Agenda

See groundbreaking mass timber developments across Boston and network with fellow professionals. Tour stops include: 69 A Street, American Repertory Theater (A.R.T) at Harvard University, David E. and Stacey L. Goel Center for Creativity & Performance, Bunker Hill Housing Redevelopment, and the David Rubenstein Treehouse at Harvard University. Learn more about the tour here.

Please Note: Building Tours are only available to conference attendees. To purchase, add tours to your conference pass when registering. If you’ve already registered, you can purchase a tour separately. Purchase conference and tour passes here.

Join us for a welcome reception on Tuesday, 10/28 from 5:00pm – 6:30pm at Back Bay Social.

Complimentary appetizers and cocktails will be provided.
Space is limited and advanced registration is required.

A New Playbook for Housing Affordability

Structural change and innovative delivery approaches are needed to address the current housing affordability crisis in the U.S. To nurture and scale new solutions, we can look to existing frameworks that regulate other sectors or our economy—including automotive and aerospace—and other industrialized economies where this shift is underway, for models to deliver on quality, cost, and speed of delivery.

The keynote session will explore actionable strategies such as housing system certification, standardized award criteria, and regionally tailored policy pilots that federal, state, and local leaders can use to accelerate meaningful change. Designed for policymakers, developers, and design professionals, this keynote will provide both a critical framework and a roadmap for action.

Scaling Offsite and Volumetric Modular: Evolving Systems and Strategies for Success

Offsite construction is evolving from panelized systems—both open and closed—to fully volumetric modular systems. While these new systems promise faster installation, greater vertical integration, and improved quality control, they also introduce new challenges in design coordination, logistics, labor management, factory workflow, regulatory approval, and financial risk management. This panel will explore the evolution of offsite systems, what obstacles teams face, and how industry stakeholders, including developers, general contractors, and fabricators, can adapt their strategies for success. Panelists will also discuss how software-driven fabrication and assembly can increase the ratio of unskilled to skilled labor, thereby providing even greater labor cost savings and greater potential for scaling in a world with severe skilled labor shortages.

Moisture Protection in Mass Timber Buildings: Design Considerations & Construction Management

Learn about the unique moisture-related considerations for mass timber during construction and post occupancy. Designed for architects, engineers, general contractors, and other construction professionals, this course will outline the plan development and moisture risk assessment process—and detail real project examples that illustrate lessons learned and the variety of the moisture management strategies available.

Healthy Forests through Mass Timber Markets: Regional Approaches

This session will look at the interconnection of regulation, forest product infrastructure, and strong markets for wood products and how these factors collectively impact forest health in the U.S. Representatives from three areas of the U.S. with abundant forest resources will share the efforts within their region to improve forest health, generate manufacturing jobs, and bring innovative building products to market.

Offsite Wood Solutions for Schools

This session will provide a comprehensive overview of offsite construction applications for academic buildings and K-12 schools. Participants will learn how wood products such as cross-laminated timber (CLT) and glued-laminated timber (glulam) are reshaping how educational spaces are designed and constructed, along with how offsite construction lends to their advantages. The session will also address key considerations such as fire safety, structural performance, and code compliance. Real-world examples and implementation strategies will provide attendees with insights into how conventional wood framing and mass timber can support project goals related to sustainability, aesthetics, and occupant well-being in educational settings.

Mass Timber in Secure Government Facilities: Research, Standards, and Applications

This seminar delves into the groundbreaking integration of mass timber into secure government and defense facilities. Participants will examine feasibility studies, advanced simulations, and rigorous physical testing conducted under initiatives by the U.S. Department of State, USDA, and the Army Corps of Engineers. We’ll explore planned updates to standards like the Unified Facilities Criteria (UFC) that address force protection and progressive collapse requirements and the innovative legal frameworks enabling early contractor involvement in large-scale military projects. Discover how mass timber meets stringent security standards while promoting sustainability, biophilic design, and a shift in government construction practices.

