MNSEA Monthly Meeting: Mass Timber

Description

Mass timber offers compelling benefits — speed of construction, carbon reduction, aesthetic warmth, and prefabrication efficiencies — but fully realizing those advantages requires early alignment between the design team, contractor, and manufacturer.

In this session, Tyler will share practical insights from real-world projects, focusing on structural system selection, connection strategies, MEP coordination, and key cost drivers that influence feasibility. Attendees will gain a clearer understanding of how early decisions around grid layout, system strategy, and coordination can meaningfully impact schedule, budget, and constructability.
 
Learning Objectives:

• Overview of supply chain for Mass Timber products.
• Understand the basic components of a mass timber structural system.
• Recognize how early design decisions impact cost and constructability.
• Understand typical connection approaches in mass timber buildings.
• Recognize when mass timber is a strong fit for a project.
• Understand the value of early collaboration with a manufacturer.

Tyler McRoberts, P.E.
Mass Timber Specialist – SmartLam North America
 

Tyler McRoberts is a mass timber specialist with SmartLam North America. He leads preconstruction and business development efforts throughout SmartLam’s Midwest and Rocky Mountain regions, supporting teams from early concept through procurement and construction.

Tyler works closely with project stakeholders to evaluate structural systems, optimize material specification, and enhance constructability while maintaining alignment with budget and schedule. He is passionate about advancing the mass timber industry and helping teams unlock the environmental, aesthetic, and economic advantages of building with wood.