Design Partnerships: The Early Years of Timber Innovation in BC

Lucas Epp, Vice President and Head of Engineering, StructureCraft

Moderator

Lucas Epp is the Vice President and Head of Engineering at StructureCraft and is a leader in the fields of timber engineering and computational design. His work has a deep focus on implementing efficient, sustainable structures through a computational and creative design approach – exemplified in projects such as the KF Aerospace Centre for Excellence at the Kelowna Airport, the Taiyuan Botanical Garden Domes in China (which won ACEC’s Award of Excellence and Ambassador Award, IStructE’s Structural Award, and ENR’s Global Best Project Award), and Beedie’s Fraser Mills Presentation Centre in Coquitlam. Lucas has lectured widely, and has taught at the Architectural Association, ETH, Imperial College, and the University of British Columbia. Lucas is also the founder of Branch — a software revolutionizing structural analysis, design, detailing and manufacturing for mass timber and beyond.

Paul Fast, Founder, Fast + Epp

Panelist

As founder of Fast + Epp, Paul Fast has emerged a leader in architecturally-exposed structures and is recognized for his unconventional use of materials, including hybrids of timber, concrete and steel. For over three decades, Paul has been the design lead for many of the firm’s most significant award winning projects, including the Richmond Olympic Oval, the Grandview Heights Aquatic Centre, the Kingsway Pedestrian Bridge, and the 18-storey Tallwood House at UBC. In 2021, he was awarded IStructE’s Gold Medal for his contributions to the advancement of structural engineering worldwide. Paul is a Clinical Professor at the College of Fine + Applied Arts, University of Illinois and is an Honourary Member of the Architectural Institute of B.C..

Gerald Epp, President and Chief Engineer, StructureCraft

Panelist

As President and Chief Engineer at StructureCraft and former partner at Fast + Epp, Gerald’s inquisitive approach to engineering has given him a special love for elegant, efficient architectural structures. His most unique contribution to the building world came, however, when in 1998 he started StructureCraft, becoming both engineer and builder of his refined structures, thus creating a unique tool to ensure both elegance and efficiency.

His collaborations have resulted in award winning projects of nearly every genre, such as the Surrey Central City & Library, the Arena Stage Theater in Washington DC, the unique Wood Wave panels for the 2010 Olympic Speed Skating Oval, the Tianfu Agricultural Expo, and the Nancy Pauw Bridge in Banff (for which he won IStructE’s Supreme Award in 2023). Gerald is an honorary member of the AIBC and a recipient of the Meritorious Achievement Award from EGBC. He has lectured globally, including at RIBA in London, and twice at the World Conference on Timber Engineering. Under Gerald’s leadership, StructureCraft has engineered and built over 350 creative structures around the globe.

John Patkau, Principal, Patkau Architects

Panelist

John Patkau founded Patkau Architects with Patricia Patkau in 1978. His visionary design work spans across significant cultural, residential, educational and commercial applications, with a particular focus on sculptural quality, multifaceted expression of material, comfort, and clear delineation of detail. John is a Fellow of the Royal Architecture Institute of Canada, an Honorary Fellow of the American Institute of Architects and the Royal Institute of British Architects, a member of the American Society of Landscape Architects, a member of the Royal Canadian Academy of Art, a recipient of the Royal Architecture Institute of Canada’s Gold Medal, and a Member of the Order of Canada.

Michael Heeney, President and CEO, Surrey City Development Corporation

Panelist

A nationally and internationally recognized city builder, architect and urban strategist with over 30 years’ experience guiding organizations and leading diverse projects, Michael Heeney joined the Surrey City Development Corporation (SCDC) as President and CEO in 2017. He came to SCDC from Bing Thom Architects where he was Managing Principal. For over 28 years with that firm, he led local and international projects, often ones without precedent and in highly complex situations and jurisdictions. Amongst others, these projects included the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts at UBC, the Central City complex in Surrey, Tarrant County College in Fort Worth, Texas and Arena Stage in Washington DC.

Shinobu Homma, Principal, HOMMA Architectural Studio

Panelist

Shinobu Homma grew up in the Niigata Prefecture in Japan, in a household that practiced traditional Japanese joinery. He received his Bachelor of Technology in Architecture degree at the Tokyo University of Science before immigrating to Canada in 1980. He was the Technical Principal at Bing Thom Architects and then Revery Architecture for over 30 years, until his retirement in 2024.

