Shaken, Not Broken: The "Next Big Thing" in Mass Timber Seismic Performance

Session Type
Presentation
Date
August 21st
Time
1:45 PM - 2:45 PM
Location
Denver Art Museum
Room/Stage
Congdon Room
Session info
Session Category
No items found.
Continuing Education Credits
Yes
No
Continuing Education Type
Learn how to apply these lessons at the Mass Timber Group Summit in Denver, Colorado
What You'll Learn
  1. Identify the design elements that contributed to the building's exceptional seismic resilience.
  2. Recognize specific global innovations in mass timber construction applicable to high-seismic zones.
  3. Apply practical strategies and insights from the TallWood project to immediately enhance your mass timber projects.

When Dr. Shiling Pei took on the NHERI TallWood project, he didn't just set records—he reshaped our understanding of mass timber’s seismic capabilities. After subjecting a full-scale, 10-story mass timber building to over 150 simulated earthquakes, including some of the most powerful tremors ever recorded, Dr. Pei discovered something extraordinary: minimal structural and non-structural damage, challenging conventional beliefs about wood's durability under seismic stress.

Fresh from his global travels to seismic hotspots like New Zealand and Japan, Dr. Pei brings a unique global perspective on what's next for mass timber construction in earthquake-prone regions. In this session, he’ll unpack key lessons from TallWood’s unprecedented testing, his insights from international leaders in seismic resilience, and bold predictions for how mass timber could revolutionize building practices.

Expect a candid, forward-looking conversation filled with compelling data, surprising discoveries, and clear pathways to apply these groundbreaking findings to your projects—empowering you to lead conversations confidently on seismic safety, resiliency, and the future of mass timber.

Speakers
Shiling Pei, Ph.D. P.E.
Associate Professor

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