As a senior structural engineer, I’ve spent most of my career designing structure that disappears. In the past, my work largely lived in the background, supporting the architect’s vision. More recently, mass timber has offered me a chance to do something different. Mass timber allows structure to be seen, felt, and experienced.
Designing with mass timber becomes less about the material and more about the mindset. Structure doesn’t lead the vision but moves in lockstep with it, so the design gains clarity and confidence. This shift changes when and how decisions get made.
Mass timber invites structure into the architectural experience. Instead of silently supporting behind layers of finished materials, the beams and columns are visible, and the structural system prominently defines the character of the space, fusing form and function.
Bringing Engineers into the Conversation Earlier
Using more traditional systems like steel, architects develop their concepts and tend to bring structural engineers in later. I often joke that this is where I spoil the room with logic. Not just to challenge ideas, although as an engineer I do appreciate a good debate, but to surface the hidden tripping hazards that tend to show up later if architecture and structure drift out of sync.
With mass timber, structure and architecture are inseparable, and that changes the conversation. Structure adds the most value during design development, when ideas take shape and decisions still have room to breathe. When that alignment happens, repetition becomes a strength instead of a compromise. Structure and architecture begin reinforcing one another from the very beginning.
The best teams I’ve worked with are the ones where trust is established early. The Owner and architect bring a clear, compelling vision. The structural system reinforces it quietly and confidently. My role in that relationship is mostly about listening. I try to understand what the design is trying to achieve, then help shape a framework that lets that vision come through clearly, without unnecessary complexity or compromise.
When engineers engage earlier in the conversation, we can better support the vision of the design team. Together, we can identify opportunities, resolve challenges, and develop systems that work with the architect’s vision from the start. That early alignment avoids later design hiccups and can lead to more thoughtful, more efficient solutions.
Designing an Experience People Can Feel
When architects and designers work in tandem, the conversation expands from how a building stands firm to how it protects people in any environment, while still feeling warm, open, and expressive. Being part of those conversations early lets me support the vision instead of having to compete with it.
The result is something people can feel the moment they walk through the door. In many mass timber buildings, the structure isn’t tucked away behind drywall or decorative finishes. It visibly shapes the space. Form and function blend beautifully. The structure becomes part of the everyday experience.
When structure is visible and intentional, the building becomes legible. You understand how it’s put together. There’s comfort in that clarity. It’s not finish layered on top of performance. In this case, Performance influences the architecture itself.
The Lasting Value of Early Alignment
All of that early alignment and collaboration ultimately shows up in the experience of the people using the building.
For me, that’s what sets mass timber apart. Its inherent value is how it encourages architects, engineers, and owners to work together earlier and more intentionally.
This is where mass timber really earns its place. When the team commits early, stays aligned, and lets the structure be honest, the result isn’t just a building that works. It’s a building that feels right.
In the next blog in this mass timber series, Architect Rachel Usher will share her perspective on how material selection, biophilic design, and airport leadership’s vision shape the experience people have in these spaces.
Be sure to also check out the first installment of our blog series, Timber Takes Center Stage in Building Design.
