WoodSolutions Timber Talks

This is the final episode of Timber Talks with Adam as host. And its a special final episode with Alastair Woodard who is an industry legend and early mentor of Adam's to bring him into the timber industry. We learn about the past & future of the initiatives that have driven the industry forward. People like Alastair are unsung heroes where when they finally decide to retire, we'll take for grante...

Starting and scaling a mass timber factory is no small feat. For Timberlink and NeXTimber, Jeremy Church has been there from the beginning, driving their mission to reshape the construction industry with sustainable solutions. In this episode, Jeremy shares what it takes to make a timber project truly successful—from the nuances of design collaboration to the inner workings of a high-performance f...

As EWPs in emerging mid-rise markets are maturing, standardised practices are developing. With every year, new learnings are accumulating in the industry. Robbie Svars has 10 years experience and was one of the earliest adopted in Australia. In this episode we talk about the levers to pull in search of cost neutrality & common sense to achieve project objectives. Sometimes a minor change can have...

Over the last few decades there has been meaningful change in the design of timber buildings. There are always a few early adopters in each region who are major contributors to the change and Damian Hadley and his team at Cantilever are amongst them. In this episode we have a wide ranging conversation with Damian about the evolution of the industry, sustainability, optimisation & so much more!  

Nick Hewson has been involved for over a decade in mass timber projects. The challenges have evolved over the years and the industry has come along way. The focus now moves onto moisture during construction as one of the priorities for derisking projects. In this episode we learn from Nick from his decade of experience and how to make projects successful .  

Chris Wood is a GM at StandStruct and one of the most experienced influencer installers of timber buildings globally. In this episode we learn from the range of projects that he's been part of. We discuss the things that have made projects successful, but also the things that make a project the occasional disaster. Woody is an industry legend with a lot to learn from!  

In this episode, we're joined by Kevin Peachy to discuss the future direction of WoodSolutions and their strategic plan.   Kevin introduces himself and his role, then explains what WoodSolutions is and its vision. He outlines the major changes in the new strategic plan compared to previous directions, highlighting the goals and aspirations for the future.   We explore the biggest opportunities and...

We're in a time of rapid innovation in urban development, driven by the need for sustainable use of space. Today, we're chatting with Kelly Harrison from Whitby Wood.   Kelly introduces herself and her role, then delves into the Optoppen Project's mission to transform urban spaces using rooftop extensions. She highlights the benefits of building extensions, such as space optimization and energy ef...

In this episode, we're joined by Franco Piva to discuss advanced Building Information Modeling (BIM) and its importance in mass timber projects.   Franco introduces himself and his role in the timber industry. He explains advanced BIM management, highlighting the difference between effective and poor practices. Franco discusses who ensures proper BIM management and the roles of suppliers and engin...

One of the key processes of designing safe & efficient timber buildings is the structural modelling process. However, this does require deep understanding & expertise in order to execute effectively. Timber is a material with very different characteristics to concrete and steel. And in this episode, we're speaking with a world leading expert on this topic Zhiyong Chen, Senior Scientist at FPInnova...

We're experiencing a time of fast innovation and growth in the timber industry, driven by the megatrend of decarbonization. Today, we're lucky to be speaking with Dean Lewis, Director of Mass Timber From Skanska.   In this episode, we explore the potential of a mass timber program, discuss key conversations needed at the start of projects, and discuss the most exciting developments in mass timber...

In this episode, we dive into the intricacies of insuring mass timber projects with Michael Hastings from M.D. Hastings Risk Consulting. Michael provides valuable insights into how the insurance market operates , the current availability of insurers for mass timber buildings, and the unique challenges that these innovative structures present in terms of insurance. He offers practical advice on ach...

As mass timber continues to innovate the construction industry, it brings both challenges and groundbreaking advancements. In this episode, I sit down with Meike Engel and Ornagh Higgins from Aspect Structural Engineers. They share their extensive experience with tall mass timber projects, discussing key lessons learned, optimal building systems, and the integration of mass timber with concrete an...

