Lucas Epp
Vice President & Head of Engineering, StructureCraft
Founder, Branch
Lucas Epp is a structural engineer with over 20 years of experience working in Canada, the United Kingdom, and New Zealand. He has a significant background in structural engineering and computational design, having contributed to projects like the 2010 Olympic Speed Skating Oval timber roof, the Idaho Central Credit Union Arena, and the 300m-tall Bank of Kuwait headquarters. Since 2014, Lucas has led StructureCraft’s structural engineering, computational design, and software engineering team. His expertise with complex geometry and challenging structures has led him to be involved in projects where the intimate interaction of architecture and structure is critical to the success of the project.
Lucas has recently led the structural design for some of the most complex and iconic timber structures across North America and Asia, including Asia’s largest timber structure covering over 800,000 sqft with spans of up to 360 ft. Lucas is recognized for his innovative approach in designing sustainable, efficient structures and has shared his insights through lectures at esteemed institutions like ETH Zurich, the Architectural Association, University of British Columbia, and MIT. He actively contributes to timber code development, serving on committees including the ICC Tall Wood Code Committee and Canadian Standards Association O86, and authoring pivotal guides such as the Mass Timber Floor Vibration Design Guide. Many of his projects have achieved high sustainability certifications, and Lucas regularly leads lifecycle analyses for each of his projects, pioneering the creation of design software that enables a carbon-first design optimization approach.
From Projects to Product: Tools Accelerating Mass Timber Design and Fabrication
Branch is a next-generation software platform for building structure design which cuts across traditional boundaries between design and manufacturing in AEC. Branch seamlessly integrates real-time structural analysis and design, 3D modeling/detailing, and fabrication into a single, integrated design environment.
With Branch, all stakeholders—from owners and architects to engineers and CAM experts—can collaborate in a unified design space. This not only facilitates a smoother workflow but also enables real-time cost and carbon feedback on design changes, dramatically speeding up decision-making and enhancing accuracy. Users can explore high-level design concepts, like building massing, and instantly understand detailed impacts, including shop drawings, bills of materials, and CNC files. Branch is highly interactive and hackable, allowing designers to explore options without limitations. We believe that integrating data from all aspects of the process allows for faster exploration and holistic, elegant designs.
With a focus on the rapidly growing mass timber sector, Branch streamlines the entire design-to-manufacturing process. It promotes efficient, sustainable construction, reducing costs and accelerating time-to-market.