New Book Pre-Order Announcement: ‘Mass Timber – Materials, Design, Construction’

I have some exciting news: Together with Peggi Clouston, I co-authored a reference book on all aspects of mass timber buildings – from the materials through conceptualization and design to construction. If you are interested in developing, designing and constructing mass timber buildings, then you may want to keep an eye on this book. While […] Read more..

Structural Analysis (in Education) with VisualAnalysis

Structural engineering classes need beam/frame analysis software to simplify complex calculations. I am discussing one that I have used: VisualAnalysis, which offers an accessible student version, ideal for non-engineering fields.

Fundamentals of Residential Construction, 5th Edition is Here!

I am very happy to announce that after a full year of editing, writing, photographing, reviewing, proof-reading, and then proof-reading again, the new edition of Fundamentals of Residential Construction by Allen/Schreyer/Thallon is now available! As before, it comes in an eBook version as well as a hardcover. For this edition, I was able to implement […] Read more..

Discussing MassTimber and the Olver Design Building on MassConstruction’s Podcast

Joseph Kelly of MassConstruction.org visited our BCT program at UMass a few weeks ago for a tour of the Olver Design Building, our award-winning home at UMass. He also brought along his microphone and taped a two-part podcast with Peggi Clouston and me about the Design Building and the current wave of new MassTimber buildings. You […] Read more..

How much abuse can Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) take?

Being about a month away from moving my office into a Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) building, I am of course interested in answers to this question. As it turns out, many recent research projects proved that CLT can evidently handle quite a bit of abuse (beyond regular day-to-day loading and use)! I may be biased, but […] Read more..

Opening of T3 building continues recent mass timber building trend: Six examples

Today’s opening of the T3 building in Minneapolis marks a spectacular milestone: The construction of the tallest contemporary heavy-timber building in the US so far! I am saying “so far” because as this trend continues, it will surely by surpassed in height very soon. Completion of the T3 building continues a recent trend of larger, […] Read more..