On 26^th May, Dr Andrea Lucherini presented at the Mass Timber Seminar Italia 2026, organised by Rothoblaas at its headquarters in Cortaccia, South Tyrol. The two-day seminar, held on 26^th and 27^th May, brought together structural engineers, designers, and architects to explore what it means to build efficiently with timber, focusing on hybrid structures, prefabricated façades, and seismic and fire performance.

The first day of the seminar was dedicated to hybrid construction, examining how different materials can be combined to achieve greater spans and improved structural performance. The programme featured speakers from leading academic institutions and engineering firms across Italy, including the University of Trento, Politecnico di Milano, and ArcelorMittal, as well as practitioners from specialised structural and acoustic engineering consultancies. 

Dr Lucherini presented during the afternoon session of the first day, delivering a talk entitled "Strutture ibride e connessioni al fuoco: Dettagli costruttivi e test al fuoco in scala reale" ("Hybrid Structures and Fire Connections: Construction details and full-scale fire tests"). The presentation drew on FRISSBE's experimental research programme at the ZAG Fire Laboratory, sharing insights from full-scale fire testing of hybrid timber connections and detailing the constructional considerations that determine fire performance in these increasingly common structural systems. As hybrid timber and timber-steel construction continues to gain ground in the Italian and European markets, the fire safety of connections and structural details is a critical area where research and engineering practice need to work closely together.

Participation in the seminar offered 12 continuing professional development credits for engineers, reflecting the applied, practice-oriented character of the event and the relevance of FRISSBE's contribution to the professional community.