Sustainable Forestry in New England: Forest Health and Low-Carbon Cities

This session will look at how sustainable forest management practices in New England promote climate resilience, biodiversity, carbon storage, and long-term ecosystem health—essential elements for the built environment and public welfare. Participants will gain insight into the USDA’s Advancing Markets for Producers (AMP) grant and its role in supporting both the supply and demand sides of the forestry economy.

Selecting a Mass Timber Construction Type: Balancing Design Vision and Structural Reality

Construction type selection is one of the most critical early decisions in any mass timber project. This course will explore approaching construction type selection as an iterative process to arrive at the most appropriate choice for your project. Looking at realized projects, we’ll examine the collaborative process between the architect and structural engineer—highlighting the familiar “push-pull” dynamic between disciplines—and how they can successfully balance design vision, code constraints, and structural efficiency to achieve the owner’s end goal for the occupants.

Mass Timber Builder’s Risk Insurance: Strategies for Success

This course explores the landscape of mass timber builder’s risk insurance, with insights from an insurance broker and insurance carrier on how they collaborate to navigate insurance challenges and manage cost considerations to support project success. Attendees will gain a well-rounded understanding of how to procure builder’s risk insurance, how insurance considerations impact design choices, and proactive engagement with insurers that can streamline the process, promote safer building practices, and improve project outcomes.

Wood’s Role in Low-Embodied Carbon Buildings

The spotlight once held by operational energy efficiency in building design and construction has shifted to material choice and embodied carbon. This course will examine the environmental benefits of using wood construction, focusing on biogenic carbon accounting throughout the life cycle of a wood building. We’ll review carbon-related terminology, information on biogenic carbon storage, and life cycle assessment (LCA) as a scientific way to measure, report, and compare the carbon impacts of building systems.

Mass Timber in K-12 Educational Facilities: Sustainable Design Solutions & Community Learning Outcomes

Learn about mass timber systems in K-12 school design, featuring winners from the 2025 Mass Timber Competition: Building Sustainable Schools. Get real-world insights on system selection, fire safety strategies, structural performance in hybrid construction, quantifying carbon impact, and post-occupancy wellness outcomes. The session will also address current market barriers, regulatory and insurance pathways, and how to make the business case for mass timber construction in the educational sector.

Mass Timber Quality Assurance: Inspection & Observation for Code-Compliant Construction

Get practical guidance on special inspection and structural observation requirements under the International Building Code (IBC), with emphasis on how architects and engineers can plan and coordinate site inspections, verify installation details, and manage quality assurance responsibilities across the design and construction team. Guidance will be shared in the context of project experience to provide actionable strategies that mitigate risk, support material durability, and contribute to the safe delivery of mass timber buildings.

Mass Timber Multi-Family: Studies in Carbon, Cost, and Constructability

Learn about the Three Regions Study, which took prototypical multi-family residential structures from three different U.S. cities and reimagined them in mass timber using construction types IV-A, IV-B, and IV-C. Representatives from SCB, LeMessurier, and Turner Construction will present the study’s results, sharing comparative costs, construction conditions, and GWP—demonstrating the potential for mass timber to be more readily adopted into many different U.S. markets.

From Policy to Practice: Accelerating Mass Timber in Boston and Beyond

This keynote panel will examine how policy, practice innovation, advances in timber manufacturing, and evolving building codes are shaping high-level decisions to use mass timber. Panelists will spotlight Boston’s leadership in leveraging this momentum—through initiatives like Carbon Neutral Boston 2050 and the Boston Mass Timber Accelerator Program, which has already yielded 157,000 sqft of completed projects, 145,000 sqft under construction, and nearly 1.2 million sqft in planning. A panel of policy and project experts will share key decision factors, lessons learned, and insights on how these strategies are shaping the future of mass timber locally and nationally.

Market Forecasting: What’s Next for the Construction Industry?

This keynote presentation will feature leading construction industry economists sharing their insights on current market sentiment and what lies ahead for the commercial construction sector. Discussion will include forecasts for the remainder of 2025 and beyond, examining trends in key commercial, institutional, and multi-family markets. Their insights will address topics like regional challenges, population shifts, capital acquisition, and the impact of evolving political and economic climates.

