2023 Annual Conference
Speakers
Rudy R. Christian
Christian & Son, Inc., President
Rudy R. Christian is a founding member and past president of the Timber Framers Guild, founding member and past president of Friends of Ohio Barns, founding member and past Executive Director of the Preservation Trades Network, and a founding member of the... read more
Presentation
- Mass Timber: Problem or Solution?
This panel session is not meant to be for or against "Mass Timber", but more about public awareness of the difference between natural timber and manufactured timber framing, impact on natural resources, traditional timber framers, and the Timber Framers Guild. Attendees will learn more about the meaning of mass timber, its history, the difference between "natural" timber and mass timber, and the difference between shop cut and manufactured timber buildings.
Al Cobb
Cobb & Associates, Principal
Al Cobb is an authority on Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs). His 30+ year career in SIPs includes every facet of manufacturing, design, and installation with over a thousand projects to his credit. As a speaker and trainer Al consults with companies exploring SIPs... read more
Presentation
- Options in the SIP Industry for Better Performance, Durability, and Affordability
The presentation will outline the details, habits, and techniques that have proven to be a successful approach when using SIPs in the timber frame community. In addition, attendees will be persuaded to understand how SIP packages can be their best option or a regrettable decision. The presenter will pull back the curtain on many changes that are shaping up in the industry of laminated panels. The immense variation in SIP options and manufacturer’s sales techniques will be discussed, dissected, and exposed. The presenter welcomes the hard questions and the discussions that bring about understanding and education mixed with a firehose approach of facts, data, and opinions that have been forged at the alter of the SIP industry for well over three decades. Don’t worry, there’s an elevator.
Steve Lawrence
Timber Framers Guild, Community Building Projects Program Director
I have been timber framing since 1990 with Carpenter Oak and Woodland Co. in the UK. Moving to Canada in 2005, I founded and operated Macdonald & Lawrence Timber Framing. I now work freelance as a part-time contractor, consultant, and project manager... read more
Presentation
- Let the Crane Take the Strain
As a conservator of traditional wood buildings and other artifacts, from Windsor Castle in the UK to Fort McMurray, Alberta, Steve Lawrence has specified, designed, and implemented the conservation and rehabilitation of hundreds of historic buildings and artifacts. In this session, attendees will learn about a broad range of skills and techniques necessary to enhance the safety and productivity of you or your crew when working with cranes. - TFG Community Builds
A discussion of the development and execution of the TFG Community Building Projects Program. What are Community Building Projects and how do they happen? How is the Guild delivering on its mission through these projects? How can members and friends of the Guild develop a Community Building Project and bring it to life? This session will feature a lively discussion regarding this essential Guild program, with a focus on interesting recent projects. - The Forces at Work in a Truss
Join us for a panel discussion and Q&A centered on a working understanding of trusses, why it is important for a timber framer to have that understanding, and how these lessons can be applied to understanding other structural components. The panel will be made up of working timber framers and timber frame engineers.
Kunito Niwa
Kominka Collective, Director
Kunito Niwa is the director of the Kominka Collective, a not-for-profit-company working to preserve, protect, and support the reconstruction of Japanese kominka folk houses while passing on traditional building methods. Kunito is active in a range of initiatives in Japan aimed at... read more
Presentation
- Saving Japanese Traditional Kominka Folk Houses One Frame at a Time
While traditional Japanese folk houses, kominka, are widely appreciated for their beautiful aesthetic and for the skill with which they were built, many of these extraordinary structures are being torn down or abandoned – an immeasurable loss. In this presentation, we will first give some background about kominka and then describe initiatives the Kominka Collective is undertaking to preserve these structures, including disassembling kominka that are going to be destroyed and relocating them to other locations in and outside of Japan to be rebuilt.
