How to Integrate Mass Timber and CLT for Sustainable Buildings

A Comprehensive Deep Dive into Wood Construction, Building Systems, and Success Stories

• 

  Brian Heather

  As the president and founder of SolTerra, I work to bring elements from nature into our built environment. It is my goal to demonstrate through designing, constructing and maintaining environmental technology that there is a massive payback in financial, cultural, human health, and environmental terms.

  SolTerra

  Founder and CEO

  Brian Heather

  Founder and CEO

  SolTerra

• 

  Bec Wilder

  Bec combines their vision for creating the world we know is possible with their background in sustainability, prefab, technology, construction, and development. Bec loves building teams to generate and operationalize creative solutions to move away from scarcity paradigms, fossil fuels, and the housing shortage; towards sustainability, abundance and love. Originally from the northeast, Bec moved to the West Coast to learn how to build green buildings. Quickly Bec joined a custom modular prefab company engaging with the promise and opportunity of prefab building. Bec earned an MBA in Sustainable Systems from Bainbridge Graduate Institute (Presidio Graduate School). From there, Bec helped companies and leaders build stronger, more effective teams before joining Don Bunnell as a founder of NODE, a construction technology start-up creating software enabled prefab components for fast, sustainable, and cost effective house assembly. Bec is excited to re-join the Green Canopy team as Green Canopy NODE to scale our impact, solutions and to build the future of construction.

  Green Canopy NODE

  CEO

  Bec Wilder

  CEO

  Green Canopy NODE

• 

  Brenda Colin

  Brenda has been part of Autodesk as a Technical Solution Executive for six years, helping customers adopt Autodesk technology to improve their business outcomes. Brenda's previous role was as a Contracts Specialist at Parsons International Limited, where she worked with the team in the Prime Contract administration and provided support during the formation and administration stage of subcontracts in the aviation sector. Before this experience, Brenda worked at KMD Architects Mexico, where she was an essential resource during the transition from 2D to BIM models for mixed-used building projects.

  Autodesk

  Technical Solution Executive

  Brenda Colin

  Technical Solution Executive

  Autodesk

• 

  Ken Lowney

  Ken Lowney is the Founder and President of Lowney Architecture, a multidisciplinary practice offering architectural, interior, and master planning services. With locations in Oakland and Honolulu, the firm focuses its practice on residential, mixed-use, hospitality and retail projects. In his hometown of Oakland, Ken leads discussions about community development, affordable housing and off-site construction design methods while serving in leadership roles for the Modular Building Institute, SPUR, the Oakland Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, and the Oakland Land Use Committee. Lowney Architecture first made its mark with expertise in urban retail, specifically grocery store design. The firm is now also synonymous with the design and delivery of innovative, prefabricated projects, having designed over 6,000 modular units.

  Lowney Architecture

  President

  Moderator

  Ken Lowney

  President

  Lowney Architecture

From Blueprint to Build: Maximizing Efficiency and Advancements in Prefabrication

From Futuristic Hotels to Affordable Housing Solutions, How are Innovative Construction Methods Shaping the Future of Construction?

• 

  Ben McGhee

  In short, I love buildings, that is all. To put a bit more to it... after starting out as an architectural designer, I've now spent the bulk of my career on the developer/ownership side and have grown into the role of Project Director. From initial due diligence all the way through to early operations I'm ultimately responsible for the schedule, budget, and quality of ground up development projects for citizenM on the US West Coast. This has me directing large complex teams of consultants, suppliers, and contractors, while also watching out for the endless roadblocks related to planning, permitting, and utilities (thanks for the sleepless nights California). As an added bonus, I've worked exclusively on projects built using volumetric modules (think customized shipping container buildings). Try building a European product in China and stacking it up in California, not exactly for the faint of heart...

