The Mass Timber Podcast: Explore Mass Timber industry conversations

Attend the Mass Timber Group Summit: https://www.masstimber.group/summit Mass timber needs steel, and steel needs mass timber. This episode is a panel on hybrid mass timber construction: where CLT, glulam, and cold-formed steel contribute to industry growth, and why hybrid systems are how mass timber scales in North America. It covers what actually drives cost in a mass timber building, how to con...

Mass timber projects don't succeed because of one company, but entire ecosystems.  Most of us working in mass timber design it, engineer it, or build it. A few are inventing the products that will take it to the next level.  Zenon Radewych is one of them. He's a principal at WZMH Architects, a 65-year-old firm based in Toronto, and the person behind sparkbird, the R&D lab WZMH built...

Hybrid mass timber is often the smarter structural choice. But it comes with a trade-off most teams just accept. The exposed steel beam, the ductwork overhead, a finished building that doesn't quite look like the one we had in mind.  Mike Lipke is the president and owner of Torzo Surfaces, the only U.S. manufacturer of Thin CLT panels. Thin sheets of cross laminated timber, available in almos...

Mass timber projects don’t succeed because of one company, but entire ecosystems. Office buildings in major U.S. metros are sitting at roughly 20% vacancy. Data centers? Less than 1%. The U.S. is building data centers at a pace the construction industry has never seen, and for the mass timber world, that's a real opportunity. Erik Barth is a Senior Associate at Gensler in Boston, where he lea...

Mass timber projects don’t succeed because of one company, but entire ecosystems. Erich Roden retired as a Deputy Chief of the Milwaukee Fire Department after 34 years and now runs Murphy Roden Group. He served on the UL Fire Safety Research Institute and the Wisconsin Mass Timber Task Force that built the variance pathway for the Ascent. Mason Brandt is President and Principal Engineer of WoodCor...

Want to know who’s actually building the mass timber industry? We have a housing problem. The upstream cause isn't zoning or interest rates. It's that we still build essentially the same way we did sixty years ago. This week's episode is with OD Krieg, co-founder of Intelligent City, the company behind the largest prefabricated mass timber residential project in North America. He&ap...

Construction is the only major industry whose productivity has gone backwards since 1965. The houses we're building show it. Short lifespans, high energy bills, and a workforce being pushed out of the trade. This episode lays out why that happened and what it looks like to do it differently. Kyle Hanson is the Founder and CEO of Timber Age Systems, a vertically integrated CLT manufacturer bas...

Most mass timber conversations focus on the structure. That’s the easy part. It's everything at the edges, where the timber meets the facade, where the floor meets the wall, where the warm inside meets the cold outside, that determines whether a building lasts 20 years or 200. Chris is a structural engineer and senior design principal of StudioNYL, a Lerch Bates company.  He's worked on...

Learn from real mass timber projects and industry leaders.  Join our Newsletter: https://www.masstimber.group/newsletter-youtube Budgets are tight. The client wants exposed wood. And somewhere around 90% DD, someone asks if you can just swap the steel grid for timber. Mason Brandt has seen that question blow up more than one project. Mason is the president of Woodcore Engineering out of Lancaster,...

Mass timber evolves through global conversations. But, those ideas move through people who've worked across the entire system from end to end. Sebastian Bildau is one of those people. Nearly two decades of experience. Multiple continents. Projects spanning ecological land remediation, affordable housing, robotic prefabrication, government offices, and bamboo towers. Connect with Sebastian Fin...

Download the Mass Timber DfMA Process Diagram: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1kIDk7Alphz1wHhE6HQrZyFwXp_AkegYv/view?usp=drive_link Ever watched a mass timber budget skyrocket because a minor grid shift triggered endless rework? How about the chaotic site logistics that arise when erection sequence isn’t dialed in? Early collaboration on DfMA strategies sets the tempo for smooth site coordination...

Massive beams and columns are creating opportunities where mass timber can handle loads once reserved for concrete or steel—while also delivering measurable time and labor savings. Corey Hokanson, the systems wizard and design manager with SmartLam North America shares how automated layups, fully integrated CNC cutting, and smart logistics make these supersized elements viable.  From 24-inch by 48...