Koji Toda
Toda Komuten, Architect
Koji Toda is a Japan-based architect at his family's design-build firm, Toda Komuten, and a member of the Kominka Collective. Koji is active in a range of initiatives in Japan aimed at preserving built cultural heritage and revitalizing rural communities. read more
Presentation
- Saving Japanese Traditional Kominka Folk Houses One Frame at a Time
While traditional Japanese folk houses, kominka, are widely appreciated for their beautiful aesthetic and for the skill with which they were built, many of these extraordinary structures are being torn down or abandoned – an immeasurable loss. In this presentation, we will first give some background about kominka and then describe initiatives the Kominka Collective is undertaking to preserve these structures, including disassembling kominka that are going to be destroyed and relocating them to other locations in and outside of Japan to be rebuilt.
ED SHURE
Timmerhus, Founder
Architect Ed Shure has nearly always known that he would follow a career that allowed him to make practical, beautiful things. To that end, he studied fine art and mechanical engineering, and completed a machinist certification program. Until a working visit to... read more
AZBY BROWN
Azby Brown is a native of New Orleans, and has lived in Japan since 1985. He is a leading authority on Japanese architecture, design, and environmentalism, and the author of many influential books and articles, including The Very Small Home (2005), Just... read more
TOM BODETT
HatchSpace, Co-founder
Tom Bodett made his national broadcasting debut in 1984 on NPR’s evening news program All Things Considered. He has been the brand spokesman for the Motel 6 lodging chain for 35 years. The author of seven books and numerous audio publications, his... read more
Ron Anthony
Anthony & Associates, Inc., President & Wood Scientist
Ron Anthony received an M.S. in Wood Science and Technology from Colorado State University. In 2000, he formed Anthony & Associates, Inc. to focus on evaluating the performance of wood in historic structures and conducting forensic investigations. His research activities have focused... read more
Presentation
- TFEC Symposium: Who Wants to Avoid Getting Sued?
What happens when a disgruntled party files an insurance claim or a lawsuit against you or your company? This presentation will give an overview of the legal process from the perspective of an expert witness. Examples will show the subtleties that can make a difference in whether you are successful in defending a claim. Attendees should walk away with a better sense of how to reduce (or avoid) claims and the steps involved should you unfortunately be named in one. - Assessing Historic Timber Structures
The goal of the presentation and discussion is to help individuals understand how we can save historic structures through better assessment. Better assessment leads to more informed repair and replacement decisions. We will discuss various assessment technologies, including the pros and cons of using them. Projects that have incorporated the assessment methods will be used to illustrate historic preservation of timber structures at work.
Sandy Bennett
Blue Ridge Timberwrights, President
Sandy Bennett is president of Blue Ridge Timberwrights, based in Christiansburg, Virginia, building "tremendous structures around the country" for more than 25 years. He also serves on the Guild board. read more
Presentation
- Mass Timber: Problem or Solution?
This panel session is not meant to be for or against "Mass Timber", but more about public awareness of the difference between natural timber and manufactured timber framing, impact on natural resources, traditional timber framers, and the Timber Framers Guild. Attendees will learn more about the meaning of mass timber, its history, the difference between "natural" timber and mass timber, and the difference between shop cut and manufactured timber buildings.
Hannes Blaas
Rothoblaas USA, CEO
Hannes is CEO of Rothoblaas USA and followed the development of modern timber construction in different countries around the world very closely. While working in Switzerland, the UK, Canada, USA, and recently China, he tries to support the industry’s continuous development and... read more
Presentation
Marie Brown
Handshouse Studio, Executive Director
Marie is a director and maker who received her MFA in Directing from the University of Texas at Austin, and her BA in Music and Theatre from the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington, and developed a broad range of skills... read more
Presentation
- Coffee Panel: Notre Dame
Marie Brown, executive director of Handshouse Studio, and Jackson DuBois, interim executive director of the Timber Framers Guild, discuss taking part in the reconstruction of the spire of Notre Dame and how a couple of American timber framers came to be included in that work.
Ben Brungraber
Fire Tower Engineered Timber, Founder
Ben Brungraber, Ph.D., P.E., holds a Master of Science from Colorado State in Timber Structures and a Ph.D. in Mortise and Tenon Joinery from Stanford University. In his early years, Ben worked in the construction industry after acquiring his civil engineering degree... read more
Presentation
- Mass Timber: Problem or Solution?
