Material Harmony: Unlocking Hybrid Steel and Timber Architecture's Potential
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- Member - $5
- Non-member - $5
- Student - $5
This session will explore the emerging trend of hybrid steel and timber buildings, addressing the challenge of designing structures that balance sustainability and efficiency. As the AEC industry faces increasing environmental pressures, hybrid systems offer a compelling solution by combining steel's strength and durability with timber's warmth and low carbon footprint. Attendees will gain valuable insights into optimizing material efficiency and reducing environmental impact through hybrid construction. We will review real-world case studies that highlight the complementary aspects of steel and timber, demonstrating how these materials can enhance resilience, design flexibility, and performance. The session will also cover key design considerations, construction challenges, and best practices for integrating hybrid systems effectively. Using the AISC Design Guide for Hybrid Steel and Timber, participants will receive practical guidance to inform their own projects. This session equips design professionals with actionable strategies to maximize the potential of these materials, enabling them to create sustainable, high-performance structures that meet the evolving needs of clients and the built environment.
Elizabeth Lapira, AIA, NOMA
Architecture Specialist
American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC)
Elizabeth is part of AISC's Architecture Center, helping create initiatives that focus on adding value, creating positive experiences, and expanding the professional capabilities of AISC Building Initiatives through collaboration with architects. She is helping develop and implement creative strategies to inform architectural practitioners about how steel can enhance their designs and address today’s challenges in architecture and the built environment.
Erin Conaway, PE
Senior Director of Building Initiatives
American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC)
Erin Conaway is the Senior Director of Building Initiatives for the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC). AISC is a non-partisan, not-for-profit technical institute established in 1921 to elevate the standards and practices within the structural steel design community and construction industry in the United States. Erin leads a national team of Structural Steel Specialists, empowering designers to harness the collective expertise of the steel industry, driving superior project outcomes, and fostering positive change in the built environment.
