BCT Program Archives | Building and Construction Technology

Clouston, Schreyer Co-Author Definitive Guide on Mass Timber Materials, Design and Construction

February 6, 2026February 5, 2026 by Alexander Schreyer Comment Closed

Peggi L. Clouston and Alexander C. Schreyer, professors in the Building and Construction Technology program at UMass Amherst and experts in wood engineering, have written a comprehensive new book, “Mass Timber: Materials, Design, and Construction,” an extensive 576-page volume that serves as a one-stop resource for the rapidly evolving field of mass timber construction. Published by John Wiley & Sons, the book arrives at a critical time as the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry increasingly turns to sustainable wood products to reduce the carbon footprint of the built environment. Clouston and Schreyer’s book bridges the gap between traditional timber knowledge and modern engineering, covering a wide array of topics essential for students and professionals alike, including: Sustainability: Exploration of the climate-related benefits of wood and forest health Material Science: In-depth technical details on Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT), Glulam, and structural composite lumber Practical Design: Guidance on building codes, gravity and lateral loads, and complex connection detailing Construction Excellence: Insights into procurement, risk management, and on-site hoisting and storage. The book also...

Spring 2026 BCT Lecture Series Announced

February 2, 2026February 2, 2026 by Alexander Schreyer Comment Closed

The start of a new semester brings with it a new series of public lectures. We are happy to announce the four speakers mentioned below, who will present on various current topics in the built environment as part of our Spring 2026 BCT Lecture Series. All lectures are open to the public and are held on Mondays from 4:00 pm – 5:15 pm in the Olver Design Building Room 170. Attendees can get continuing education credits (AIA/USGBC). Zoom options will be available, too. Want to get notified when these are? Sign up for our email list. Speakers: Consigli Construction: Applied Construction Fundamentals Scott Drumm, Project Manager, Thomas Duszlak, Senior Project Superintendent02.09.26 | 4:00-5:15pm | John W. Olver Design Building Room 170 CORA Structural: Curiosity, Collaboration, & Carbon-Conscious Thinking Michael Gryniuk. P.E., Founder and Principal of CORA Structural03.02.26 | 4:00-5:15pm | John W. Olver Design Building Room 170 Construction Challenges and Solutions in Polar Environments David Malpas, Construction Manager, Antarctic Support Contract03.30.26 | 4:00-5:15pm | John W. Olver Design Building Room 170 Tools of the Trade for Building...

UMass BCT Preconstruction Team Secures 2nd Place at Region 1 ASC Competition

December 8, 2025December 8, 2025 by Alexander Schreyer Comment Closed

The annual Associated Schools of Construction (ASC) Region 1 Competition offers a unique learning environment for students, significantly enhancing their educational experience. ASC organizes regional competitions sponsored by construction companies, with many programs across the U.S. The BCT program recognizes and supports the benefits of student participation in intercollegiate competitions like this and we have sent teams to this competition for a few years now. In this competition, students submit proposals to construction industry executives, who serve as judges, and then defend their proposals in front of an audience during the event. Throughout the competition, students face real-world scenarios that challenge their skills. The BCT program began participating in the ASC Competitions in 2019, finishing last in our first year. We improved to 6th place in 2020. In 2021, we created a dedicated course (BCT 392C) to better prepare our students, resulting in a 3rd place finish. We continued to climb the ranks, achieving 2nd place in 2022 and finally securing 1st...

We are Hiring: Director of Design-Build Program (Lecturer Calendar Year)

October 31, 2025January 13, 2026 by Alexander Schreyer Comment Closed

Join the BCT and Architecture faculty and help grow our design-build program. See below for the position description. For questions, reach out to the search co-chairs L. Carl Fiocchi ([email protected]) and Robert Williams ([email protected]). Position: Director of Design-Build Program (Lecturer Calendar Year) More Info Job no: 528394Work type: Faculty Full TimeLocation: UMass AmherstDepartment: Environmental ConservationUnion: MSPCategories: Faculty, College of Natural Sciences, College of Humanities & Fine Arts, Lecturer/Non-Tenure Track About UMass Amherst The flagship of the Commonwealth, the University of Massachusetts Amherst is a nationally ranked public land-grant research university that seeks to expand educational access, fuel innovation and creativity, and share and use its knowledge for the common good. Founded in 1863, UMass Amherst sits on nearly 1,450-acres in scenic Western Massachusetts and boasts state-of-the-art facilities for teaching, research, scholarship, and creative activity. The institution advances a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community where everyone feels connected and valued—and thrives, and offers a full range of undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees across 10 schools and colleges, and 100 undergraduate majors. We believe every member of our university community can contribute to our ongoing...

Fall 2025 BCT Lecture Series Announced

September 11, 2025September 11, 2025 by Alexander Schreyer Comment Closed

The start of a new semester brings with it a new series of public lectures. We are happy to announce the four speakers mentioned below, who will present on various current topics in the built environment as part of our Fall 2025 BCT Lecture Series. All lectures are open to the public and are held on Mondays from 4:00 pm – 5:15 pm in the Olver Design Building Room 170. Attendees can get continuing education credits (AIA/USGBC). Zoom options will be available, too. Want to get notified when these are? Sign up for our email list. Speakers: ‘Deconstructing’ the Stebbins House: Architectural Archaeology in Deerfield Michael Emmons, Jr Director of Historic Preservation and Architectural Research at Historic Deerfield09.15.25 | 4:00-5:15pm | John W. Olver Design Building Room 170 Sustainable Mass Timber Construction Patricia Layton, Strategic Advisor, Wood Utilization + Design Institute10.06.25 | 4:00-5:15pm | John W. Olver Design Building Room 170 Building Resilience: A Woman’s Perspective on Building Pretty Good Homes Emily Mottram, Architect, Co-author: The Pretty Good House 11.03.25 | 4:00-5:15pm | John W. Olver Design Building Room 170 The Fundamentals...