New Code Provisions for Tall Timber Structures in California

New Code Provisions for Tall Timber Structures in California

An AIA LA Building Performance & Regulations Committee presentation by

Mike Romanowski, S.E. – Regional Director [CA-South, AZ, NM] – Project Support Field Division, WoodWorks – Wood Products Council

REGISTER HERE (Free w/ advance RSVP)

As awareness of mass timber’s potential for tall wood structures has grown, there has been a push among U.S. building designers to achieve greater heights with these materials. Initially, tall wood buildings were proposed using international examples as precedent, with a project-specific performance-based design approach used. However, a uniform set of code provisions will come into effect with the 2021 International Building Code (IBC), which will allow up to 18 stories of mass timber construction. The 2019 California Building Code (CBC) is also poised to permit tall timber buildings with a series of code changes based on the new IBC provisions, but with California-specific modifications, scheduled to be adopted in July of 2021. Following a brief discussion of history and motivators, this presentation will introduce the new IBC and CBC tall wood code provisions, as well as the technical research and testing that supported their adoption.

Learning Objectives:

1. Review the global history of tall wood construction and highlight the mass timber products used in these structures.
2. Explore the work and conclusions of the ICC Ad Hoc Committee on Tall Wood Buildings in establishing 14 new Group A and 3 new Group B code provisions for the 2021 IBC that address tall wood construction.
3. Discuss differences between the new tall wood mass timber construction types and existing construction types.
4. Identify differences between the 2021 IBC and 2019 CBC relative to code allowances for tall timber structures.

Additional Resources:

Tall Wood Buildings in the 2021 IBC

Mike Romanowski, S.E. – Regional Director [CA-South, AZ, NM] – Project Support Field Division, WoodWorks – Wood Products Council

Mike received his B.S. degree in Architectural Engineering from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo in 1979 and was involved in the practice of structural engineering for a number of San Diego based firms over a span of 37 years. His experience includes design, construction administration, contract plan checking, peer review and forensic investigations for various types of projects utilizing all types of building materials. Mike has had articles published in Structural Engineer and San Diego Constructor magazines, has served as an SEAOSD Director, was a member of the SEAOC Code Streamlining Committee and is now Co-Chair of the SEAOSD Sustainable Design Committee. Mike is a licensed Structural Engineer in the State of California and is currently the Regional Director covering Southern California, Arizona and New Mexico for WoodWorks.

REGISTER HERE (Free w/ advance RSVP)

AIA|LA Building Performance & Regulations Committee Leadership:

Robert Crawford, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP BD+C, WELL AP, EDAC – Associate | Architect, SmithGroup (CHAIR)

Robert Crawford is involved with the Building Performance and Regulations Committee aiming to positively impact the wellness of occupants and energy efficiency of buildings. He is an experienced practicing architect with an interest in using recent technological advancements to inform and create human-experience-centric, environmentally conscientious, and socially just projects.

Crawford is an Associate at SmithGroup in Los Angeles where he has been recognized by ENR California as a Top 20 Under 40 design and construction professional. Prior to SmithGroup, he previously worked for Shigeru Ban Architects, wHY Architecture, and Michael Maltzan Architects. Robert has lectured in the US and abroad. His work has won multiple awards and been published in leading journals.

Robert holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Architecture from Rice University where he was the recipient of the William Ward Watkin Traveling Fellowship for best senior architecture project.

Zinayda Reyes, AIA, NCARB – Project Architect, Ware Malcomb (Vice-Chair/Chair-elect)

Zinayda Reyes, AIA, is a licensed architect based in the Los Angeles area. She earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture from Cal Poly Pomona, and completed her 4th year at the International Program in Florence, Italy. Throughout her career, she has worked in the planning, design and construction of a variety of architectural typologies, consisting of residential, commercial, mixed use and historical renovations and rehabilitations. Her work has emphasized code analysis and interpretation, materials and systems research, document control, and construction administration. Zinayda’s main interests are building performance, user-centered design, and accessibility-compliance. She also inspires others in her professional life, by mentoring recent graduates and by teaching architecture to new generations of students. She has taught architecture at the Art Center for Kids program in Pasadena, CA. Born and raised in El Salvador, her interests are influenced by the needs she has observed in her community, and by the social consciousness acquired both during her youth and in her experiences in the greater-LA community. In addition to being an AIA member, she holds an NCARB certificate, and is actively involved with the International Code Council, Los Angeles Chapter.

PHOTO CREDITS:  Brock Commons, the 18-story CLT student housing facility at UBC, completed in September of 2017.  Photo By Mike Romanowski, S.E.