Lessons Learned From Highly Innovative Mass Timber Projects  

Lauren Piepho, PE is a structural engineer at Hammel Green and Abrahamson in Minneapolis, MN. While her work spans a multitude of different project types and materials, she specializes in the structural design of mass timber buildings. She has led multiple research efforts focusing on the design, implementation, and environmental impact of mass timber in commercial construction, including the establishment of a thriving mass timber practice at HGA. Most recently, she has investigated how life cycle analysis software and parametric design can be used to inform the design process for mass timber structures. Lauren’s passion for sustainable design continues to drive her exploration into innovative uses for mass timber and ways to bring mass timber design into mainstream structural engineering.

Elissa Gee, AIA is a Senior Architect in SOM’s San Francisco office where she is an integral team member in the Interiors Studio focused on workplace, corporate, and commercial projects. Using design sensibility and in-depth research, Elissa crafts each project with a thoughtful and strong conceptual approach to connect users to their environment. Over the course of her career, Elissa has worked on projects both locally in San Francisco, and abroad. Her portfolio includes 49 South Van Ness, where she worked on the interior architecture and space planning for multiple city departments into one building.

Kate Diamond, FAIA, is HDR’s Civic Design Director and a Design Principal in the Los Angeles office. Kate brings a breadth of experience for translating the aspirations of a diversity of federal, state and local clients into beautiful, high performance, award-winning projects. She has led the design of multiple transportation projects for everything from paratransit to buses to light/subway/commuter/high speed and heavy rail, and even air traffic control towers! Her passion for sustainability and resilience helps demonstrate to clients that design can address the triple bottom line of social, economic and environmental responsibility while meeting the unique requirements of their mission. Kate is on the Board of USGBC-LA, active on the AIA-LA COTE and gives guest lectures focused on regenerative design at USC and various schools of architecture across the country. Kate is an active GSA Design Excellence Peer and a Fellow of the American Institute of Architecture.