Special Guest - Bernie O'Fagen and Julian Addington - Timber Titans: New Zealand's Mass Timber Trailblazers

The untold story of New Zealand's mass timber revolution unfolds
as architectural designer Bernie from RM Designs and structural
engineer Julian from ENGCO share their remarkable 10-year journey
pioneering sustainable construction methods. What began as a
response to the challenges of post-earthquake Christchurch has
evolved into over 50 successful projects that demonstrate how
thoughtful collaboration can transform an industry.

Their partnership reveals a refreshing counterpoint to the
stereotypical architect-engineer rivalry. Instead, they've
embraced a "no one of us is as smart as all of us" philosophy
that brings contractors, manufacturers, and consultants to the
table from day one. This early collaboration has been their
secret weapon, allowing them to optimize designs for
constructability while solving complex problems around acoustics,
fire safety, and structural efficiency in mass timber
buildings.

The conversation takes us through their breakthrough project—the
Bealey Backpackers—where they reduced foundation costs from 20%
to just 7-8% of the budget by leveraging timber's lightweight
properties. We hear how their work with Housing New Zealand
became a watershed moment, as they meticulously documented mass
timber's advantages against traditional construction across more
than 20 performance indicators. From three-story walk-ups
completed in just 8.5 months to innovative projects like the
Pounamu Pathway with its distinctive "America's Cup sail" design,
their work spans everyday residential buildings to iconic
cultural landmarks.

What makes this episode particularly valuable is their honest
assessment of challenges facing mass timber adoption. Despite
proven successes, every project still requires alternative
solution documentation due to building code limitations. They've
also evolved from timber purism to embrace hybrid approaches that
pragmatically combine materials for optimal performance. Their
parting wisdom? Understanding manufacturing capabilities from the
outset is crucial—know what can be built before designing
it.

Whether you're an architect, engineer, builder, or simply
passionate about sustainable construction, this conversation
offers invaluable insights from pioneers who've learned through
trial and error so you don't have to. Ready to rethink how we
design and construct buildings? This episode is your masterclass.


About RM Designs
47 Springfield Rd
(cnr Springfield & Clare Rd)
Christchurch
New Zealand


Phone
Ph: (03) 354 6341


E-mail
info@rmdesigns.co.nz


About ENGCO


ENGCO is a multi-disciplinary national consultancy with expertise
delivering large scale projects, worth in excess of $100 million,
and at the boutique end of the market, individual solutions for
one-off domestic builds. The core of our business is in
structural, civil and geotechnical engineering services, and we
also have Green Star approved professional accreditation for our
involvement with sustainable energy projects.

Our key values: Passion, Principles and People.

Website


https://www.engco.co.nz/


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