This panel session is not meant to be for or against "Mass Timber", but more about public awareness of the difference between natural timber and manufactured timber framing, impact on natural resources, traditional timber framers, and the Timber Framers Guild. Attendees will learn more about the meaning of mass timber, its history, the difference between "natural" timber and mass timber, and the difference between shop cut and manufactured timber buildings. - The Forces at Work in a Truss
Join us for a panel discussion and Q&A centered on a working understanding of trusses, why it is important for a timber framer to have that understanding, and how these lessons can be applied to understanding other structural components. The panel will be made up of working timber framers and timber frame engineers.
John Buday
Cascade Crest Designs, Owner
John Buday's perfectly reasonable career as a residential carpenter starting in the late 1970s became significantly sidetracked after a chance encounter with timber framing, in the person of one Mark Witter, which led to participation in a 2002 Guild project in Sechelt,... read more
Presentation
- The Forces at Work in a Truss
Join us for a panel discussion and Q&A centered on a working understanding of trusses, why it is important for a timber framer to have that understanding, and how these lessons can be applied to understanding other structural components. The panel will be made up of working timber framers and timber frame engineers.
Craig Colomb
hsbcad, COO & Software Engineer
Craig Colomb graduated from WVU with a dual major in physics and math. Following graduation, he did a stint as a raft guide and kayak instructor. Failing to find financial success on the river, he founded Precision Structures, LLC, in 1992. A... read more
Presentation
- hsbcad, SketchUp: What's the Difference?
This presentation will describe and demonstrate the features and functionality of hsbcad to help the audience decide when the cost of the software makes sense for their business. Sketchup is free and 3D, why would anyone pay for hsbcad? I will show the modeling tools that are timber-specific, including both traditional joinery and custom hardware assemblies. Also covered are automated shop drawings, detailed BOM export, and CNC workflow.
Michael Cuba
Transom Historic Preservation Consulting, Principal
Michael's career in restoration timber framing began while working at the Institute for Social Ecology with Seth Kelley. After a few years in the field, they founded Knobb Hill Joinery, focusing on preservation and restoration timber framing while occasionally designing and cutting... read more
Presentation
- Mass Timber: Problem or Solution?
This panel session is not meant to be for or against "Mass Timber", but more about public awareness of the difference between natural timber and manufactured timber framing, impact on natural resources, traditional timber framers, and the Timber Framers Guild. Attendees will learn more about the meaning of mass timber, its history, the difference between "natural" timber and mass timber, and the difference between shop cut and manufactured timber buildings. - Member Slide Show
Michael Cuba will moderate the member slide show, a conference staple during which members share significant projects from the past year.
Jackson DuBois
Timber Framers Guild, Interim Executive Director
Jackson has been an active member of the Timber Framers Guild for almost 20 years and is currently serving as interim executive director. Raised in the Pacific Northwest he has called central New York home for almost 10 years. His passions include... read more
Presentation
- Coffee Panel: Notre Dame
Marie Brown, executive director of Handshouse Studio, and Jackson DuBois, interim executive director of the Timber Framers Guild, discuss taking part in the reconstruction of the spire of Notre Dame and how a couple of American timber framers came to be included in that work.
Yann Giguère
Mokuchi Woodworking, Owner
Now based in Ashland Oregon, Yann Giguère has been a professional woodworker since 1991 and founded Mokuchi Studio in 2008. Originally from the province of Quebec, he came to the US and began his training in Western woodworking at the Maharishi University... read more
Presentation
- Japanese Centerline Layout
Session on centerline layout. - Overview of Traditional Japanese Timber Framed Buildings: Commonalities and Differences
Yann will speak about the different traditional architectural styles in Japan and how they influence their respective timber frames. Attendees will learn more about identifying the dominant styles of traditional Japanese architecture, how the dominant styles influence residential architecture, the difference in approach between the building scale, and the importance of paying attention to orienting wood members in a structure in relation to their orientation in their tree form. Followed by Q&A and discussion.
