SIGN UP NOW FOR FREE! TCA Environmental Committee Seminar: Mass Timber & Steel Hybrid Presentation—January 19, 2026

- January 19, 20269:00 AM - 10:00 AM (local time)
Zoom

FOCUS OF THIS SEMINAR:

This presentation outlines the technical, economic, and environmental advantages of hybrid steel and mass timber construction for contemporary building projects. It explains how combining the strength, long span capability, and constructability of structural steel with the low embodied carbon, biophilic qualities, and prefabrication benefits of mass timber can deliver highly efficient structural systems. The session will cover typical hybrid configurations, including steel frames with mass timber floor systems and connection strategies, fire and acoustic performance considerations, and design approaches that optimize material use while maintaining code compliance.

Attendees will gain insight into cost and schedule impacts, opportunities for prefabrication and accelerated erection, and how hybrid systems can support sustainability objectives and align with low carbon building standards. The presentation is intended for owners, architects, engineers, and contractors seeking practical strategies to improve project performance while advancing sustainable construction practices.

When: Monday, January 19, 2026

Time: 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM

Cost: FREE

Location: Online (ZOOM)

REGISTER FOR FREE HERE!

SEMINAR MODERATOR

Sandra Burnell, BES, BArch, OAA, Principal, Revay and Associates Limited

Sandra Burnell is the chair of the Toronto Construction Association’s Environmental Committee. With more than 35 years of experience in the construction industry, she has sat on various construction related committees and spoken at a number of industry events. She was the Senior Architect for the $4.4 billion Airport Development Project while working for Transport Canada and the Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA) before joining the PCL/Aecon Joint Venture team as the Commissioning and QA/QC Manager for the GTAA’s $2.1 billion Terminal One Project. In 2006, Sandra joined Revay and Associates Limited where she is now a Principal. At Revay she has become proficient in the preparation of claims and expert reports. While successfully testifying on behalf of her clients in the courts, Sandra has also participated in numerous successful mediations.

Sandra is a registered architect and has completed both a Bachelor of Environmental Science and a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Waterloo.

PRESENTERS

Lee Scott – P.Eng., MBA, Director, Sales – North America | ELEMENT5 LP.

Lee Scott studied Biosystems Engineering at the University of Manitoba and received an MBA from the Saundermoen School of Business. Throughout his career Lee worked as a legal and construction surveyor, a Civil engineer, and now applies his extensive background in construction and design to his current role as Director of Sales for Element5 in Canada and the United States.

Lee has worked on mass timber projects of all sizes and market segments across North America and has an intimate knowledge of the Mass Timber design for manufacturing and assembly process. Lee is someone clients can turn to for feedback, pricing and technical support on projects.

Scott Norris, B.ESc., P.Eng., Director, Engineering Solutions | Steelcon

Scott Norris is a structural engineer with more than 15 years of experience delivering complex, large scale structural steel projects, with a strong focus on sustainability and low carbon construction. His career includes roles at leading firms such as NORR, Stephenson Engineering, and RJC, and he currently leads innovation and sustainability initiatives at Steelcon.

A recognized advocate for sustainable design, Scott is a champion of hybrid steel and mass timber construction and actively promotes the adoption of other low carbon and resource efficient building methods. Known for developing practical and forward thinking solutions to modern construction challenges, he combines deep technical expertise with an industry wide perspective to advance sustainable building practices while continually raising standards for engineering performance, constructability, and environmental responsibility.

For more information, please contact Vishawn Thompson via email at: vthompson@tcaconnect.com.

Please note that this is a members-only event!

Category:
TCA Event

Organizer:
Vishawn Thompson

Registration

Registration deadline: January 19, 2026.

Trump Executive Order Launches Trade War

Important Update: President Trump Pauses Tariff’s on Canada for at Least 30 Days

Dear TCA members,

As you know, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order to impose a 25% tariff on Canadian goods over the weekend that will take effect tomorrow morning and have enormous economic consequences. Prime Minister Trudeau has predictably released a list of goods subject to a retaliatory tariff and so begins the trade war. The impacts of the U.S trade tax and the Trudeau retaliatory countermeasures will be considerable and will absolutely affect the Canadian construction industry.

This trade war is not going away any time soon. Trump is prone to drama as we know and his threats relating to NAFTA during his last term as President were bad but not devastating by the time the new trade agreement was signed. Since then, the U.S. trade deficit with Canada has grown from $31 billion to closer to $100 billion. That’s the real reason for the trade war. The cross-border fentanyl distribution argument was a means to an end and was presumably used to justify the emergency measures legislation. Our best guess is that this new trade war will have severe and enduring impacts on TCA members.

In the coming months, news channels will be filled with stories about trade wars and their impacts but likely not satisfy your need to understand how your day-to-day businesses will be affected. Our focus at TCA will be on sharing industry-specific impacts including strategic best practices which we commit to share with TCA members as new information becomes available.

In the interest of ensuring that we are sharing meaningful and helpful information, TCA is already negotiating with an international trade strategy consultant in the hope that a strategic partnership with trade impact experts will add genuine and unique value for TCA members. I also serve on the Board of the Canadian Construction Association with whom I have been communicating 24-7 since the executive order was signed on Saturday. Rest assured that CCA is in constant contact with the federal government to analyze the Trudeau countermeasures and influence the go-forward strategy of trade negotiators. That too will be shared as it happens.

In the interim, please don’t hesitate to share your views and/or ask for assistance. We exist to serve the needs of our members and the road ahead will indeed be challenging.

Respectfully,
John Mollenhauer
President and CEO

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