We're experiencing a time of fast innovation & growth in the timber industry on the back of the megatrend of decarbonisation . There has never been a better time to act like an entrepreneur to make the change that you might be looking to see. Today we're lucky to be speaking with Tim Seims , a Global Innovation L e a d e r & G o T o Market Strategy specialist. In this episode we speak about fertil...

As timber products enter new markets, there are naturally going to be moments with teething pains alongside moments of innovation that the world hasn't seen before. S i n c e 2 0 14 when Andrew Waugh and the project team drove Stadthaus , the world's first mid-rise mass timb er building that unlocked the new market we know today. Since then, there has been a variety of hurdles that have popped the...

Timber is a material that can meet some of the emerging trends in construction; including offsite manufacturing, productization and sustainability. Some people & companies around the world are on the bleeding edge of driving this change to make the future a reality. In this episode, we're lucky to be speaking to Lucas Epp Vice President at Structurecraft . In this episode we discuss the importance...

There are pioneers on the cutting edge pushing the boundaries of what's possible in timber design. And luckily today we're speaking to Robert Jackson a Partner at Fast + Epp, a company pioneering the field of timber construction. In this episode we discuss a range of projects that he 's been in previously, the prospects of the post & plate system and finally a 10 storey commercial office in a seis...

Mass timber buildings are  maturing fast as a viable option for new projects. In Australia there is a small group of people who have been getting their hands dirty for a while now; Andy Knight (Construction Manager) and the team at Brother Nature are some of them. In this episode, we chat to Andy about some of the scars and lessons he's had since the start of the journey and also speak about the k...

In this episode of Timber Talks we're priviliged to be speaking with Christoph Kulterer CEO of Hasslacher Timber. Christoph is a seasoned CEO in the industry and iinvestment decisions over his career a big reason the mass timber market is what it is today. We discuss his thoughts & philosophies on leadership, the role of technological innovation going forward and what the fu ture holds for the ind...

Acoustics design is often considered the dark arts of mass timber design. Most importantly, the acoustic solution can be the governing factor for designs and the differentiator for what an overall cost effective solution might be. In this episode we're chatting with Aedan Callaghan about the design principals for acoustic design, how to determine acoustic performance and of course the unfolding fu...

In today's podcast, we're joined by Ashley Cagle, a seasoned structural engineer and Technical Director at Woodworks, specializing in biogenic carbon and sustainability. Ashley sheds light on the transformation of the U.S. landscape for mass timber, focusing on pivotal code evolutions and the conversation encompassing the sustainability of timber. Through candid discussions, we confront pressing e...

Today we're speaking with  Fabia Baumann from Henning Larsen Architects. Fabia shares her unique perspective on the synergy between these two disciplines, especially in the context of Europe's heterogeneous architectural landscape. We explore the evolution of design practices, tackle the bottlenecks facing designers, and delve into the nuances of measuring sustainability in construction. Fabia als...

In this episode we speak with Marjan Popovski the Lead Scientist At FP Innovations. Marjan, has been a major driver of some of the major developments in research over the last few years. Subsequently the industry is moving forward based on the hard work of the senior leaders like Marjan. In this episode, we speak about the most exciting research, codes and standards and finally where things are mo...

In today's episode, we're joined by Marco Huter of KLH to discuss the evolution of mass timber. Marco shares his background and dives into his proudest project, revealing insights into KLH's global reach. He addresses the challenges in mass timber adoption, the sustainability of feedstock with rising demand, and principles for efficient mass timber design. Listen in as we explore the changing land...

In this episode we speak with Karl-Heinz Weiss from Weiss Insights, where we delve into the past, present, and future of mass timber. Karl-Heinz, a veteran in the field, shares his extensive knowledge and predictions in this comprehensive discussion.   Historical Evolution and Principles: Discover the journey of mass timber, from its early days to modern advancements. Karl-Heinz shares his persona...