The Tall + Urban Podcast

Recorded on 25 July 2024, Hope Barton (Co-Chair of the CTBUH Future Leaders Committee and Associate in the Charles Russell Speechlys Real Estate & Disputes team), interviews Sophie Willis (Associate in the Charles Russell Speechlys Planning team). They discuss some of the specifics behind the High Court’s decision relating the redevelopment of the Marks and Spencer Oxford Street store and the resulting conversation that has emerged relating to retrofit and heritage.

In this episode, Mark Wishnie, Executive Director, BTG Pactual Timberland Investment Group, spoke to CTBUH Editor-in-Chief Daniel Safarik about sustainable forestry, and how the development of a mass timber industry can be a climate-positive investment.

CTBUH Editor-in-Chief Daniel Safarik interviewed Mohamad Mohamad, Senior Research Advisor, Natural Resources Canada, about the seismic, strength and weight advantages of mass timber, as well as its value as a prefabricated construction material.

CTBUH Editor-in-Chief Daniel Safarik interviewed Carsten Hein, Associate Director, Structural Engineering, Arup, about the relative strengths and weaknesses of timber as a structural element, in terms of both performance and economics, relative to other materials.

Hannes Blaas is the CEO of Rothoblaas USA, a manufacturer of connectors for timber construction. He spoke to CTBUH Editor-in-Chief Daniel Safarik on the design and engineering benefits of mass timber.

The adoption of mass timber for tall and large buildings on a greater scale is hindered by the prevailing fire safety codes in many jurisdictions, which are predicated on the fire properties of light or “stick-frame” dimensional-lumber construction. This episode addresses the real fire properties of mass timber, and considers the obstacles that must realistically be overcome to achieve widespread adoption. CTBUH Editor-in-Chief Daniel Safarik interviews David Barber, Principal, Fire Engineering, Arup, on the subject.

CTBUH Editor-in-Chief Daniel Safarik discusses the design and engineering potential, and the constructability advantages of mass timber with Rune Abrahamsen, CEO of Moelven, a timber manufacturing company and construction firm in Norway, which has constructed Mjostarnet, the world’s tallest all-timber building.

Robert Foster, Lecturer in Civil Engineering at the University of Cambridge has participated in several cutting-edge design projects to push the limits of tall timber. He spoke to CTBUH Editor-in-Chief Daniel Safarik about the true potential of mass timber, which can be competitive with steel and concrete in large and tall buildings.