Date of Award

Spring 2026

Document Type

Thesis

Publisher

Santa Clara : Santa Clara University, 2026

Department

Civil, Environmental and Sustainable Engineering

First Advisor

Hisham Said

Abstract

The Civil Engineering industry is a major contributor to global carbon emissions, creating a need for more sustainable structural alternatives to traditional steel and concrete systems. This project investigates the feasibility of redesigning the gravity structural system of Santa Clara University’s Sobrato Campus for Discovery and Innovation (SCDI) using mass timber. By replacing the original steel and concrete gravity system with cross-laminated timber (CLT) floor panels and glue-laminated timber (glulam) beams and columns, the study explores how mass timber can impact structural design, constructability, cost, schedule, geotechnical demand, and sustainability. The redesign maintains the original structural grid and loading assumptions to allow for direct comparison between systems. A full gravity system design and Revit model were developed to evaluate member sizing requirements, quantity takeoffs, and constructability considerations, with additional analyses performed to assess foundation loading, construction duration, comparative costs, and embodied carbon. The study aims to provide insight into the opportunities and challenges of implementing mass timber in large educational facilities and to contribute to ongoing research on sustainable and efficient alternatives in the construction industry.

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