A Broader Conversation on Cities Materials and the Chicago Bears

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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 Structural Engineers, conversations like this are valuable because they allow space to step back from individual projects and talk more broadly about how cities grow and adapt. We talked about mass timber not just as a material choice, but as a system that encourages earlier coordination, clearer communication, and more intentional decision making across the design and construction process. Mass timber brings questions of fire performance, durability, supply chain, and constructability to the forefront, and addressing those questions thoughtfully is what allows the system to be used responsibly at scale.

We also spent time discussing componentized and prefabricated housing and why it continues to gain traction. From an engineering standpoint, componentized construction offers opportunities for quality control, efficiency, and repeatability that are difficult to achieve on traditional job sites. At the same time, it requires teams to commit earlier and think differently about sequencing and coordination. When done well, componentized housing approaches can help address housing needs while maintaining performance and longevity.

I'm also involved in another startup company called TMBR, where we are taking this product [mass timber] into the residential space of one and two story homes and building basically homes that can unfold into place, so they're productized. If you think about the affordable housing crisis . . . I personally don't believe that the answer is in modular construction. I think that shipping boxes of air around the country is not a good idea. I think that having prefabricated components that have potentially proprietary ways of connecting them together faster make way more sense. - Josh Dortzbach

The conversation also turned toward Chicago itself and the ongoing discussion around where the Chicago Bears might ultimately build their next stadium. While the topic is often framed around sports, it is really a discussion about identity, infrastructure, and long term urban impact. Large projects like stadiums influence transportation, neighborhoods, and public investment for generations, which makes it important to think about them in the context of the city as a whole.

The Chicago Bears belong in Chicago. - Josh Dortzbach

What I appreciated most about the podcast was the ability to connect these ideas. Whether we are talking about mass timber towers, componentized housing, or major civic developments, the common thread is responsibility. As engineers, developers, and designers, our work shapes how people live, gather, and experience their cities. Having open conversations about those responsibilities is an important part of moving the industry forward.

I am grateful to XR Realty for creating space for a wide ranging and honest discussion. If you are interested in urban development, emerging construction methods, or the future of Chicago, I hope you find the conversation engaging.