In this webinar, you’ll gain insight into the design and manufacturing considerations involved in using glulam in buildings. As one of the oldest mass timber products used in Canada, glulam offers exceptional flexibility and can be incorporated into a wide range of building types—particularly where curvature and expressive geometry are key. Presenters will outline design and manufacturing strategies for creating efficient structures, showing how glulam can be used not just as columns and beams, but as the primary structure in today’s innovative buildings—whether architecturally driven or focused on value and efficiency. They will also cover the availability of glulam products across Canada and explain how to maximize the value of the timber used. Practical tips will be shared to help designers and specifiers take full advantage of glulam’s attributes in a cost-efficient way.
Presenters
Guilia Natalini, Pre-Construction Manager at Western Archirib
Giulia has a wealth of knowledge in mass timber engineering. With a Civil Engineering degree and a MASc in Mass Timber Engineering from UBC, she has pushed the structural engineering boundaries of mass timber floor systems. As a Pre-Construction Specialist at Western Archrib, Giulia transforms complex project requirements into precise estimates, while building strong, collaborative relationships with clients and industry partners.
Derek Ratzlaff, Technical Director at WoodWorks BC
Derek Ratzlaff is the Technical Director for WoodWorks BC. His career in the wood industry began in high school, working on single- and multi-family light wood construction. After completing an engineering degree, he spent nearly 20 years in structural engineering consulting. Derek has worked on all types of wood construction and played key roles in delivering iconic BC wood structures, including the Richmond Olympic Oval and the Grandview Heights Aquatic Centre. He now applies his extensive experience in design and construction to support the industry through his role at WoodWorks.
Date: May 21st, 2025 & June 5, 2025
Time: 10 AM PST / 1 PM EST
Duration: 1 hour
Location: Online