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
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Project Summary
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
![Pedro Sifre](https://www.sgh.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Pedro-J-Sifre.jpg)
![Erik Farrington](https://www.sgh.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Erik-W-Farrington.jpg)
Additional Projects
Northeast
Middlebury College, Fine Arts Center Museum
The building suffered from leakage at the roofs and condensation in the art gallery and at skylights that caused deterioration of components within the exterior walls and dripped into the building. SGH investigated the causes of the building enclosure issues and designed repairs.
Northeast
Hamilton College, Kevin and Karen Kennedy Center for Theatre and the Studio Arts
Knowing that many of their arts programs were outgrowing the existing spaces, Hamilton College sought to develop new facilities to serve their growing needs. SGH provided building enclosure consulting services for the Kennedy Center.