GAB Report event briefing

Mid-Rise Wood Design & MSU Mass Timber Tour

  • DateOct 28, 2026 · 11:00 am GMT-0600
  • FormatIn Person
  • LocationBozeman, MT

About the event

This regional seminar and site tour explores structural engineering strategies for four to six story multi-family wood buildings, accompanied by a walkthrough of Montana State University first mass timber facility. The technical session covers gravity and lateral design steps, shrinkage accommodation, floor vibration checks, stacked bearing wall loads, and lateral displacement checks. Attendees then tour Gianforte Hall, a 55,000 square foot building featuring hybrid structural systems, to examine real-world detailing, construction sequencing, and sustainability outcomes. The program offers two continuing education credits for design professionals.

What you’ll learn

  • Discuss wood shrinkage potential and causes, identify shrinkage effects on structural and non-structural components, and review detailing best practices to minimize the effects of shrinkage
  • Highlight structural implications of utilizing fire retardant-treated wood in exterior wall assemblies of Type III construction
  • Review floor vibration design checks and associated criteria for residential occupancies in wood-frame construction
  • Explain important lateral engineering issues such as diaphragm flexibility, shear wall configuration options and design, and load path continuity that must be considered to successfully design a mid-rise wood structure

Attendance notes

Visitor parking is located on the first floor and part of the second floor in the parking garage for max of $12 per day.


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