John Kain
Tectum Armstrong Ceilings and Walls, Senior Manager, Architectural Specialties Sales Integration
John Kain, LEED AP, CSI CDT, is Senior Manager, Architectural Specialties Sales Integration, Tectum Armstrong Ceilings and Walls. John is a specialist in building design solutions and architectural acoustics with over 35 years in the commercial construction industry. He is currently... read more
Presentation
- Structural Acoustical Roof Decks: Cementitious Wood Fiber
This session will help participants understand the building science behind roof deck designs and the decision-making process for selection. They will also gain an understanding of basic acoustics, r value, vapor drive, de-carbonization of construction, and options available for finished deck products that are essentially "SIPS with Acoustics".
Chris Koehn
Timber Framers Guild, President
Over the years, Chris Koehn has had the great fortune to wear lots of different hats within the timber framing universe. He's worked with companies that transitioned from hand-cut to automated operations with the advent of the Hundegger. He's worked with start-ups... read more
Presentation
- TFG Community Builds
A discussion of the development and execution of the TFG Community Building Projects Program. What are Community Building Projects and how do they happen? How is the Guild delivering on its mission through these projects? How can members and friends of the Guild develop a Community Building Project and bring it to life? This session will feature a lively discussion regarding this essential Guild program, with a focus on interesting recent projects. - The Forces at Work in a Truss
Join us for a panel discussion and Q&A centered on a working understanding of trusses, why it is important for a timber framer to have that understanding, and how these lessons can be applied to understanding other structural components. The panel will be made up of working timber framers and timber frame engineers.
Paul Laudenschlager
Alpen Engineering, Principal
Paul Laudenschlager, P.E., has been engineering timber frame structures for over 25 years after an architect brought him a timber frame project in 1997 to re-engineer. He managed to make it work without the two ridiculous steel moment frames the previous engineer... read more
Presentation
- TFEC Symposium: Engineering for Heavy Snow Loads
This presentation will explore heavy snow situations to understand the immense depth of snow loads involved. It will look at various types of snow damage failures and review their causes. Finally, it will introduce and discuss engineering design considerations and design procedures for structures in heavy snow areas.
Ethan Martin
DCI Engineers, Director of Sustainability & Mass Timber
Ethan Martin brings a wealth of engineering design experience to the industry, particularly in the area of advocacy and his personal contribution to the application of mass timber. Working with mass timber manufacturers worldwide, Ethan has developed solutions that assist general contractors... read more
Presentation
- Tall Mass Timber & Residential Framers
This presentation showcases several constructed new tall wood buildings in accordance with the International Code Council (ICC)-approved set of proposals allowing tall wood buildings as part of the 2021/2024 International Building Code (IBC). The 2021 IBC includes three new construction types; Type IV-A, IV-B and IV-C up to 18-stories of mass timber construction. This presentation takes a detailed look at the new code provisions and methods of addressing the new requirements including additional fire-resistance ratings and levels of required noncombustible protection on actual permitted and constructed buildings. Topics include tall-wood-specific high-rise and sprinkler requirements, methods of demonstrating fire-resistance ratings, fire design for penetrations, timber connection design, and allowances for exposed timber.
Joe Miller
Fire Tower Engineered Timber, Partner
Joe Miller, PhD, PE, PEng, is a structural engineer specializing in the design and engineering of timber framer structures. As partner with Fire Tower Engineered Timber, he heads up the Michigan office located near the shore of Lake Superior. Catching the timber... read more
Presentation
- TFEC Symposium: Angle-to-Grain Withdrawal Capacity of Screws
A review of the various equations and adjustment factors that can be used to determine withdrawal capacity of screws when installed at an angle to grain other than 90-degrees. The presentation will include a small selection of test data from screw distributors as well as live testing of self-tapping screws. - Mass Timber: Problem or Solution?
