Description

Mass timber construction represents one of the most significant innovations in sustainable building technology, offering architects and engineers a renewable structural material that actively sequesters carbon while providing exceptional strength, aesthetic appeal, and design flexibility. This comprehensive course introduces building professionals to the fundamental principles of mass timber design with a specific focus on carbon reduction strategies and environmental benefits.

According to the World Green Building Council, buildings account for approximately 39 percent of global energy-related carbon emissions, with embodied carbon from construction materials representing roughly 11 percent of total global emissions. Mass timber offers a dual climate benefit through carbon sequestration in the wood fiber itself and displacement of carbon-intensive materials like concrete and steel. Research from the Yale School of the Environment indicates that each cubic meter of wood used in construction stores approximately 0.9 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent, while also avoiding emissions associated with alternative materials.

This course examines the evolution of mass timber technology from European origins in the 1990s to mainstream adoption in North America, covering cross-laminated timber (CLT), glued laminated timber (glulam), nail-laminated timber (NLT), and dowel-laminated timber (DLT). Participants will learn about the 2021 International Building Code provisions enabling tall mass timber buildings up to 18 stories, carbon accounting methodologies including life cycle assessment, and structural design principles specific to engineered wood products. The course also addresses fire resistance mechanisms through predictable charring behavior, connection design considerations, and practical implementation strategies including supply chain planning and construction best practices.