Glotman Simpson prides itself on being at the cutting edge of structural engineering. As engineers, we are always looking at new ways of sharpening the pencil on our designs. These efforts are shared in our technical retreat, a two-day event held in Whistler every few years. It’s a forum for thoughtful discussion on the implications of our work and where it might lead next. Topics include new design guides, analysis tools, code evolutions, and many more (with a sprinkling of soft skills and management woven in as well).

While some topics focused on sustainability, many of the more technical sessions revealed meaningful embodied carbon takeaways:

  • There were presentations on innovative seismic design methodologies and technologies. The lateral force resistance system (LFRS) can account for 25 to 40% of the total building’s embodied carbon, making it a prime area for embodied carbon reduction.
  • We also showcased new analysis tools for piles and pile caps, allowing us to hone our designs and reduce significant volumes of concrete in buildings that are located on weaker soils.
  • An enlightening discussion based on transfer design studies ensured we all have the correct mindset and tools to minimize the impact of these typically carbon-heavy building elements.

 

  • Away from concrete and steel, we released new light-frame timber design tools, ensuring our wood frame projects remain lean. Strategies to mitigate the impact of higher seismic design loads from BCBC 2024 were shared to ensure we still minimize material usage (even with wood, where the embodied carbon impact is already reduced)
  • We also developed internal tools to streamline and standardize our mass timber designs based on the latest research and innovations in the industry. These tools help facilitate the use of mass timber in high-rise buildings as the point-supported mass timber tower currently under construction, North Shore Neighbourhood House.

Of course, we dedicated sessions on sustainability topics. A new ‘Sustainability Book’ features a library of one-page guides on all topics relevant to embodied carbon in building structures, ensuring the team has access to the latest sustainability knowledge. We released a new simplified LCA tool too. Assessing embodied carbon quantities early in the design process helps us achieve the greatest embodied carbon reductions.

Thanks to many of the sustainability tools we’ve developed and the data we’ve collected, it is becoming easier to demonstrate the impact of pushing conventions through advanced analysis and design innovation. We look forward to sharing more detail on many of the topics mentioned above and ensuring the key sustainability takeaways from our retreat are shared with the wider construction industry. Lots of interested findings are made when you take a step back and rethink the way things have always been done.

Written by Rory Roberts

Together, we can contribute to a more sustainable built environment. If you are interested in sustainability and would like to discuss any of the topics in this article, please get in touch with us at [email protected].

For more information on our sustainability initiatives and to stay updated on our latest projects, visit our website and follow our “OnTrack” blog series.