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Image c/o: KK Law
Advice
Example of a mainly successful project: Brock Commons — involved a high degree of collaboration: Integrated Design Process — design offered 3-4 options for every connection, which every stakeholder vetted — invested in building a mock-up, where many problems were solved in advance of construction — the design worked with standard panel sizes
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“Horizontal sprinkler pipes could be made from combustible materials as permitted by the Code for fire resistive construction”
Advice
Tolerances are different for each different trade. Mitigate potential problems with communication in the procurement phase.
Advice
General advice to those new to mass timber construction: "The devil is in the details". For example, an experienced installer knows what a problematic connection looks like.
Advice
Hire an installer before hiring a manufacturer.
Advice
Mass timber construction is still in the experimental phase. Standardization will happen eventually.
Image c/o: StructureCraft
Advice
For an installer, Design Bid Build is the easiest to bid on, as the design is frozen. Design Build is much muddier, as not all aspects of the design are frozen.
Advice
The installer should be thought of as a consultant and a vital team member. For example, when installers are brought to the table at the design phase and give input into connection details, constructibility improves. However, when the installer is brought on too late, other consultants have already spent the money, and no one wants to add to the cost. The resulting problems need to be solved on site by the installer, adding time and cost.
Advice
Engage mass timber supplier in DfMA system up front to ensure supplier milestones are met, and milestones and deliverables are agreed upon.
Advice
Supplier partners can get off the ground running when BIM models are shared, if the engineers/architects sign off on geometry and provide the base model.
Advice
Fully implement BIM standards and sharing between consultant and supplier. Client otherwise pays double: consultants develop models independently, and suppliers interpret and develop the models they need on their own. This duplication of effort costs time and money.
Advice
Innovation is needed around pre-fabricated facades that are quick to erect and keep the mass timber structure dry.
Advice
Use hybrid structural systems (timber/steel/concrete) to optimize for the best properties of each.
Advice
Using structural mass timber as part of the interior finish saves on interior finishing but floor-to-floor acoustic challenges and in-room acoustics must be addressed.
