IN-PERSON Professional Development Opportunity:
Designing & Building
with Mass Timber
Three In-Person Presentations

Thursday, April 13, 2023 | 8:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. (ET)
at CityPoint, 500 Totten Pond Road, Waltham MA

PRESENTATION TOPICS:
The AISC Design Guide 37: Hybrid Steel Frames with Wood Floors
Design & Construction of Ascent Tower, the World's Tallest Mass Timber Building
How to Engineer Cost-Optimized Mass Timber Structures

3.0 SEAMASS PDHs or 3.0 NCSEA Diamond-Certified PDHs
This event is ideal for Structural Engineers, Architects & Building Officials
TOPICS & OVERVIEWS
The AISC Design Guide 37: Hybrid Steel Frames with Wood Floors
Presenter: Jordan Woodson, PE
Associate - Structures | Arup
PRESENTATION OVERVIEW:
Arup has collaborated with the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) to develop an upcoming Design Guide to Support the use of hybrid steel frames with mass timber floors. The Design Guide summarizes the multi-disciplinary considerations of fire engineering, acoustics, sustainability, and structural engineering for the steel-timber hybrid building typology. This presentation provides an overview of the Design Guide and highlights a case study featured in the guide (Houston Endowment Headquarters).
Tall Mass Timber Construction – Ascent Tower
Presenter: Alejandro Fernandez
Senior Project Engineer, LEED Green Associate | Thornton Tomasetti
PRESENTATION OVERVIEW:
Ascent Tower in Milwaukee, WI is the tallest mass timber building in the world. At 25 stories / 284 ft tall, it has broken the world record of mass timber construction, and also doubled the height of the next-tallest timber building in the U.S. 

This presentation outlines the process that made these achievements possible, and discusses the design principles of the Ascent Tower, the permitting process, the construction process, and new innovations.
How to Engineer Cost-Optimized Mass Timber Structures
Presenter: Ricky McLain, PE, SE
Senior Technical Director – Tall Wood | WoodWorks
PRESENTATION OVERVIEW:
Mass timber has the potential to create multiple benefits for multi-family and commercial projects. However, in order to capitalize on these benefits, it must actually be used. And in order to be used, it needs to make financial sense. Structural engineers play a crucial role in designing cost-optimized mass timber structures.

From member sizing and fiber use, to designing connections that can be easily fabricated and installed, to panel layout and fire calculations, this presentation will examine some of the high impact ways in which structural engineers can positively influence the use of mass timber on their projects and develop skills which will increase their value to architects and developers.
Photo image credit: Timber House, Brooklyn, Credit: Travis Mark, Courtesy WoodWorks
EVENT TIMING & REGISTRATION
WHEN: Thursday, April 13, 2023 | 8:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. (ET)
WHERE: CityPoint, 500 Totten Pond Road, Waltham MA
PDHs: 3.0 SEAMASS or NCSEA Diamond-Certified
INVESTMENT:
Includes Seminar, Continental Breakfast & Boxed Lunch
$125 3.0 SEAMASS-Certified PDHs
$150 3.0 NCSEA Diamond-Certified PDHs
$100 Govt. & Building Officials (includes 3.0 PDHs)
$ 75 No PDHs
$ 25 Students (No PDHs; Enrollment proof required)
EVENT SPONSORS
DELTABEAM® is a superior hybrid beam with integrated fireproofing enabling slim-floors for multi-story buildings of any type, whether low-rise or high-rise. Its composite action between steel and concrete allows for creative structures with large open spaces. For details, visit: peikko.com
Rothoblaas is a leading developer and provider of high technology solutions for the construction with wood sector. Rothoblaas is dedicated to finding solutions to improve products and services for the wood carpentry industry, and continues to export know-how from the heart of the Italian Alps to the world. For details, visit: rothoblaas.com
A leader in structural systems research and technology, Simpson Strong-Tie is one of the world's largest suppliers of structural building products. Simpson Strong-Tie is committed to providing exceptional products and services to its customers, including engineering and field support, product testing and training. For details, visit: strongtie.com
ABOUT THE PRESENTERS
Alejandro Fernandez
Senior Project Engineer | Thornton Tomasetti 

Alejandro is a Senior Project Engineer in Thornton Tomasetti’s Chicago office. With training in both engineering and architecture, Alejandro has been involved in the design of a number of significant buildings while working in Europe and the United States. As a part of the Building Structure practice at Thornton Tomasetti, Alejandro has contributed to Ascent in Milwaukee, WI, Akhmat Tower in Grozny, Russia, Al Wasl Plaza for Expo 2020 in Dubai among others.
He specializes in the use of mass timber as a construction material and continues to explore his findings on several notable timber projects in the United States. Alejandro earned a Masters in Architecture from the Illinois Institute of Technology, as well as a Masters in Engineering from Ecole Nationale des Ponts et Chaussees in Paris, France, and the Universidad Politecnica de Madrid in Spain.
Ricky McLain, PE, SE
Senior Technical Director – Tall Wood | WoodWorks 

Ricky is WoodWorks’ in-house expert on tall mass timber buildings, providing analysis and guidance on architectural, fire and life safety, and structural design topics. He supports the AEC community both directly and collaboratively with WoodWorks Regional Directors, and guides the development of education and resources related to tall mass timber buildings in the U.S. Prior to this emphasis, Ricky’s role encompassed all building types and wood systems.
He has extensive experience in lead engineer roles related to structural design, project management and construction administration. Ricky is Executive Director of the Structural Engineers Association of Vermont, and a member of numerous committees and councils related to building design.
Jordan Woodson, PE
Associate - Structures | Arup

An Associate in Arup’s Washington DC office, Jordan Woodson excels in providing innovative structural solutions for design-focused projects. Jordan has been with Arup over 11 years, delivering the structural design for a diverse array of building typologies and materialities, including commercial and residential high-rises, bandshells, airports, and sculptures in steel, mass timber, and concrete. Driven by technical excellence and design innovation, Jordan is a frequent collaborator across Arup offices, assisting in design reviews, project delivery, and staff mentorship.
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