Alexander C. Schreyer

Alexander C. Schreyer is a Senior Lecturer II and Associate Department Head in the Department of Environmental Conservation at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. He serves as Program Director for the Building and Construction Technology (BCT) program and Director of the Trimble Technology Lab at UMass Amherst. His professional roles encompass teaching, research, and leadership in the fields of architectural design, construction technology, and wood engineering.

Mr. Schreyer holds an M.A.Sc. in Wood Science from the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada, and a Dipl.-Ing. (B.S. in Civil Engineering) from RheinMain University of Applied Sciences. His educational background combines structural engineering, wood science, and digital design expertise.

Mr. Schreyer's research interests span the entire range of planning, design, and execution of buildings and structures, with a particular focus on:

• 3D CAD and BIM applications in architecture and construction
• Digital fabrication and 3D printing technologies
• Wood-concrete composite structural systems
• Fasteners and connection systems for wood structures
• Structural upgrading of historic buildings
• Structural optimization using artificial intelligence
• Web applications for research and teaching

His scholarly work demonstrates a consistent focus on practical applications of digital technologies in construction and structural engineering, with particular emphasis on wood-based systems. Over the past decade, his research has evolved from fundamental material testing to the development of computational models and digital tools for design and construction. The integration of traditional structural engineering with emerging digital technologies represents a distinctive thread throughout his publication record.

Mr. Schreyer is the author of "Architectural Design with SketchUp," a widely used reference that provides techniques for utilizing Trimble SketchUp in architectural design. He is also co-author of the extensively used textbook "Fundamentals of Residential Construction," which covers materials and methods in residential building.

As an educator, Mr. Schreyer teaches several courses including:

• BCT 204 – Construction Materials & Methods
• BCT 304 – Properties of Wood
• BCT 420 – Designing with 3D CAD & BIM
• BCT 492A – Jobs and Professional Life in BCT
• ECO 620 – Studies in Building Information Modeling

He has directed numerous student projects and likely advised many students through the Building and Construction Technology program, though specific student names are not listed in the available materials. His work with the Trimble Technology Lab provides students with hands-on experience in digital design and fabrication technologies.

Mr. Schreyer has been instrumental in the development and implementation of the J.W. Olver Design Building at UMass Amherst, which serves as a case study for mass timber construction in the United States. His work bridges the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application in construction technology.