“Timber can be a good alternative if it's used wisely”

In Matthieu Fehlmann’s family, construction is a popular topic of conversation at the dinner table, as he’s the third in a line of engineers and architects. “We’ve got it in our blood,” he jokes. Fehlmann recently graduated from EPFL and now works for a local engineering firm. But before that, he completed his master’s project in Australia, where he was able to explore his interest in timber structures and how they can be designed to withstand lateral forces – like those that occur during an earthquake.

Fehlmann, originally from Saint-Saphorin-sur-Morges, Switzerland, describes himself as a “rational thinker” and was naturally drawn to civil engineering. Although he got good grades in high school, he struggled in his first year at EPFL and had to repeat it after taking the Mise à Niveau (MAN) refresher course. “This experience built up my self-confidence and confirmed that I’d chosen the right major,” he says. The further Fehlmann advanced in his degree program, the better he “learned how to study,” growing increasingly knowledgeable of and interested in his field. He also immersed himself fully in campus life at EPFL, taking advantage of the many activities on offer such as soccer, sailing and academic coaching for first-year civil engineering students. He even started a soccer club in 2019 with friends from high school and served as its president.

Off the beaten path
Fehlmann chose the “structures” specialization for his master’s degree and completed the required in-company internship at a Zurich-based engineering firm. There, he attended a presentation about a project to build a large timber building in Australia. “I was curious to learn more, especially since I’d taken a class on the use of wood as a construction material,” he says. “Timber is an increasingly popular option, in part for its environmentally friendly properties.” Fehlmann contacted the project leader in Zurich, who helped arrange the master’s project with a specialist company in Australia. “I enjoy adventures that are off the beaten path,” says Fehlmann. “The project in Sydney was an opportunity to see how timber can be implemented on site, in accordance with construction standards that are different from those here in Switzerland. It also gave me a chance to improve my English.”

Earthquake-resistant

Fehlmann’s role was to help design an eight-story timber building in Tasmania. He looked specifically at how the structure could be stabilized in order to withstand lateral forces, such as those from strong winds, earthquakes and other shocks. He modeled a design variant of the building with one important constraint: it had to have no reinforced-concrete core, the rigid structure often used in buildings to provide lateral stabilization. In Fehlmann’s design, which is made entirely of timber, he sought to achieve the same level of resistance. “We had to change the way the building’s components are assembled,” he says. To make things even more complicated, the simulations were run in a virtual environment patterned after New Zealand – a country known for its seismic activity. “We analyzed how the design would respond to seismic stresses and then adjusted it as needed to improve its stability.”

Fehlmann’s time working abroad, under conditions far removed from those he’d experienced before, “was the best experience of my life,” he says. “I had to be flexible and respond to the needs of the different construction trades. At first there was a lot of uncertainty about how the project would play out, but we ended up with a design that works for everyone.” In addition, Fehlmann gained valuable first-hand insight into the use of timber. “It can be a good alternative construction material – but only if it’s used wisely. Timber isn’t suitable for all types of structures,” he says. As an example, he points to tall structures like footbridges where a combination of wood and concrete is the best option.

Our work will have an impact on people’s lives, and I find that very stimulating.

Before starting his new job at the engineering firm back in Switzerland, Fehlmann spent three months backpacking across Asia. This break left him ready to enter the workforce, and his first assignment is an ambitious one: he’s working on the renovation of the Lausanne train station. “It’s a complex project with a fair share of challenges,” he says. “But I’m excited about it. It’s a whole other level of engagement compared to what I’d known at university. Our work here will have an impact on people’s lives, and I find that very stimulating.”