  SideStreet

  Founder

  Ben McGhee

  Founder

  SideStreet

• 

  Brian Cavanaugh

  With over 29 years of experience, Brian has demonstrated a unique commitment to the practice of architecture and played a critical leadership role in his community. His record of design excellence, his contributions to academic and non-profit institutions, and his positions on municipal boards, all speak to a career built on a deeply held belief in the value of the architecture profession and its potential to serve the public good. In 2009, Brian founded the firm Architecture Building Culture. Over the past 15 years the firm has established itself as one of the leading design firms in the Pacific Northwest having received over twenty-six design awards at the local, state, regional and national levels. In 2014, ABC won the Emerging Firm of the Year Award from the AIA Northwest & Pacific Region. In 2012 Brian was honored with the national AIA Young Architects Award. In 2023 Brian joined the national A&E firm, Huitt-Zollars (HZ) and has established the company’s new office in Portland. Brian is expanding HZ’s architecture practice in the Pacific Northwest, as well as providing design leadership across the company. Brian has been an instructor at Victoria University of Wellington, the University of Southern California, the Boston Architectural Center, Woodbury University, Otis College of Art & Design, and a guest critic at a number of academic institutions. Most recently he served as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Oregon. Brian is a licensed architect in California, Oregon, and Washington. He is a member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and is certified by the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB). He is the past President of Portland’s Center for Architecture and a past President of AIA Portland (now AIA Oregon).

  Huitt-Zollars

  VP

  Brian Cavanaugh

  VP

  Huitt-Zollars

• 

  Justin Stewart

  Justin Stewart is the CEO and Owner of 8-time National Excellence in Construction Award winning Synergy, Inc, and industry disrupting Synergy Modular. Synergy has built over 10,000 units and countless commercial projects as a GC over the last three decades in the Pacific Northwest. In 2017, in response to a demand for predictability, Justin founded Synergy Modular, building projects at a fixed cost, in 30-50% less time.

  Synergy Inc.

  CEO

  Justin Stewart

  CEO

  Synergy Inc.

• 

  Heith Bibby

  With over 30 years of experience in the construction industry, Heith Bibby is the proud owner and founder of Mandeville Modular. Throughout his career, he has spent 20 years as a general contractor, honing his skills and expertise. What sets him apart is his impressive 14 years of specialized experience in modular construction. Mr. Bibby’s background in both business and engineering has laid a solid foundation for the success of Mandeville Modular. This unique combination of knowledge allows him to approach projects with a comprehensive understanding of both the technical and logistical aspects. Mr. Bibby takes immense pride in the various modular housing projects he has had the privilege of working on in the vibrant City of Los Angeles. These opportunities have allowed him to showcase his expertise and contribute to the development of innovative and sustainable housing solutions. At Mandeville Modular, we are committed to delivering exceptional quality and craftsmanship. With our extensive experience, we are confident in our ability to exceed your expectations and create spaces that are not only functional but also esthetically pleasing.

  Mandeville Modular

  President

  Moderator

  Heith Bibby

  President

  Mandeville Modular

Case Study: Mass Timber and Housing Innovation Campus at T2 (MTHIC)

Discover How the Port of Portland is Transforming a Former Marine Terminal into a Hub for Mass Timber R&D and Climate-Focused Initiatives

• 

  Kenneth Anderton

  Ken Anderton is the Senior Manager of Real Estate Development, Investment and Leasing for the Port of Portland. He has served a variety of real estate related roles in his 22 years with the Port. He has been active in the airport and industrial real estate field since 1997. He started his career in Salt Lake City where he was the Airport Property Manager during the 2002 Olympic Games. He holds a BS in Aviation Management from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University and an MBA with emphasis in International Business from University of Phoenix. Ken’s current role with the Port is to lead a team to acquire, develop and redevelop marine and industrial properties. This is in support of the Port’s mission to increase economic prosperity in the region that all can benefit from. He is the program manager for the redevelopment of T2 into a mass timber housing innovation campus and has overseen the development of Troutdale Reynolds Industrial Park and Gresham Vista Business Parks in the East Multnomah County area. He is also the President of the Multnomah County Drainage District and sits on the Gresham Chamber Board.

