In the Structural Engineering / Materials / Embodied Energy sub-group meeting of the Future Timber City project, participants from engineering, architecture, technology, and academic disciplines discussed how the research could most optimally address the complex issues of carbon footprint, life-cycle costs and embodied energy, alongside practical structural engineering concerns.

Among the key topics, participants advocated the identification of appropriate benchmarks for comparison with other materials, particularly with respect to carbon footprint and life-cycle implications, and the establishment of site-specific parameters. The team also highlighted that examining the trade-off between material efficiency and dimensional uniformity when utilizing mass timber is a factor that must be considered. 

Participants:

• Hannes Blaas, CEO, Rothoblaas USA Inc., New York City, United States
• Tobias Fast, Associate, Fast+Epp, Vancouver, Canada
• Bernard Gafner, Partner, Aspect Structural Engineers, Vancouver, Canada
• Carsten Hein, Associate Director, Arup, Berlin, Germany
• Benton Johnson, Director of Structural Engineering, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, Chicago, United States
• Leif Johnson, Principal, Magnusson Klemencic Associates, Seattle, United States
• Ethan Martin, Associate, DCI Engineers, Portland, United States
• Ricky McLain, Senior Technical Director - Tall Wood, WoodWorks / Wood Products Council, Washington D.C., United States
• Will Miranda, Research Coordinator, Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat, Chicago, United States
• Angelique Pilon, Director, Urban Innovation Research, University Sustainability Initiative, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
• Chris Sitzenstock, Director, Fabrication, Sidewalk Labs, Seattle, United States
• Jeff Spiritos, Chair, Future Timber City Steering Committee; Manager, Spiritos Properties LLC, New York City, United States
• Milton Vicentelo L., International Operations Director, Rene Lagos Engineers, Santiago, Chile
• Antony Wood, CEO, Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat, Chicago, United States
• Kai Yang, Mass Timber Project Manager, CadMakers, Vancouver, Canada