This panel session is not meant to be for or against "Mass Timber", but more about public awareness of the difference between natural timber and manufactured timber framing, impact on natural resources, traditional timber framers, and the Timber Framers Guild. Attendees will learn more about the meaning of mass timber, its history, the difference between "natural" timber and mass timber, and the difference between shop cut and manufactured timber buildings. - Joint Busting
The very essence of timber framing requires taking timbers and cutting away wood in order to form joinery. These reductions in the timber’s cross-section forces any stress in the timbers to be necked down and concentrated in the smaller areas. Depending on how abrupt the changes in cross-section are, the localized stress at these points can be rise dramatically – sometimes well beyond the allowable capacity of the timber. These stresses can either be from applied loads (weight in the structure) or from internal causes (shrinkage). Wood’s mechanical properties also play a large role – as wood is stronger (or weaker) in various directions. In this presentation, we will look at the basic mechanics of stress concentrations, primarily as it relates to beams and their associated joinery. Our first line of defense against these stress concentrations is mitigating them with better detailing (scooped vs square reductions on joists for example). However, that isn’t always feasible, so we will also spend some time investigating how to calculate and quantify the nature of the stress concentration on the overall effect of the beam’s capacity. Some time will be spent on how to properly reinforce beams near stress concentrations as well (for both new construction as well as on-site repairs). We will wrap up with a few case studies of what to do, and equally important, what not to do. - The Forces at Work in a Truss
Join us for a panel discussion and Q&A centered on a working understanding of trusses, why it is important for a timber framer to have that understanding, and how these lessons can be applied to understanding other structural components. The panel will be made up of working timber framers and timber frame engineers.
Stephen Morrison
MoreSun Timber Frames, President
Stephen Morrison started woodworking straight out of high school, building furniture in a shop in Atlanta and working in a cabinet shop in Montana. Coming back to the Southeast to work as a raft guide, he stumbled into timber framing quite accidentally.... read more
Presentation
- Mass Timber: Problem or Solution?
This panel session is not meant to be for or against "Mass Timber", but more about public awareness of the difference between natural timber and manufactured timber framing, impact on natural resources, traditional timber framers, and the Timber Framers Guild. Attendees will learn more about the meaning of mass timber, its history, the difference between "natural" timber and mass timber, and the difference between shop cut and manufactured timber buildings.
Kyle Murphy
Falling Acorn Timber Frames, Owner
Kyle Murphy lives in Lynchburg, Virginia, where he has been timber framing for 14 years and has owned and operated Falling Acorn Timber Frames for 13 years. He was first introduced to timber framing while working for a millwright, restoring historic gristmills.... read more
Presentation
- Mass Timber: Problem or Solution?
This panel session is not meant to be for or against "Mass Timber", but more about public awareness of the difference between natural timber and manufactured timber framing, impact on natural resources, traditional timber framers, and the Timber Framers Guild. Attendees will learn more about the meaning of mass timber, its history, the difference between "natural" timber and mass timber, and the difference between shop cut and manufactured timber buildings.
Corey Omey
EMA Architecture, Managing Partner
Corey’s background and interest in architecture began as a child, growing up in a family of builders and a sustainable community of craftspeople and artists, and working for ten summers at a pottery studio in West Michigan. Corey began his professional career... read more
Presentation
- Recycled, Reclaimed, & Reused Materials
A life of Reclaiming and Reducing, from The Farm, Reclaimed, Rejected, Re-Used, and Resilient integrated design.
Dai Ona
Daizen Joinery, Ltd, Founder, Owner
Dai Ona emigrated to Canada from Japan and started Daizen Joinery in 1990 in Parksville, British Columbia, where he focused his efforts on hand timber building and joinery, and exporting frame products to Asian markets. Dai relocated his business to the Interior... read more
Presentation
- Wood Stabilization (KunEun)
Stabilizing wood material equal to drying wood is common knowledge in any woodworking industry. Daizen has applied a patent to dimensional stabilizing technology that dry equal stable wood is not the only method to stabilize the material. Through this innovation, Dai found the material preparation is in line with treatment to achieve the best result. It starts from understanding how the tree grows and stress is built, and how it releases and what happens. This fundamental knowledge will help for any method of material preparation. For woodworkers, this session should help to understand how the wood reacts in vertical grain or flat grain, boxed or free of heart.
