Abodo with Special Guests Thomas Robinson, Lever Architecture and Ged Finch, XFrame

Updated Speaker Lineup

Abodo with Special Guests Thomas Robinson, Lever Architecture and Ged Finch, XFrame

Material Landscapes: Mass Timber, Sustainable Sourcing and Construction Waste

Hosted by Teulo CPD Platform on behalf of Abodo Wood - 10 am - 11.45 am GMT

Abodo educational content is recognised under the ARB, Architectural Registration Board competency, Environmental Sustainability.

10 am – 11 am

Abodo Presents Thomas Robinson, Lever Architecture – Material Landscapes: Sustainable and Equitable Sourcing in Mass Timber Construction

Synopsis: Thomas Robinson will discuss lessons learned from 10+ years of mass timber design and research, detailing an approach that sees design as a wider process from Forest to Frame and considers material origins and production as drivers of design. Thomas will highlight recent projects such as the Adidas North American Headquarters Expansion, the Oregon Conservation Center, and the Meyer Memorial Trust Headquarters—detailing how innovative sourcing can encourage responsible forest management and unlock economic opportunity for rural communities and businesses owned by people of color.

Learning outcomes:

• You will gain insight into the design process of several of Lever Architecture projects.
• An understanding of Mass Timber and CLT
• An understanding of the meaning behind forest to frame

Speaker BIO: Thomas Robinson is the Founder of LEVER Architecture, a US-based design practice with offices in Portland, Oregon and Los Angeles. His firm is widely recognised for material innovation and for pioneering work with Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT). Thomas’ projects encompass first-of-their-kind timber buildings for clients such as The Nature Conservancy and Adidas and include more than $1M in research to develop and test wood building assemblies. He has lectured globally on mass timber innovation and taught advanced wood design studios at the University of Arkansas and the University of Oregon. LEVER was recently recognized by Fast Company as one of the world’s most innovative companies; and in 2017, was named to Architectural Record’s Design Vanguard and to the Architectural League of New York’s Emerging Voices.

11 am – 11:45 am

Abodo Presents Ged Finch, XFrame – Construction Waste and Circularity

Synopsis: What is the circular economy, and how can we reuse or minimize construction waste? Daniel Gudsell and PhD student Ged Finch discuss the role of circular economy in construction. Ged explains the concept of functional value and abundance, along with the use of buildings as "material banks" for the future. Ged outlines a future where construction materials manufacturers collaborate to create standardized systems, and the embodied energy of the materials used is transparent.

Learning outcomes:

• Gain an understanding of the circular economy and how to reuse or minimize construction waste.
• Gain an understanding of how someone can extend the building materials' life span can be extended.
• You will learn what "material banking" is for the future.

Speaker BIO: Ged Finch, XFrame

Ged Finch is a co-founder and the chief technology officer of XFrame – a modular circular economy construction technology business in New Zealand and Australia. XFrame designs and manufactures lightweight framing technology that is easily deconstructed, reconfigured, and reused. These framing systems work with prefabricated wall linings and cladding solutions to achieve complete building circularity.

About Abodo:

Abodo crafts timbers with lasting beauty that are safe for people and the environment. Many exterior timbers are harvested from unsustainable old growth forests or are treated with harmful chemicals.

Our timbers are harvested from New Zealand’s Forest Stewardship Council® certified rapidly renewable plantation forests.

They are ethically crafted with respect from beginning to end – allowing us to meet today’s increasing needs without disadvantaging future generations.

Designed to age with grace, our timbers have exceptional weatherability and maintain their durability and beauty for a lifetime.

Formed in 2001 by the Gudsell family, Abodo remains a New Zealand-owned, family business with a purpose.