We are excited to share that Jon Guttello  will be speaking at the 10th Annual Young Engineers Symposium , hosted by the Structural Engineers Association of Illinois . The symposium brings together emerging professionals from across the region for a day focused on connection, learning, discussion, and professional growth. Jon’s presentation will focus on the three hour mass timber fire test  in which Forefront recently participated. The testing provided valuable real world da

Forefront continues to stay deeply engaged in this transformative development on the former Lincoln Yards north site—now officially moving forward after a key milestone: the Chicago Plan Commission has approved the Foundry Park proposal and cleared the way for further city reviews.  Read the full article here. Foundry Park is a mixed-use neighborhood redevelopment envisioned for roughly 34 acres along the Chicago River, replacing decades of stalled plans with a fresh, communi

I recently had the opportunity to join XR Realty  for a podcast conversation that covered a wide range of topics shaping cities today. The discussion moved naturally between development in Chicago, the future of large scale civic projects, and the evolving role of materials and construction methods such as mass timber and componentized housing. It was a thoughtful conversation that reflected how interconnected these topics really are. From my perspective at Forefront Structur

We are excited to share that construction is officially underway on  Shoreway Tower , a new residential high rise that will play a significant role in Cleveland’s evolving lakefront corridor. Seeing a project move from planning and coordination into active construction is always meaningful, and this milestone marks an important step forward for both the project and the broader neighborhood. We’re very proud of the great work by the Forefront team and are grateful for the cont

We’re proud to share the completion of 5 City Blvd, a 15-story cast-in-place concrete office tower now fully realized in the heart of Nashville. From early design through construction, this project has been a rewarding collaboration; one that brings together thoughtful urban integration, structural efficiency, and a clear architectural vision.

After we shared our reflections on the 3-hour mass timber fire test , I had the opportunity to continue that conversation in a different format. I was recently invited by Neutral  to join their podcast and talk more openly about why the testing mattered, what we learned, and how it’s shaping the way I think about mass timber moving forward. In Episode 19 of the Neutral Podcast , I talk through the motivation behind the test, what it was like to see the assembly perform in rea

I want to take a moment to highlight an organization doing meaningful and inspiring work and to encourage others to learn more about it. Give Hope 2 Kids  is making a real impact in Honduras, and I recently became aware of their mission through my friend and client Nate Helbach. After learning more about what they are doing, it was clear that their work deserves attention and support. Give Hope 2 Kids is focused on serving children and families through education, resources, a

This month at Forefront Structural Engineers, we’ve been proud to break ground on 9th & High , a project that represents not only a major milestone in mass timber construction but also a powerful example of what thoughtful structural design can help bring to life in today’s built environment. Read the full press release here. Located just off the Ohio State University campus in Columbus, Ohio, 9th & High is rising as what will be the tallest mass timber student housing buildi