Barns in the Pioneer Valley

Last Friday I had the pleasure to be invited to a barn tour organized by two of my Architecture colleagues – Max Page and Caryn Brause. As anyone who lives in the Pioneer Valley (the Connecticut River valley) knows, one of the truly vernacular building styles around here is the tobacco barn. This trip showed […] Read more..

Multifamily CLT-Building Completed in Quebec

I just received this great assembly video for what Nordic (the manufacturer of the CLT panels) calls the “first multi-family residence in North America built exclusively using CLT panels”. In their own words: Nordic Structures completes the first multi-family residence in North America built exclusively using CLT panels.  Featuring Nordic X=Lam panels, the walls, floors, […] Read more..

APA Publishes Advanced Framing Construction Guide

APA just released a free publication on advanced framing techniques full of information and construction details. From their description: Advanced framing – also known as optimum value engineering (OVE) – was developed by the NAHB Research Center, an independent subsidiary of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), in the 1970s for the purpose of […] Read more..

More Greenery in the House

Even though snow has largely spared our area of Massachusetts this winter, a little bit of extra greenery was needed in the house. A trip to Michael’s and a good amount of hot-melt-glue later, this is what resulted: A wall-hanging pseudo-green-wall! Looks quite nice and best of all – I don’t have to water it.

Exciting News: New Standard for Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) Approved by ANSI

A standard has finally been approved for CLT (Cross-Laminated Timber), a new structural wood product that can be used either as a wall or as a slab. From the APA press release: ANSI/APA PRG 320-2011 Standard for Performance-Rated Cross-Laminated Timber, a new standard for cross-laminated timber (CLT), was approved for publication last month by by […] Read more..

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 2012!

Now that the holidays are almost here… I wish you all a joyful and peaceful time. Wherever you are and whatever you celebrate, enjoy time with your family, rest, relax, take some time off and recharge. All the best for the new year. See you in 2012!