Steve Freihon/Related-Oxford
New York, New York
Collaboration & Proprietary Systems at Under Armour’s Headquarters | Mass Timber Podcast
May 11, 2026
This post is part of Thornton Tomasetti Here’s How: Mainstreaming Mass Timber, a podcast hosted by Paul Becker and Kristina Rogers exploring mass timber design, delivery and performance in structural engineering projects.
About This Episode
What role do proprietary systems play in mass timber buildings and how do they impact design and construction? This episode explores how engineers can effectively incorporate supplier-preferred assemblies to unlock cost savings, accelerate schedules, and improve project delivery. What role do proprietary systems play in mass timber buildings, and how do they affect design, fabrication and construction? In this episode, Doug Schweizer discusses the Under Armour Global Headquarters and how supplier-preferred assemblies can help reduce costs, accelerate schedules and improve project delivery when teams coordinate early.
Listen to the Episode
Inside the Episode: Proprietary Mass Timber Systems
In this episode, hosts Paul Becker and Kristina Rogers talk with Doug Schweizer about how proprietary mass timber systems can improve project delivery when design, fabrication and construction teams align early. The conversation centers on the Under Armour Global Headquarters, a 280,000-square-foot office building, where proprietary connections introduced by binderholz helped streamline fabrication, reduce installation time and deliver measurable cost and schedule savings.
The episode highlights the technical coordination required to use proprietary systems effectively. Engineers must understand manufacturer design assumptions, review calculations and confirm that connection details integrate with the architectural vision and other building systems. Early engagement and frequent communication help the team build confidence before construction begins.
The discussion also shows how engineers act as a bridge between manufacturers, architects and contractors. On the Under Armour headquarters project, collaboration among Thornton Tomasetti, Gensler, Whiting-Turner, Seagate Mass Timber and binderholz helped translate proprietary concepts into buildable, efficient mass timber solutions.
