For high-seismic regions, force-resisting systems are necessary.

Mass timber construction has experienced a significant increase in adoption in recent years due to its architectural appeal and sustainable nature. As its use has spread into regions of high seismicity, the need for reliable and economic seismic force-resisting systems compatible with this type of construction has arisen. Lateral systems incorporating Buckling Restrained Braces (BRBs) complement the desirable benefits of mass timber, and several methods have been developed for their incorporation in mass timber buildings. Three of these methods will be highlighted: a timber/steel hybrid system which collects lateral forces over large areas and concentrates them into steel BRBFs that are able to handle the relatively high resulting forces; a timber BRBF system which resists the lateral forces on a more local level but which must develop the BRB demands into timber members, rather than steel; and a novel timber shear wall system utilizing vertically-oriented BRBs as hold downs at the base of the wall. Each system has its advantages for certain building configurations and will be illustrated through completed projects.