Vice President | Principal | Director of Structural Engineering at Harwood Engineering Consultants
Attending the #AdvancingMassTimber Conference in Nashville this week was a powerful reminder of how the building industry continues to evolve with #masstimber taking center stage as an innovative and sustainable solution. I left with three major takeaways: 1. Use Materials For Their Best Purpose Mass timber is an incredible material, but that doesn’t mean it has to stand alone. Incorporating mass timber where it makes sense creates hybrid structures that maximize the strength of each material. 2. Moisture is the New Fire While fire safety has always been a priority in wood building design, we must now give equal attention to moisture management. Effective moisture control—during design, construction, and throughout the building’s life—is essential for the long-term performance and durability of mass timber structures. 3. Bring Everyone to the Table Early Collaboration between all project stakeholders—owners, architects, engineers, AHJ, suppliers, fabricators, and contractors—is critical. Open communication from design through to construction helps navigate challenges, from supply chain disruptions to meeting code requirements. The most successful case studies were those where a deeply integrated, collaborative approach was taken from the start. As the industry continues to embrace mass timber, these insights will be essential in driving the success and sustainability of the built environment. Let’s build the future together. #TeamHarwood
