February 18, 2022

Mass Timber Joinery Design for Digital Fabrication and De-constructability

ARC Fellow: Nathan Brown
Degree Program: M Arch; MS Arch, Design Technology
Faculty Advisors: Tomás Méndez Echenagucia, Architecture
Firm: Turner Construction
Firm Advisors: Josh Lohr
Project dates: Autumn 2021 – Autumn 2022

Read the Project Thesis
Click to View Presentation Slides
Click to Watch the Final Presentation

More about the project: 

When looking at building construction, a significant portion of building waste is produced by making buildings that will be torn down in 20-50 years. This is partly due to the difficulty of disassembly, where each part of assembly is attached with adhesives or permanent mechanical fasteners. Recycling products also brings about difficulty when systems use a multitude of materials for their purposes.  In addition, most materials that are used in the construction industry contribute heavily to carbon emissions. Timber products provide the benefit of being malleable and having the ability to store carbon. We can address both the issues of carbon emissions and building waste at the same time by constructing a timber structural system that utilizes integral mechanical attachments rather than fasteners.