Exuding endless energy, Shinobu is a respected mentor for the next generation of designers, with a breadth and depth knowledge of fine detailing, technical knowledge, and design sensitivity.

Shinobu is also a passionate and well-known volunteer in the community and was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2013 for his service, achievements, and contributions to Canada.

Martin Nielsen, DIALOG design

Panelist

A registered architect and mechanical engineer, Martin brings over two decades of experience and leadership to DIALOG’s urban design, mixed-use development, higher education, and transportation projects. He is passionate about developing sustainable design solutions that are socially, economically, and environmentally responsible, with a portfolio of work that has been recognized with awards for planning, architecture, and innovation. 

Martin is currently leading the design of 2150 Keith Drive, a 10-storey mass timber office building employing an innovative braced frame structural system that integrates an array of outdoor spaces into a honeycomb exoskeleton. He has taught at the UBC School of Architecture and Faculty of Engineering and has served as chair of the UBC Advisory Urban Design Panel and is currently serving on the UBC Land Use Committee. He has served on the Board of the Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC) and served as chair on the City of Vancouver Urban Design Panel. At DIALOG, Martin is a founder of the Green Practice Roundtable, an internal research arm to advance sustainable outcomes.

Eric Karsh, Founding Principal, Equilibrium

Panelist

Eric Karsh is the founding partner of Equilibrium, a globally recognized leader in timber engineering and construction since 1998, with offices in Vancouver, Atlanta, and Paris.

With over 35 years of experience as a structural engineer, Eric has played a pivotal role in shaping the international timber industry. His portfolio includes numerous landmark, award-winning projects, such as the Wood Innovation and Design Centre in British Columbia, Mass Timber One (MT1)—Google’s first mass timber office building, located in Sunnyvale, California, and the Créteil Schoolboard office building in Paris, France.

Renowned for his innovative design approach and dedication to sustainable construction, Eric has received international recognition for advancing environmentally responsible building practices. He is a Fellow of the Institution of Structural Engineers (UK) and a part owner of BC Passive House, a leader in the prefabrication of wood-based, high-performance building systems.

Michael Green, Michael Green Architecture

Panelist

Michael Green is an award-winning architect, speaker, and author known for using design to create meaningful, more sustainable built environments that benefit both people and planet.

A leader in wood and bio-based construction and innovation, he has completed some of the most significant timber buildings in the world, and has been recognized with over fifty international awards for design excellence, including the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada Firm of the Year , Architizer’s Revolution in Design Award in 2023, Best in North America Firm Award in both 2021 and 2022, four Governor General’s Medals, two RAIC Innovation Awards, and the American Institute of Architects Innovation Award. Michael lectures internationally on the future of design and construction, including his TED talks, “The Natural Building Blocks of Sustainable Architecture” in 2023 and “Why We Should Build Wooden Skyscrapers” in 2012. He serves as a government policy advisor on mass timber design and is the co-author of the first and second editions of ‘The Case for Tall Wood Buildings’ and ‘Tall Wood Buildings: Design, Construction and Performance.’

An avid traveler and adventurer, Michael has explored remote regions of every continent.These journeys through nature are what inspire his work.

Shelley Craig, Founder/Principal Urban Arts Architecture

Panelist

Shelley graduated from the University of Waterloo with a Bachelor of Environmental Studies (Architecture) in 1980 and from the Architectural Association with a Masters in Architecture in 1984. Prior to forming Urban Arts Architecture in 2006, she was the principal of Urban Forum Architecture for 14 years. Shelley has been an adjunct professor at the UBC School of Architecture, University of Waterloo, and the Emily Carr University. Her recently completed Radium Hot Springs Community Centre and Library was one of the first DLT buildings in Canada and received a SAB Green Building Award. 

Lubor Trubka, Principal Architect, Lubor Trubka Associates Architects

Panelist

Lubor has operated LTA as a local and international practice since 1975 with a specialized focus on large-scale wood and engineered wood structures. His designs have won many awards nationally and internationally and have been featured in architecture and design journals both in Canada and abroad. Lubor was awarded a Fellowship of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada in 2014 and received the Canadian Wood Council “Wood Champion” award in 2008 in recognition of his lifelong contributions to wood architecture.