Remembering R. Bruce Hoadley (1933-2019)

Remembering R. Bruce Hoadley (1933-2019)

This fall we lost one of the most prolific former faculty in our program. R. Bruce Hoadley was a professor in the BCT program at a time when it was called "Building Materials and Wood Technology" (BMATWT). He led our program for many years as director, conducted research in wood products, and inspired many generations of students. Bruce's role in the wood community cannot be overstated. His books on wood identification and properties have become standard literature in the woodworking and wood processing communities and he has been a sought-after expert in this field. Faculty and alumni in BCT/BMATWT remember Bruce and the many conversations we had about wood and higher education very fondly. He will be missed. See below for his official obituary and links to commemorative websites. Please consider giving to the R. Bruce Hoadley Building Construction & Technology Fund, which benefits our students that pursue a career in wood technology. Obituary R. Bruce Hoadley, husband, father, and a Professor Emeritus of Wood...
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Jonathan Wright of Wright Builders speaks about their Living Building Challenge projects

Jonathan Wright of Wright Builders speaks about their Living Building Challenge projects

In the second BCT lecture of the fall season, Jonathan Wright of Wright Builders spoke about "Building at the Edge of Sustainability" as exemplified in their various Living Building Challenge projects. In his engaging talk, he outlined the process behind the Kern Center at Hampshire College and various other buildings and also provided an outlook for the future of sustainable construction. Synopsis Mr. Wright, a graduate of Hampshire College, has been an active regional leader in sustainable design and construction since 1976. The firm he co-owns, Wright Builders, Inc., recently completed two Living Building Challenge projects (R.W. Kern Center & Hitchcock Center for the Environment) achieving the highest standard of renewable and resilient design and construction. His upcoming book Spirit of the Makers will be published by Ecotone Press in 2019. His journalism has spanned several decades, and in 2018 his poetry and photograph collection Season of Dreams joined the 2014 poetry collection, After the Rain. Links Presentation slides Wright Builders Living Building Challenge Presentation Slides https://youtu.be/qN128ZRIveo...
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Marc Rivard of WoodWorks presents on new opportunities in MassTimber

Marc Rivard of WoodWorks presents on new opportunities in MassTimber

The first talk of our Fall 2018 BCT Lecture Series was given by Marc Rivard from WoodWorks. He outlined the many technological possibilities that exist with new wood-based building materials such as cross-laminated timber, nail-laminated timber, and various others, many of which have been used in the construction of the Olver Design Building at UMass. Synopsis Mr. Rivard is Regional Manager at WoodWorks, an initiative of the Wood Products Council providing free project assistance as well as education and resources related to the design of non-residential wood buildings. Mr. Rivard’s background in Structural Engineering with 15 years of relevant design experience using all of the major building materials, allows him to provide practical and cost effective solutions for Architects and Engineers. https://youtu.be/-eWk8sbdVrE Links Presentation Slides WoodWorks - Wood Products Council ...
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BCT Alumnus Profile: Alison Moynihan (MS ’13)

BCT Alumnus Profile: Alison Moynihan (MS ’13)

We recently caught up with Alison Moynihan, who graduated from our Professional Master's program in Building Systems and is now Technical Assistant at Foard Panel. She provided some perspective on her career as well as advice for other students: "I entered the Building Systems Master’s Program at UMass after having done my undergraduate work in architecture. Graduating in 2010, when most architects were out of work, my undergrad education was not enough to even get me in the door as a gofer. I did an unpaid internship and realized I was far more interested in green building and construction technology than traditional architecture, which happened to perfectly coincide with the Environmental Conservation Building Systems Master’s Program. I spent two years learning a little engineering, a little material science, a little conservation, and a lot of building science. While in school I found a local Structural Insulated Panel (SIP) manufacturer, Foard Panel, to do an internship with in order to write my thesis. I am...
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Barry Goodell speaks about decay of wood in structures

Barry Goodell speaks about decay of wood in structures

First in the Fall 2017 BCT lecture series was a talk by Dr. Barry Goodell, who explained decay processes in wood and showed common occurrences of decay in wood structures along with solutions how to prevent those. Synopsis Dr. Barry Goodell is an expert in fungal systems, including those that cause the decay of wood – a multi-billion dollar problem in wooden structures each year. In this talk he covers how decay establishes and can be detected, designs that promote problems, and opportunities for protection and remedial actions. https://youtu.be/OhBle7hhQvg Links Presentation slides Goodell Lab Website ...
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