Littleton, MA
The Littleton Trials
Scope/Solutions
With the Littleton Trials, students at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design investigated New England forestry practices, mass timber construction, and wood’s heat transfer behavior. They conducted studies on three timber-framed huts built in Prouty Woods on a property owned and managed by the New England Forestry Foundation. SGH consulted on the structural design of the huts.
By monitoring the temperature and relative humidity over multiple seasons, the project team assessed how varying the wood species and construction techniques can affect thermal performance.
SGH assisted the team with the design of the timber-framed structures. Highlights of our work include the following:
- Consulted on the laminating process for the nail-laminated and dowel-laminated timber wall panels
- Evaluated the structural stability of the huts and developed connections between wall panels
- Designed anchorage from the hut structure to the wood-framed sled that transported the huts into the woods and served as the foundation structure
Photo by Decentralized Design Lab
Photo by Charlie Reinersten
Photo by Decentralized Design Lab
Photo by Decentralized Design Lab
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Project Summary
2017
Completion Date
Award
Winner
Solutions
Repair & Rehabilitation
Services
Structures | Applied Science & Research
Markets
Education
Client(s)
Harvard University Graduate School of Design
Specialized Capabilities
Building Design | Materials Science
Key team members
Additional Projects
Northeast
Bowdoin College, Coffin Street Dormitories
To accommodate the increasing student population, Bowdoin College sought to build two new freshmen dormitory buildings. SGH provided building enclosure consulting and construction administration services for the project.
Northeast
University of Connecticut, Beach Hall
SGH completed a hands-on investigation of the masonry facade and roofs to determine the causes for masonry deterioration and apparent leakage into the building.