Steve Freihon/Related-Oxford
New York, New York
Best Practices for Developer-Led Mass Timber Projects | Mass Timber Podcast
April 28, 2026
This post is part of Thornton Tomasetti Here’s How: Mainstreaming Mass Timber, a podcast hosted by Paul Becker and Kristina Rogers which explores trends, delivery and performance for mass timber in structural engineering projects.
About This Episode
What, from a developer’s perspective, does it take to deliver a successful mass timber project? In this episode, we explore how early engineering input and continuous collaboration can manage costs and risk to shape positive project outcomes from concept through construction.
Inside The Episode
In this episode, hosts Paul Becker and Kristina Rogers talk with Alejandro Fernandez about how the role of the engineer has evolved into a true strategic partnership within developer-led mass timber projects. When engaged at the earliest stages, experienced engineers can prevent complications by sharing effective approaches to schedule, accurate early pricing, insurance strategy, and permitting pathways. They can also help shape project teams and guide decision-making around delivery methods. This early collaboration ensures that all stakeholders are committed to designing for mass timber from the outset.
A major focus is placed on how close coordination among all team members directly impacts project feasibility and cost. Open communication and collaboration among architects, engineers, manufacturers, erectors, and contractors early on can identify cost drivers, enabling the team to optimize the design to lower costs.
The episode explores strategies for working with jurisdictions to facilitate approvals for code variances, using the real-world example of Ascent. It also covers ways in which the use of mass timber reduces construction costs, offsetting the cost of the material itself.
