Early Design Decisions for Mass Timber Success & Saddleback ATEP Tour

Regional In-Person Seminar + Tour (Tustin, CA)

Demonstrating how early design decisions influence the successful delivery of a large-scale mass timber project, this session combines a technical presentation with an exclusive tour of the Saddleback College @ ATEP’s new mass timber-forward higher education campus in Tustin, CA. The presentation explores critical decisions made during the earliest stages of design, including construction type, fire-resistance strategy, structural grids, beam and panel spans, acoustics, connection detailing, and MEP integration, and how these choices affect code compliance, constructability, and project outcomes. Participants will then tour the two-story, 50,000-square-foot building with members of the project team, gaining firsthand insight into how these strategies were implemented during design and construction. By connecting fundamental design principles with real-world applications, attendees will gain practical lessons they can apply to future mass timber projects.

Agenda:

Seminar: 12:00 – 1:00pm

Lunch and Tour: 1:00pm – 2:00pm

Credits: Attendees can earn 2.0 AIA/CES HSW LU, 2.0 PDH credits or 0.20 ICC credits

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.

Location:

Saddleback College @ ATEP

1634 Valencia Avenue, Tustin, CA 92782

Classroom 201

Map & Directions

Parking information: 

Parking is $5/day. There are signs in the parking lot indicating the 3 ways to pay: scanning a QR code, texting a number, or a machine that prints a paper ticket. Campus policy requires vehicles to park head-in. IVC campus police monitors the ATEP parking lot, and rules can be found here: https://www.ivc.edu/police/parking/info

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