Course catalog

The use of modular construction throughout the United States continues to intrigue developers and designers. As more project teams consider modular systems, it is essential to understand how these buildings differ from traditional construction methods. Modular units are constructed in ...

Completed in early 2017, the Design Building at the University of Massachusetts Amherst is the first of its kind in the US. At four stories and 87,000 sf, this mass timber project features a glued-laminated (glulam) timber column-and-beam frame, mass timber lateral force-resisting systems, hybrid...

This course highlights wind design considerations for mid-rise light-frame wood buildings over concrete podiums, a common structural configuration in urban residential development. Through an abbreviated design example, participants will explore code requirements, design strategies, and material ...

This course will explore the use of mass timber modular construction in multi-family and mixed-use building types and showcase the recently completed Knight Building in Big Sky, MT—the first large-scale modular mass timber building in the U.S. Attendees will hear from members of the project ...

This presentation will provide an introductory review of architectural considerations associated with wood framing. Fire protection and sprinklers, construction types, acoustics, and building envelopes in wood-frame structures will be reviewed, with an emphasis on cost-effective, code-compliant ...

This course examines the critical role of envelope design in delivering healthy, safe, and durable buildings, focusing on wood construction—primarily light-frame wood systems. Buildings designed to meet or exceed evolving energy codes and high-performance standards, such as Passive House, are ...

As architects design increasingly creative and complex commercial and multi-family light-frame wood buildings, thorough coordination among the design team is critical. This presentation will explore the importance of gravity and lateral force-resisting systems and thoughtful design decisions ...

This presentation will provide an introductory review of structural wood design for lateral (wind and seismic) loads, including traditional diaphragms and shear walls as well as alternate systems. Referenced codes and standards, design properties, design examples and detailing best practices ...

Mass timber buildings are a powerful strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the built environment due to the material’s low embodied carbon and biogenic carbon storage. This presentation will provide an overview of how wood can reduce embodied carbon emissions, including how to measure ...