indigenous design principles. She shares her experience with mass timber projects and highlights how mass timber can tie in with traditional Indigenous building methods. Putting emphasis on the need to bring meaning and cultural awareness into buildings, she discusses...

Episode Summary In this episode, Craig Applegath speaks with Robert Schmitz, who is a partner at White Arkitekter based in Stockholm, Sweden. In this episode, they delve into the embodied carbon advantages of mass timber, exploring how the growing mass timber industry can contribute to reducing environmental impacts across different sectors. They also examine the crucial role timber-focused archit...

Episode Summary In this episode, Anne Koven interviews Carol Phillips, who has extensive experience in designing with various construction materials, with a particular focus on mass timber. They explore the potential environmental impacts of increased mass timber adoption, including the effects on forests. Carol also shares insights from her work on the George Brown's Limberlost Place project,...

Episode Summary In this episode, Craig Applegath speaks with Mark Gaglione, Co-Director of Construction Sciences at EllisDon Construction and a proponent of sustainable mass timber. They discuss the environmental impact of mass timber, strategies to enhance the cost-effectiveness of mass timber construction, and the current challenges hindering the widespread adoption of mass timber, particularly...

Episode Summary: In this episode, our guest is Dr. Jeremy Williams. Jeremy earned a B.Sc. F. from the Faculty of Forestry, University of Toronto, in 1979 and a Ph. D. in Forest Economics from the same institute in 1986. In between the two degrees, he worked with the Sabah (Malaysia) Forest Department as a CUSO volunteer and then later as a consultant to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the...

Episode Summary: In this episode, our guest is Patrick Crabbe. Patrick is the Director of Mass Timber at Bird Construction – Bird is a publicly traded, commercial and industrial conglomerate, recognized as a top 5 General Contractor (GC) in Canada. Patrick is also the leader of a Mass Timber Manufacturing start-up, based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. MTC is a sawmill integrated, glulam focused entity,...

Episode Summary: In this episode, Craig Applegath has a conversation with Franco Piva. Franco is known as the Italian Timber Engineer and Founder of engineering company Ergodomus. His focus lies in sustainable timber projects around the world. Craig and Franco discuss the sustainability of mass timber as well as key challenges currently preventing the global adoption of mass timber. They also cove...

Episode Summary: In this episode, our host, Anne Koven speaks with Lacey Rose with the County of Renfrew in Ontario, Canada. Lacey is a Registered Professional Forester with the province of Ontario. In this episode, we investigate where the wood used in mass timber comes from in Canada, and how Lacey plays a part in ensuring this wood supply is sustainable, and what sustainable forestry really mea...

Episode Summary: In this episode, Anne Koven speaks with Alan Organschi. Alan is a Design Principal and partner at Gray Organschi Architecture in New Haven, Connecticut that is recognized internationally for its integration of design, construction, and environmental research. He is also the Director of the Innovation Lab at Bauhaus Erde. Anne and Alan discuss his current work at Bauhaus Erde as we...

About Mass Timber Today The Mass Timber Today Podcast was created by the Mass Timber Institute at the University of Toronto's John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design. This podcast series will explore the opportunities and challenges of sustainable mass timber construction. You can expect one on one interviews conducted by our hosts, Dr. Anne Koven and Craig Applegath. An...

About Mass Timber Today The Mass Timber Today Podcast was created by the Mass Timber Institute at the University of Toronto's John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design. This podcast series will explore the opportunities and challenges of sustainable mass timber construction. You can expect one on one interviews conducted by our hosts, Dr. Anne Koven and Craig Applegath. An...