On October 28th, members of the Structural Engineers Association of Metropolitan Washington (SEA-MW) and the ASCE National Capital Section Structural Engineering Institute enjoyed an exclusive tour of our Truesdell Elementary School Modernization project in Northwest Washington, DC. This tour offered participants a unique glimpse into the innovative use of mass timber in modern school design.
Attendees experienced firsthand how this sustainable material is transforming educational facilities. The tour covered each phase of timber construction, from delivery and on-site storage to the installation process, and included a showcase of the intricate connections between timber and steel, demonstrating how these hybrid systems contribute to structural stability and durability.
Key speakers included:
- Scott Miller with Coakley Williams, Project Superintendent
- John O’Donald II with WoodWorks, who supported the design team in selecting an efficient mass timber system
- David Pirnia, PE, Associate at SK&A Structural Engineers
SK&A served as the Structural Engineer of Record (SER) for this project, with VMDO as the Architect, and Blue Sky and Coakley Williams as the joint builders. Mass timber was supplied by Nordic. This tour highlighted the exciting role of mass timber in sustainable construction, showcasing Truesdell as an example of innovative and environmentally conscious school design.
