Building Codes & Fire Safety

Impact of new tall wood ICC and BC codes. Acceptance of offsite light frame construction by building inspectors across North America? Fire safety: How to mitigate the impact of fire on life, safety and property.

Moderator: Bill Parsons, VP Operations, WoodWorks

Breakout Topic 1:
Exploring Planning Complexities of Mass Timber for Residential Projects
Lisa Podesto, Timber & Innovations Specialist, Lendlease
-Design and cost planning for a new structural typology without having years of actual examples and project pricing data is a challenge. However, understanding where the pinch points are can go a long way in reducing risk and heavy contingency. This presentation will highlight the code restrictions that impact design flexibility and create detailing challenges as well as the manufacturing limitations and installation complexities that further impact cost and design opportunities.

Breakout Topic 2:
Tall Timber Construction: New Code Provisions, Design Steps and Impacts on North American Markets
Ricky McLain, Senior Director Tall Wood, Woodworks

Breakout Topic 3:
INTRO: A 9-story mixed-use mass timber building in the heart of Cleveland
John Mitchell, Hartshorne Plunkard Architecture
-Anticipated to be one of the largest mass timber structures in the U.S. when complete in 2021, INTRO Cleveland is a mixed-use residential project located in the Ohio City neighborhood. The transit-oriented development is ideally located near a light-rail stop, multiple bus routes, and across from the historic West Side Market.
The nine-story building will offer 300 luxury apartments, many with unobstructed downtown and lake views, as well as over an acre of active public green space. The building massing is anchored around an open and active pedestrian plaza, which creates a vibrant extension of the West Side market and will serve as a community gathering space activated by art, cultural and family events. Additional amenities include a 12,500 SF rooftop event venue, a fitness center, patios and bicycle storage.
In this presentation, the architect will describe the motivating factors that led to the use of mass timber, as well as the design process for a first of its kind structure. Discussion will include construction type selection and impacts on fire-ratings and timber exposure, as well as building core and mechanical services integration.