David Petrina
Kettle River Timberworks, Founder & Owner
Dave Petrina founded Kettle River Timberworks in 2004. He's a mechanical engineer from the high-tech industry who fell in love with timber framing while building a family timber frame cabin and quit his day job designing fuel cells to start Kettle River.... read more
Presentation
- Into the Wild: Building on the Remote BC Coast
Kettle River has designed and built more than a dozen remote (boat access only) cabins along the rugged British Columbia coast. Most cabins are in the 400 to 1200 sq. ft. range. Presentation will outline the design process and considerations when designing these cabins, before delving into the planning and logistics in implementing these projects. Presenter will discuss risk management for these remote projects and share some interesting anecdotes, videos, and photos from past projects to provide insights into the work.
Scott Ratterman
Eclipse Engineering, Branch Manager
Originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, Scott Ratterman, P.E., moved west to go to college. He has a BS in Civil Engineering from Gonzaga University. Scott has been with Eclipse Engineering for more than 10 years where his current role is Group Director of... read more
Presentation
- TFEC Symposium: Using Eurocode to Design Prefabricated Metal Connectors
This presentation will be a brief overview of the Eurocode and will include design examples for using manufacturer connections that are approved by the Eurocode but have not yet been tested for ICC approval.
Adam Riley
Cloud 9 Builders, President
Adam was born in New Hampshire, and raised in Maine and New Hampshire among the hardy Yankees of northern New England and the rich history of timber-framed homes, barns, churches, and town halls. He earned his bachelor's in civil engineering from the... read more
Presentation
- Is There Life After Timber Framing?
We’re all on a path toward mastery of our craft. Whether that’s design, engineering, timber framing, or general contracting, the people we meet at TFG conferences are bent on continuous improvement and generally making the world a better place. That’s what I love about the Guild and why I have come back to share some insights about running a mission-driven company that fights climate change and funds my personal goals and adventures. I’m not here to talk anyone out of timber framing. That’s a sacred way of building with deep roots around the world. In my experience, it’s also a challenging way to make a living that often drags the practitioners into projects that don’t align with their personal or company values. I will share some of the “ah-hah!” moments in my career that prompted me to sell my timber framing shop to focus on high-performance building and some of the lessons I’ve learned on the roller coaster of small business. I’ll use some of my company’s projects as case studies for how and why we should all build “Pretty Good Houses” as a baseline and what are the other standards to consider if we really want to raise the bar, radically improve the built environment, and, just maybe, save the world by getting to what Paul Hawken calls “drawdown” in our lifetimes. I would also like to engage the audience in a discussion of how to market and practice sustainable building (profitably!) so we can all benefit from each other’s wisdom in that arena. Please bring your curiosity and best ideas to the table.
Dick Schmidt
Fire Tower Engineered Timber, Engineer
Dick Schmidt is a structural engineer with Fire Tower Engineered Timber. His engineering consulting work involves design of timber frame structures, condition assessment of existing buildings, species identification and grading of timbers, and reuse of reclaimed timbers. He is an... read more
Presentation
- TFEC Symposium: Angle-to-Grain Withdrawal Capacity of Screws
A review of the various equations and adjustment factors that can be used to determine withdrawal capacity of screws when installed at an angle to grain other than 90-degrees. The presentation will include a small selection of test data from screw distributors as well as live testing of self-tapping screws.
Bill Sturm
Oregon Timberworks, Owner
Bill Sturm began his career as an architecture student at Georgia Institute of Technology. He spent a year in Paris studying design and architecture. After returning to the states and a subsequent 6 months hiking the Appalachian Trail, he decided to get... read more
Presentation
- TFG Community Builds
A discussion of the development and execution of the TFG Community Building Projects Program. What are Community Building Projects and how do they happen? How is the Guild delivering on its mission through these projects? How can members and friends of the Guild develop a Community Building Project and bring it to life? This session will feature a lively discussion regarding this essential Guild program, with a focus on interesting recent projects.