Advancing Mass Timber through Accelerator Programs

Intended for architects, engineers, developers, and policymakers, this session will highlight how accelerator initiatives—such as the NYC Mass Timber Studio—serve as a launchpad for scalable solutions in the evolving urban development landscape. These programs provide critical support for design teams to evaluate material performance, optimize cost and constructability, and navigate regulatory pathways for innovative building approaches. Insights into a seven-story residential development in Harlem, NY, will be shared.

Understanding Mass Timber and Cold-Formed Steel Hybrid Construction

This seminar explores the emerging hybrid construction method combining mass timber and cold-formed steel (CFS) to optimize structural performance and cost-effectiveness. We will examine structural, fire, and acoustic performance benefits, prefabrication advantages, and construction efficiencies. The presentation will also feature a detailed case study of the Bunker Hill Housing Redevelopment project in Boston, MA, showcasing a groundbreaking application of mass timber-CFS hybrid construction in an urban setting. Participants will gain insights into the design considerations, construction sequencing, benefits, and challenges associated with this hybrid structural system.

Case Studies in Innovation: Landmark Mass Timber Projects

Mass timber is redefining what’s possible for sustainable, high-performance buildings—from cultural facilities to record-setting commercial towers. This session presents case studies that explore the structural, fire safety, acoustic, and environmental strategies enabling mass timber to meet stringent code requirements while prioritizing occupant wellness and environmental impact. Attendees will learn how design and construction teams overcame technical challenges through integrated processes, innovative detailing, and material optimization, yielding lessons applicable to projects of all scales and types.

Acoustic Considerations for Mass Timber/Light-Frame Wood Hybrid Projects

Learn about acoustic design strategies unique to projects with mass timber floors and light-frame wood walls. This hybrid approach is often used to leverage the strengths of each system, combining the aesthetic of exposed wood ceilings with the economy of light-frame bearing walls—but understanding the acoustic nuances is critical to achieving both code compliance and occupant comfort. This session will examine how sound transmits through wood-based assemblies and where challenges commonly arise in designs that combine mass timber with light-frame wood or steel elements. Attendees will learn how to apply best practices in detailing, material selection, and assembly design to control airborne and impact sound transmission. Discussion will also include relevant building codes and acoustic rating systems.

Rethinking Industrial Design: Wood’s Expanding Role in Warehouses

Explore the emerging use of mass timber elements in warehouse structures, along with the benefits and challenges of adapting long-established hybrid panelized roof systems for broader U.S. markets. A leading industrial developer and expert structural engineer will share practical insights on the growing use of wood in industrial buildings, covering market trends, structural design, constructability, code compliance, and material availability.

Case Studies in Performance: Mass Timber in Sensitive Spaces

This session will demonstrate mass timber’s successful integration into environments with high-performance standards by looking at real-world project case studies of laboratory and library projects. Gain insights into how mass timber can meet rigorous requirements for structural performance, including vibration control, in-room noise control, hygiene, fire safety, and acoustic NRC requirements—all while supporting occupant wellness, indoor air quality, and sustainability goals.

Mass Timber Contractor Insights: Cost, Schedule, Risk & More

Accurate costing is critical to the success of mass timber projects. This session reviews essential resources for design teams to help clarify pricing, bidding, and project delivery methods. Attendees will hear from a panel of industry experts, who will share their experiences and highlight key decisions that influence cost-efficiency and overall project outcomes. Participants will learn how to navigate the complexities of costing and make more informed decisions that benefit their mass timber projects.

Using Offsite Construction to Address Affordable Housing

This course will explore how teams can leverage offsite construction to deliver high-quality, affordable housing at scale. Participants will learn how modular approaches support efficient construction, reduce waste, and improve speed to occupancy—without sacrificing sustainability, occupant comfort, or long-term performance. Drawing from real-world projects, this session will provide practical strategies for applying offsite methods to address today’s housing challenges through smart, replicable design in urban settings.