  Port of Portland

  Senior Manager

  Kenneth Anderton

  Senior Manager

  Port of Portland

• 

  Iain MacDonald

  Iain Macdonald is the founding Director of the TallWood Design Institute, a position he has held since 2016. He has worked in business development, training, and research management roles in the forest products industry for 23 years, prior to which he was involved in export marketing of building products to Asia Pacific markets. Macdonald led the Centre for Advanced Wood Processing (CAWP) at University of British Columbia, Canada (UBC) for nine years, during which time he was involved in pioneering efforts by the Province of British Columbia to stimulate and support mass timber industry development. Iain holds degrees in marketing and professional education. He has significant experience globally in the design and delivery of technical and business education to workplace and professional learners, and in creating programs to stimulate innovation, entrepreneurship, and business development. He is a director and past chair of Canada’s Wood Manufacturing Council and is currently the lead on the Pacific Northwest Mass Timber Tech Hub.

  Tallwood Design Institute

  Director

  Iain MacDonald

  Director

  Tallwood Design Institute

• 

  Monty Hill

  Monty Hill, Associate Principal and Design Director at Mackenzie, has over 25 years of architectural design experience. Monty has provided design leadership on projects for a diverse range of clients, and across a wide variety of project types. This extensive experience informs Monty’s unique perspective on innovation and opportunity in the Portland and Pacific Northwest markets. Monty has been involved in the design of mixed-use towers, corporate campuses, commercial office buildings, retail buildings, healthcare facilities, and multi-family housing. His approach to design aims to create meaningful experience, and provide comfort, intrigue, and delight to the people who will use the space.

  Mackenzie

  Design Director & Associate Principal

  Monty Hill

  Design Director & Associate Principal

  Mackenzie

• 

  Judith Sheine

  Judith Sheine is a Professor in the Department of Architecture at the University of Oregon and is an Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture Distinguished Professor. Sheine served as UO Department of Architecture Head 2012-17 and, previously, was Professor and Chair of the Architecture Department at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, 2002-12. She is the Director of Design for the TallWood Design Institute, a collaboration between the University of Oregon’s College of Design and Oregon State University’s Colleges of Forestry and Engineering focused on the advancement of timber manufacturing and design. Sheine is also an award-winning architect whose projects have been published internationally and she has been recognized as the leading authority on the work of R.M. Schindler; her publications on the architect include R.M. Schindler (Phaidon Press, 2001) and her most recent book, Schindler, Kings Road and Southern California Modernism (University of California Press, 2012), co-authored with Robert Sweeney.

  University of Oregon, Department of Architecture

  Professor

  Judith Sheine

  Professor

  University of Oregon, Department of Architecture

• 

  Brian Gunn

  Brian Gunn, who joined the Port of Portland in 2023 as Real Estate Development and Leasing Manager, brings over twelve years of experience in development, general contracting, and urban planning. His focus is on optimizing underutilized assets within the Port’s industrial portfolio and acquiring cash- flowing properties to establish sustainable revenue streams. Before joining the Port, Brian served as an Associate Broker at CBRE, specializing in investment properties and development site sales. During his tenure at CBRE, Brian’s team achieved remarkable success, closing 42 commercial real estate transactions. These transactions totaled over 1.4 million square feet and amounted to approximately $377 million in total consideration. Additionally, he worked with M.A. Mortenson Company, concentrating on site selection and acquisitions for commercial development. In 2015, Brian earned his Master of Urban and Regional Planning, along with a graduate certificate in Real Estate Development, from Portland State University. His bachelor’s degree in environmental studies and planning was obtained from Sonoma State University in 2013.

  Port of Portland

  Real Estate Development and Leasing Manager

  Moderator

  Brian Gunn

  Real Estate Development and Leasing Manager

  Port of Portland