Mansfield, Shawn

Dr. Cristiano Loss is an Associate Professor of Sustainable Structural Systems in the Department of Wood Science at the University of British Columbia. He also serves as the Associate Chair of the Wood Building Design and Construction cluster, an initiative established in 2005 by the Government of British Columbia with the mandate to implement a world-class interdisciplinary research and education program in BC and beyond.

Dr. Loss is internationally recognized for his contributions at the interface of structural engineering, timber engineering, and hybrid structural systems. His research has advanced the development of high-performance timber and steel–timber composite systems, innovative structural connectors, and displacement-based seismic design approaches for modern mass timber and hybrid buildings.

He collaborates extensively with government agencies, industry partners, and interdisciplinary research networks in Canada and abroad. At UBC, he leads the Sustainable Engineered Structural Solutions Laboratory (SESS Lab), where he trains graduate students and works with academic and research partners to develop innovative solutions that advance sustainable and resilient building technologies.

Research Interests

• Mass timber technologies
• Hybrid timber–steel systems
• Composite timber-based structures
• Low-carbon prefabricated construction methods
• Smart building technologies
• Advanced structural testing
• AI-driven structural design and modelling
• Seismic design and displacement-based methodologies
• Sustainable structural engineering
• Performance-based design

Research Summary

Dr. Loss’s research focuses on developing next-generation, carbon-neutral structural systems and performance-based design approaches for multi-story buildings. His work bridges three main areas: (i) high-performance structural systems, (ii) advanced modeling and experimental testing methods, and (iii) parametric design and AI-driven manufacturing. A central theme of his research is hybrid steel-timber systems—including high-performance shear walls, composite floors, and large-grid structures—that enable efficient prefabrication, rapid assembly, and enhanced serviceability. Through experimental and computational studies, he develops design methodologies that support broader adoption of mass timber and hybrid systems in both residential and non-residential construction. By leading large interdisciplinary grants and international collaborations, Dr. Loss contributes to the development of design frameworks that reduce carbon emissions, enhance structural resilience, and advance construction industry innovation through new materials, connection technologies, and construction processes.

Teaching

Dr. Loss teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in wood mechanics, timber structural design, and hybrid structural systems, including WOOD 282, CIVL 439, and CIVL 516. He also developed and instructs UBC’s Hybrid Timber Construction Micro-Certificate, which provides professional training on design strategies for hybrid timber systems across a range of building types.

His teaching emphasizes active learning, paired with a flipped-classroom model, where students engage deeply with technical content through applied exercises, project-based work, and interaction with industry case studies. His teaching practice is informed by continual pedagogical training through UBC’s Centre for Teaching, Learning and Technology.