Structural Design of Mass Timber: Amy Gutmann Hall

Description:

Mass timber is increasingly being considered as a structural material, especially on the US east coast, where steel and concrete are prevalent. Buro Happold was able to implement mass timber in the structural design of Amy Gutmann Hall, the future home of the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences at the University of Pennsylvania. The six-story building – which is now topped out – will be Philadelphia’s first and largest mass timber building. This presentation will feature a case study of Amy Gutmann Hall, focused on answering the early structural questions unique to mass timber and the resulting implications on the design.

About Our Speakers:

Stephen Curtis

Stephen Curtis is a Principal at Buro Happold in the New York Structures team. With more than 23 years of experience, Stephen has worked on a variety of projects regionally as well as globally across industry sectors including higher education, cultural, civic and urban design. He has led the delivery of the structural design and construction administration on a number of complex projects including the Arizona State University Walton Center for Planetary Health and the Harvard Science and Engineering Complex. Having led the structural design for many successful projects, Stephen understands how to integrate client needs with an architect’s vision.

Eric Harvan

Eric Harvan is an Associate at Buro Happold in the New York Structures team. Eric has over 12 years of experience covering structural design and project management, with a focus on working with teams and clients to achieve the design intent elegantly and efficiently. Eric’s projects cover many fields, including lab and office, high-end residential, institutional, healthcare, hospitality, and renovation. He recently delivered Carnegie Mellon University’s Scaife Hall, which will provide a new vibration-sensitive labs, modern and flexible classrooms, and public spaces that facilitate formal and informal collaborations. He has used his experience leading the design of Amy Gutmann Hall to educate clients, designers, and others about the benefits and challenges of mass timber, and to promote mass timber’s use as a sustainable building material.

When:
Wednesday, November 8, 2023