Creating Beautiful, Accessible, and Equitable Spaces with Mass Timber
Building for a resilient future
Sponsored by Think Wood | Presented by Chandra Robinson
This course explores the innovative use of mass timber in architecture. Chandra Robinson’s experience with mass timber projects showcases the material’s potential to advance building technologies while promoting sustainability, equity, and resilience. Case studies ranging from affordable housing to commercial buildings highlight practical applications and benefits of mass timber construction.
Adidas North American Headquarters | LEVER Architecture,
Photo Credit: LEVER Architecture
Think Wood provides commercial, multifamily and single-family home design and build resources to architects, developers, and contractors, including education, research, design tools, and innovative project profiles.
Originally published in Architectural Record
Originally published in September 2026
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
- Identify the structural, environmental, and aesthetic advantages of using mass timber in modern architecture.
- Examine how sustainability and equity can be integrated into projects through local sourcing, community representation, and support for minority- and women-owned businesses and tribal enterprises.
- Explain how testing and performance-based design address fire safety, seismic resilience, and long-term durability in mass timber buildings.
- Describe mass timber design and construction strategies—including prefabrication, full-scale mockups, and building-systems integration—that can improve efficiency, cost-effectiveness, accessibility, and environmental performance.
