Mass Timber Realty Check: Lessons from the Field

AIA Long Beach/South Bay and SEAOSC Joint Dinner Meeting + Panel & Tour

Mass timber has moved beyond experimentation and into mainstream practice. But what happens when design assumptions meet project realities?

Using real project examples, panelists will examine common mass timber decisions and discuss how those choices affected cost, schedule, constructability, approvals, and building performance. Participants will compare their assumptions against lessons learned from completed projects and gain a practical understanding of the factors that most influence project success.  Attendees will compare their own perspectives and experiences against lessons learned from completed projects, creating an interactive discussion grounded in real-world practice.

Drawing from firsthand project experience, panelists will share candid lessons on coordination, connection design, procurement, constructability, seismic systems, fire and acoustic requirements, permitting, and code approvals. The discussion will focus on what worked, what didn’t, and what teams would do differently today.

Rather than a general introduction to mass timber, this session is designed for architects and structural engineers seeking practical guidance on navigating tradeoffs, avoiding common pitfalls, and delivering coordinated, buildable, and successful mass timber projects.

Panel:

• Michelle Kam-Biron, PE, SE, F. SEAOC | Sr. Engineer, Simpson Strong-Tie
• Joe Dana | Estimator, W. S. Klem
• Eric Long, PE, SE, LEED AP | Structural Engineering Partner, Skidmore Owings & Merrill (SOM)
• Jose Palacios, AIA | Design Principal, Skidmore Owings & Merrill (SOM)

Tour Guides:

• Eric Long, PE, SE, LEED AP | Structural Engineering Partner, Skidmore Owings & Merrill (SOM)
• Jose Palacios, AIA | Design Principal, Skidmore Owings & Merrill (SOM)

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