Exploring Tall Wood: New Code Provisions for Tall Timber Structures (18 Nov 2026)

Wed, 18 Nov 2026 22:30:00 GMT

Join us Wednesday November 18, 2026 at Fiore II Restaurant in Middletown, CT for a presentation led by Patrick Duffy of Woodworks on the recent code changes regarding the use of Tall Wood Structures.

As interest in and use of mass timber in the US had grown, so too has interest in pushing these timber structures to greater heights. Using international examples of successful tall wood building as precedent, some designers have proposed tall wood projects in the states using a project-specific performance-based design approach. In order to provide a uniform set of code provisions for these tall wood buildings the International Code Council established an ad hoc committee on tall wood buildings that proposed a set of code changes allowing up to 18 stories of mass timber construction. Those code changes were announced as approved in January 2019 and will become part of the 2021 International Building Code. Following a brief discussion of history and motivators, this presentation will introduce the new tall wood code provisions and construction types, as well as the technical research and testing that supported their adoption.

The meeting will be hosted at Fiore II Restaurant located at 332 Main Street in Middletown, CT 06457 on Wednesday November 18th, from 5:30 pm to 9pm.

Cost of attendance is for SEAConn Members is $75.00.

Nonmember price is $85.00.

If you have special dietary restrictions, please reach out to postmaster@seaconn.org

We look forward to seeing you!

SEAConn Holiday Party - The AI Paradox (3 Dec 2026)

Thu, 03 Dec 2026 22:30:00 GMT

Please join SEAConn for their Annual Holiday Party with a presentation given by Robert K. Otani, PE of Thornton-Tomasetti, Inc. on Artificial Intelligence in the Architectural, Engineering, and Construction environment.

Artificial Intelligence has arrived in the broader AEC industry as both a powerful force multiplier and a source of uncertainty. It can expand our analytical capacity while challenging expertise, accountability, business models, and employment. This talk explores how we can harness AI's potential without surrendering human judgment, responsibility, or trust.

Robert K. Otani, PE is Chief Technology officer and Managing Principal at Thornton-Tomasetti, Inc., a 2400+ person multidisciplinary international engineering and applied science firm, and founded the CORE studio, a digital design, application development, AI, and R&D group at his firm. He has over 30 years of structural design experience involving commercial, infrastructure, institutional, cultural and residential structures on projects totaling over $4 billion USD of construction and has led numerous software applications including Konstru, Design Explorer, Beacon, and the first ML-powered structural engineering application Asterisk in the industry. Robert serves as Chair of the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) Technology Committee, Member of the AI Advisory Board for the National Council of Structural Engineers Associations (NCSEA), and Co-Chair of the International Associaiton of Shell and Spatial Structures (IASS) Study Group: AI-Informed Structural Engineering and Design.

The party and presentation will be hosted at the New Haven Lawn Club located at 193 Whitney Ave, New Haven, CT on Thursday December 3th at 5:30pm .

Registration for this event will close Tuesday November 24th. Cost of attendance is $90.00 for members. $100 for non-members. Please indicate your meal choice when purchasing your ticket. If you have dietary restrictions which cannot be met by the provided meal choices please contact us at postmaster@seaconn.org

Entrée options are

1. Chicken Breast - Herb Smoked Cheddar Polenta, Candied Squash, Wilted Garlic Greens, Sauteed Cherry Peppers, Maple Whole Grain Dijon Demi Glace (NF/GF)

2. Salmon - Fall Fried Rice, Gingered Sweet Potato Puree, Cider Bok Choy, Black Garlic Veloute (NF/GF)

3. White Bean Ravioli - Squash Pepper Onion Mushroom Impossible Saute, Wilted Spinach, Crispy Fried Herb Asiago Asparagus, Thyme "Cream", Garlic Balsamic Reduction (VG/NF/DF)

We would like to thank Weyerhaeuser for their generous support and sponsorship of this event.

Weyerhaeuser is a leading North American forest products company that manages millions of acres of sustainably certified timberlands. Founded in 1900, it produces lumber, engineered wood, and other building materials while emphasizing sustainability and responsible forest management.

We look forward to seeing you and celebrating another great year at SEAConn!

Structural Engineers Association of Connecticut upcoming events

Exploring Tall Wood: New Code Provisions for Tall Timber Structures (18 Nov 2026)

SEAConn Holiday Party - The AI Paradox (3 Dec 2026)