A Conversation with Ryan Kanteres, Paul Becker, and Matt Tonello

Ryan Kanteres of Simons Architects, Paul Becker of Thornton Tomasetti, and Matt Tonello of Consigli Construction sit down with MEREDA President Shannon Richards for MEREDA Matters - the podcast that lets you listen in on conversations with people driving responsible development in Maine. The group discusses mass timber - an engineered product that can perform like steel beams. Kanteres, Becker, and Tonello are all experienced in working with and advocating for the product. They talk about why it is important, its history of use in Europe and the Northwestern United States, and where there are opportunities in Maine to implement this sustainable building material. The discussion delves into how developers and builders can make mass timber cost effective for their projects, and outlines the learning curve for using it efficiently. The group also talks about the environmental impact of mass timber, namely its low carbon footprint and carbon sequestering properties. The discussion goes on to examine how Maine’s working forests could be repurposed for mass timber production and the need for local manufacturing to help streamline the supply chain. If Ryan, Paul, and Matt could change one thing in the world, what would it be? Listen to the episode to find out!