WoodWorks at the AIA Conference 2024

Type III Construction: Exterior Walls- Designing & Detailing for Code Acceptance

Presenters: Bruce Lindsey and Taylor Landry, WoodWorks

With the growth in mid-rise wood-frame buildings, more designers are seeking information on code-compliant and constructible detailing. Many are unsure of the code’s requirements for details, specifically at the intersection of rated assemblies and where structure and fire protection meet.

Untangling this issue is the goal of this presentation. Join us for a review of mid-rise wood-frame opportunities unique to type III construction. Plus, take a deep dive into detailing code requirements, code compliance, and rationale for approval with an emphasis on constructability and practicality.

Design Strategies for Deaf and Hard of Hearing

Presenter: Brendan Connolly, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, Mithun

Learn about an exciting project at the intersection of architecture and accessibility. This session will highlight the design strategies behind the Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Youth in Vancouver, Washington, where designers followed DeafSpace principles as part of a deaf-led design process.

This case study presentation will detail how an exposed wood structure enhances the sustainability, accessibility, and inclusivity of the center, including ADA-compliant and barrier-free design. The biophilic benefits of wood help frame strategies for visual aids and wayfinding, while the acoustic vibrations extend occupants’ sensory reach.

Don’t miss this enlightening session on designing inspiring, safe, and inclusive learning environments

Designing Low Embodied Carbon Buildings: The Benefits of Wood

Presenters: John O’Donald, WoodWorks and Adam Slivers, Holmes

The urgency to reduce global carbon dioxide emissions—a significant portion of which can be attributed to embodied carbon generated from the built environment—grows every day. Building designers are uniquely positioned to effect positive change. While this prospect poses an enormous challenge, progress is possible.

This presentation will explore the carbon benefits of wood as a structural material and the use of whole building life cycle assessment (WBLCA) to compare various structural options. Plus, the speakers will review WBLCA recently undertaken to compare the carbon impacts of a mass timber building to alternative designs, demonstrating wood’s effectiveness as part of a carbon-reduction strategy.

Up@310 Lofts: Urban Revitalization and Vertical Addition with Mass Timber

Presenter: Randall Walter, Lignin Group

Located near Keene, New Hampshire’s business growth and reuse district, Up@310 Lofts is revitalizing an existing building while sustainably adding density and value to the neighborhood.

The project, a three-story vertical addition on top of an existing two-story industrial building, will create 57 new apartments. The vertical addition is framed with mass timber structural systems, chosen for their sustainability and lighter weight. Additionally, prefabricated bathroom pods and off-site construction of the wood-framed enclosure streamline the building process.

Join us for this session to meet the developer, who will share the unique challenges a vertical addition creates and what lessons have been learned throughout the process.

Using Wood to Craft Award-Winning Projects: Case Studies and Lessons Learned

Presenter: Taylor Landry, WoodWorks and a panel of 4 awardees of the 2024 Wood in Architecture Awards

Join us for an insightful presentation showcasing a series of award-winning wood and timber-based projects, each exemplifying the sustainable benefits of utilizing wood in construction. Through an exploration of case studies, project team members will delve into the rationale behind selecting wood as the primary building material, examining its environmental advantages and aesthetic appeal. Design innovation typically comes through iteration, and these projects are no exception. They will share unique challenges faced and the lessons learned throughout each project’s lifecycle. Participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of the sustainable attributes of wood in construction, the criteria for selecting wood as a material, and the practical insights into successful implementation gleaned from real-world examples.

Unlocking the Social Benefits of Mass Timber in Architecture

Presenter: Chandra Robinson, LEVER Architecture

In this enlightening session, Chandra Robinson of LEVER Architecture will highlight the environmental and social benefits of mass timber construction.

Join us for an insider’s look at how LEVER’s projects create achievable definitions of sustainable design, advance sustainable wood procurement, and produce systems to advance social, economic, and environmental equity. Through case studies and discussions of practical strategies, you’ll gain valuable insights into sustainable, community-focused designs. Plus, you’ll discover the transformative power of mass timber in developing innovative, inclusive, and sustainably resilient spaces.

You’ll leave the session empowered to craft impactful, people-centric environments that inspire and uplift communities.

Detailing Strategies for Acoustic Performance in Mass Timber Structures

Presenters: Simon Edwards, HGC Noise Vibration Acoustics and John Mitchell, Hartshorne Plunkard Architecture

Designing mass timber buildings for optimal acoustic performance is critical to their success. This presentation will cover relevant code considerations and design standards and review the unique challenges related to sound control in mass timber structures.

Now that many mass timber structures have been built, several proven methods for addressing acoustics have emerged. Research and testing, meanwhile, have provided further insight into alternate design strategies. In this session, experts will report on the results of this testing, detail strategies and practical design techniques, and share tools to enable the design of high-performing, code-compliant acoustic assemblies.

High-Performing Enclosures: Methodology and Detailing

Presenter: Colin Shane, RDH Building Science

A building’s enclosure system must be designed to resist environmental loads that include moisture, heat, and air, as well as structural loads such as wind and seismic. Designers must also consider light, acoustics, fire safety, and code requirements. Through a combination of building science and current research, this presentation will explore best practices for designing durable, energy-efficient enclosures using traditional light-frame wood construction, answering questions such as: How effective are conventional methods? Can they meet current energy code requirements? How do designers ensure quality control? Discussion will also include methods for maintaining control-layer continuity and effectively managing air flow, condensation, vapor diffusion, and water penetration.