Innovative Solutions and Paths to Success: Shaping the Skyline with Mass Timber

Eric Karsh, Founding Principal, Equilibrium

Welcome by Master of Ceremonies

8:25 – 8:30

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.

Jarrett Hutchinson, Executive Director, Office of Mass Timber Implementation

Moderator

8:30 – 8:35

Jarrett Hutchinson is the Executive Director of the Office of Mass Timber Implementation (OMTI) with the Province of British Columbia. He has been instrumental in advancing the use of mass timber in B.C. and across Canada. Highlights include creating the Building Code that allowed the 18-storey Brock Commons student residence at the University of British Columbia, and more recently, developing B.C.’s Mass Timber Action Plan which was released in 2022. Throughout his career, Jarrett has held leadership roles in the development, application and enforcement of codes, standards and built environment policies locally, provincially, nationally and internationally.

Ana Belizario, Sales Director, Urbem

From thermites to future

8:35 – 8:55

Ana Belizário is the Sales Director at Urbem, a Brazilian mass timber manufacturer aiming to transform the construction industry through innovative structural systems. Since 2017, Ana has led Urbem’s efforts with a focus on urban development through faster, more efficient, and more sustainable building solutions. With over 20 years of experience in the real estate market, Ana is an architect and a PhD candidate at FAU-USP, specializing in timber structures. She believes in the urgency of engaging experts to tackle climate change by reducing carbon emissions in the construction sector.

Steven Ware, Architect, ArtBuild

Completing the Circle: Keeping Timber in the Loop

8:55 – 9:15

Born in London and raised in Jamaica, Steven studied biology at Western University and architecture at the AA, graduating with honours. As a partner with ArtBuild architects, he steers the development and application of bio-adaptive design principles, seeking new ways to fuse ethics and aesthetics. The practice’s internal Lab works with biologists, academics, industrialists, and research groups to develop biomimetic concepts which can be transferred to mainstream construction practice. Steven lectures widely on subjects that bridge biology and the built environment, exploring the very nature of intelligence informing architects and the building sector at large.

Andrew Waugh, Director, Waugh Thistleton Architects

PL03.01 Plenary Speaker

9:15 – 9:35

Andrew is a Founding Director of Waugh Thistleton Architects, a practice dedicated to delivering beautiful buildings and places that acknowledge their impact on the environment. He is a world-renowned spokesperson for low carbon architecture and innovative construction, and lobbies and lectures internationally, communicating the urgent need for change to mitigate the climate crisis. Andrew demonstrates his commitment to driving forward a green transition in the construction sector as a member of the steering committee for Architects Declare as well as a Senior Fellow for Architecture 2030. A pivotal player in the global shift towards renewable, bio-based materials, Andrew’s innovative approach to design has been acknowledged by many awards including the RIBA President’s Award for Research and a Stirling Prize nomination in 2018 and the UK Practice of the Year award for 2023. The practice is currently engaged in both research and design projects throughout Europe and North America.

Jarrett Hutchinson, Executive Director, Office of Mass Timber Implementation

Panel Discussion

9:35 – 10:00