Chris Sturm
Colorado Water Conservation Board, Watershed Program Director
Chris Sturm obtained his bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Georgia. He worked for several years in education around natural resources, until he arrived in Colorado in 2000. He has worked with agricultural, municipal, environmental, and recreational uses of water... read more
Presentation
- Wildfire Ready Watersheds
Wildfire Ready Watersheds is a strategy and program developed by the Colorado Water Conservation Board that provides a proactive approach to address post wildfire impacts. The mission of Wildfire Ready Watersheds is to assess the susceptibility of Colorado’s water resources, communities, and critical infrastructure to post-wildfire impacts and advance a framework for communities to plan and implement mitigation strategies to minimize these impacts – before wildfires occur. Wildfire Ready Watersheds has a two-part focus: (1) a statewide post-fire susceptibility analysis and (2) a framework that communities can use to perform watershed scale planning to address post fire hazards. The analysis provides guidance to community stakeholders when considering wildfire mitigation efforts. The framework further provides guidance on how to refine the susceptibility evaluations for local communities to utilize at smaller watershed scales, and serves as a guide for best planning practices in advance of a wildfire and supports post-fire mitigation strategies. Design and construction will include project types that can be implemented before and after wildfire. Historically, many projects implemented after a fire are for immediate protection of life, property, and water supplies and have limited success because they’re treating point of impact problems with little regard to watershed health or stream function. Projects constructed before fire provide the same or better protections while also addressing multiple objectives in watershed health and water supply protection. These project types are designed to protect and enhance ecosystem structure and function within the watershed drainage network.
Thomas Tannert
University of Northern British Columbia, Professor
Thomas Tannert joined the University of Northern British Columbia in 2016 as BC Leadership Chair in Tall Wood and Hybrid Structures Engineering. Thomas received his PhD from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, a Master’s degree in Wood Science and Technology... read more
www2.unbc.ca/people/tannert-dr-thomas
Presentation
- TFEC Symposium: Load-Carrying Capacity of Housings in Solid Timber Beams
Research on the load-carrying capacity of solid timber beams with housings will be presented. The impact of geometry parameters, material strength properties, wood moisture content/history, and reinforcement with self-tapping screws will be discussed. The adaption of existing design provisions for notched beams to housings will be evaluated.
Al Wallace
Energy Environmental Corporation, President & Founder
Al Wallace has been a TFG member since 1990 and is an expert in these technologies with certifications as a Certified GeoExchange Designer and Certified Energy Manager with the Association of Energy Engineers, and a LEED for Homes Accredited Professional with the... read more
Presentation
- Net-Zero Technologies
In 2012, there were 50 buildings in the United States registered with a target to achieve net-zero energy performance. Ten years later, the US Green Building Council reported that over 23 million square feet of space have been certified under their LEED Zero program. While impressive, this exponential growth represents a small portion of the net-zero energy low carbon emissions commercial buildings under design or construction throughout the world today. While relatively unknown to the timber framing community, the technologies used in these buildings overcome many of the problems integrating HVAC systems in timber frame structures. This presentation will discuss this market growth and provide case studies of net-zero energy buildings, specifically the successes and failures for attaining net-zero energy performance and the role of geothermal and air source heat pumps in this process. Common elements include high-mass building structures, hydronic heating and cooling, configuring heat pumps in unconventional ways to achieve breathtaking energy performance, using variable speed technologies as a standard practice, and advanced building automation control for superior performance. These technologies fit well within the simplicity of timber frame structures.
Andrea Warchaizer
Springpoint, Inc., Principal
Andrea is a graduate of the Yale University School of Architecture and has worked as a residential designer since 1990. In 1994 she started her own residential design firm, now known as Springpoint Incorporated. Andrea has taught extensively, including classes at Keene... read more
Presentation
- TFG Design Competition
TFG Design Competition is back! Longtime Guild members will remember this fun and engaging conference event, held for years at Guild conferences. Winners and selected projects will be announced prior to the auction on Saturday evening, and Andrea will lead a review of the designs and how the winners were determined at this session on Sunday morning.
Thank You To Our Visionary Partners
