Early Design Decisions for Mass Timber Success

Regional Online Seminar (CA-South, AZ, NM)

Mass timber is a unique, non-commodity building material and, to lay the groundwork for success, certain critical decisions must be made as early as possible. These decisions can have a big impact on cost and can either increase or limit opportunities later in design. There are many cases of project teams that want to realize the full benefits of mass timber, but, because they base their designs on traditional building practices instead of optimizing them for mass timber, end up with avoidable price premiums. This presentation will walk through early project decisions and design steps, focusing on how to optimize projects for mass timber and how one early decision can influence others. Topics will include construction types, fire ratings, column grids and beam/panel spans, acoustics and MEP integration. Completed mass timber projects will be used to illustrate the variety of viable options when navigating these key decisions.

Credits: Attendees can earn 1.0 AIA/CE HSW LU, 1.0 PDH credit or 0.10 ICC credit

Speaker:

Hamid Kaboli, PhD, PE | WoodWorks

Hamid is a licensed professional engineer in California and holds a Ph.D. in Building Construction and Technology, from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, along with degrees in architecture and engineering. His work centers on sustainable design, seismic resilience, and code-compliant solutions for commercial and multi-family buildings, and includes experience in project management, research, and close collaboration with AHJs, developers, and design teams to integrate wood and mass timber into modern construction. Outside of work, Hamid enjoys woodworking, exploring nature, and traveling to learn about new cultures, which fuels his passion for sustainable building and innovative design solutions.

Online Attendees:

• WoodWorks will send each attendee a certificate of completion within 2 weeks via email.
• Please note that to receive a certificate, attendees must stay for the duration of the event.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify the International Building Code construction types that permit mass timber and evaluate how early decisions regarding construction type, fire-resistance ratings, structural grids, and member spans influence code compliance, project cost, and constructability.
• Explain strategies for integrating structural systems, MEP services, acoustics, and connection detailing in mass timber buildings to satisfy performance, fire-resistance, and occupant comfort requirements while supporting future building flexibility.
• Describe construction sequencing, installation practices, and multidisciplinary coordination techniques that contribute to the safe, efficient, and successful execution of mass timber projects.
• Evaluate how the design and construction strategies implemented in Saddleback College’s mass timber campus addition addressed structural, fire, architectural, and constructability challenges.

For questions or additional information, please contact:

Jaime Krohn, CMP | jaime@woodworks.org | 312.841.8272

Photo: Saddleback College @ ATEP, RMA Photography, Inc