What to consider when planning a mass timber building — fire, acoustics, spans, hybrids, and more. Join our newsletter to get the resource. What if the secret to efficient, cost-effective mass timber construction lies not just in the material, but in the mind of the engineer? See how integrating precision detailing and early collaboration can transform mass timber projects, ensuring they meet crit...

Download the Prefab Design Process Guide by joining our newsletter — a practical framework for architects, developers, and builders ready to make prefab work. How can the East Coast unlock its potential for mass timber construction, and what strategies can developers use to navigate the unique regulatory landscape? Kristin Slavin of Conifer Advising dives into the cultural and business differences...

Download the Mass Timber Architect Checklist & Comparative Metrics Guide by joining our newsletter here. Mass timber isn’t just about lowering carbon footprints — it’s about making smarter business decisions. In this interview, Scott Charney of Quality Buildings shares how his team has used mass timber to reduce foundation costs on difficult sites, streamline logistics with smaller, faster cre...

How can industrialized construction tackle the persistent labor shortages in the mass timber industry, and what pivotal role does mass timber play in boosting construction efficiency? Join Fouad Khalil, founder of Modly, as he delves into innovative strategies for integrating mass timber with industrialized practices, emphasizes the critical importance of pre-planning and BIM, and explores the fut...

Download The Mass Timber Decision Guide to see the proven strategies Sterling Structural and Michaela use to deliver faster, smarter projects Sterling Structural’s VP of Mass Timber, Michaela Harms, breaks down a productized approach to CLT: standardized 14/16/18-ft modules, lighter cranes, fewer wide loads, and repeatable details that speed up installs. We dig into turnkey CLT shaft walls (a CMU...

What premium do we have to pay for a mass timber warehouse, and how does mass timber address the real design and cost challenges in industrial construction? Discover how industry leaders Kyle Freres and John Bradford are transforming the landscape of industrial buildings with innovative mass timber solutions. From real-world case studies to insights on faster construction and lower carbon footprin...

Did you know that life cycle assessments might be overlooking a crucial aspect of mass timber's carbon footprint? How can architects accurately account for hidden carbon emissions to make smarter, more sustainable building choices? See how Varun Kohli and his team at Corgan are changing the way we evaluate the true impact of mass timber with innovative tools like the new Mass Timber Carbon Ca...

Ever struggled with unwanted noise in your timber buildings or wondered how recycled materials can enhance acoustic performance? Discover how Aedan Callaghan from Pliteq is revolutionizing sound solutions in mass timber construction. Learn about the challenges of acoustics in modern buildings, innovative approaches to minimize vibration and noise, and how sustainable practices are shaping the futu...

Are vacant office buildings in New York, Washington DC, Chicago, and San Francisco the future hotspots for innovative hospitality and sustainable living? How can prefab and mass timber technologies breathe new life into these iconic structures, turning them into vibrant hotels and residences with unmatched speed and efficiency? Dive into Arthroado's groundbreaking approach to adaptive reuse,...

Mass Timber Group Summit Are you curious about how innovative developers are leveraging mass timber construction and making sustainable living more accessible? How can alternative financing models democratize real estate investment and drive the future of eco-friendly buildings? Dive into this insightful conversation with Nate Helbach, founder and CEO of Neutral, as he shares groundbreaking strate...

What strategies can architects use to design buildings that are truly sustainable in both structure and energy use? How does mass timber play a crucial role in achieving net zero performance? Join Peter Ewers of Ewers Architecture as he delves into his innovative approach with the Foothills Unitarian Church project, debunking misconceptions about mass timber costs and exploring effective energy st...

How are leading architects like Ryan McClanaghan from DIALOG revolutionizing mass timber construction, and what innovative solutions are being implemented to tackle seismic challenges in high-rise buildings? Explore the journey of designing The Hive, one of North America's most ambitious mass timber structures, and gain valuable insights into the future of sustainable architecture in the AEC...

How can sourcing the right mass timber products streamline your construction projects and ensure top performance? What strategies do industry leaders use to coordinate between architects, engineers, and suppliers effectively? 🔴 Subscribe for more Mass Timber expert interviews Share this episode with an AEC friend Get Mass Timber Industry Updates & More Visit Lam-Wood Systems' Website Con...