SUMMARY
When the nine-story, wood-framed Murray Grove multifamily project opened in London in 2009, it sparked both inspiration and debate over the use of mass timber technology for high-rise construction.
Almost overnight, the design and construction community worldwide become fascinated with the high-tech modern-day application of one of the world’s oldest construction materials.
And less than a decade later, this ultra-niche market has become a budding industry, with more than a dozen tall-wood buildings completed worldwide, and twice as many in the works.
Steve Cavanaugh has an intimate knowledge of tall-wood construction. A Principal and Design Leader with DLR Group, Cavanaugh led the team that served as the architect-of-record for the nation’s newest—and largest—mass timber building: T3 in Minneapolis.
In this 15-minute talk at BD+C’s Accelerate Live! conference (May 10, 2018, Chicago), Steve tells the story behind T3, including the social and market drivers that resulted in this unique solution, information about the sustainable aspects of the work, and insights into the thought behind the design.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Steve Cavanaugh, AIA, LEED AP
Architect, Principal, Design Leader
DLR Group
Steve Cavanaugh, AIA, LEED AP, is an Architect, Principal, and Design Leader based out of DLR Group's Chicago studio. Steve has spent his 30-year career designing complex, technically-challenging building projects including office buildings, hotels, mixed-use developments, civic, educational, and transportation facilities. His projects share a common thread of planning clarity, functionality, materiality, and value. Steve's international experience has broadened his design perspective, elevated his approach to the art of construction, and furthered his passion for sustainable design solutions. As a design leader, Steve helps chart the course for the firm's sustainability goals, in particular DLR Group's adoption of the 2030 challenge. His hands-on approach and attention to detail has benefitted many clients and resulted in many award-winning projects, including two contemporary, ground-up, mass-timber office buildings for international developer Hines.
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