Mass Timber in Secure Government Facilities: Research, Standards, and Applications

This seminar delves into the groundbreaking integration of mass timber into secure government and defense facilities. Participants will examine feasibility studies, advanced simulations, and rigorous physical testing conducted under initiatives by the U.S. Department of State, USDA, and the Army Corps of Engineers.

We’ll explore planned updates to standards like the Unified Facilities Criteria (UFC) that address force protection and progressive collapse requirements and the innovative legal frameworks enabling early contractor involvement in large-scale military projects.

Discover how mass timber meets stringent security standards while promoting performance, biophilic design, and a shift in government construction practices.

Topic: Introduction to Mass Timber for Secure Facilities

Whitney Warman, Studio Ma, and Christopher Cheung, OBO, will provide an overview of the mass timber feasibility study goals and the motivations behind its inception. This section will emphasize the performance aspects that drive the integration of mass timber into government and defense projects.

Topic: Testing and Analysis of Mass Timber in Protective Design

Sharon Gallant, KPFF: Presents findings from FEBR (Forced Entry and Ballistic Resistance) analysis and testing.

Mark Weaver, K&C: Shares insights from blast testing and the results of a capstone mockup designed to demonstrate mass timber’s performance under high-impact scenarios.

Patrick Hopple, LERA: Discusses progressive collapse testing and its implications for enhancing the safety and resilience of mass timber structures.

Topic: Pathways for Implementation

Pete Stynoski, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), will present an overview of the construction bulletin that requires Army design teams to consider mass timber in all vertical construction projects. He will describe efforts to update force protection and progressive collapse guidance in coordination with the Protective Design Center as well as pathways for contractor involvement enabling early collaboration on large-scale military projects.

Whitney Warman

Architect
Studio Ma

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Mark Weaver

Principal
Karagozian & Case

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Sharon Gallant

Managing Principal
KPFF, Inc.

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Patrick Hopple

Partner
LERA Consulting Structural Engineers

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Christopher Cheung

Design Manager
Overseas Buildings Operations in State Department

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Pete Stynoski

Research Civil Engineer
US Army ERDC

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Session CEUs: Course Description and Learning Objectives

Course Description

This seminar delves into the groundbreaking integration of mass timber into secure government and defense facilities. Participants will examine feasibility studies, advanced simulations, and rigorous physical testing conducted under initiatives by the U.S. Department of State, USDA, and the Army Corps of Engineers. We’ll explore planned updates to standards like the Unified Facilities Criteria (UFC) that address force protection and progressive collapse requirements and the innovative legal frameworks enabling early contractor involvement in large-scale military projects. Discover how mass timber meets stringent security standards while promoting sustainability, biophilic design, and a shift in government construction practices.

Learning Objectives

1. Understand the feasibility of mass timber in high-security applications
2. Analyze the results from initial simulations and physical testing to assess mass timber’s capability, flexibility, and resilience in diplomatic facilities
3. Compare the efficiency and sustainability benefits of using mass timber in government projects
4. Explore innovative legal pathways for early contractor involvement in government projects