A Conversation with Iconic Timber Framer Tedd Benson

The industry pioneer discusses how his vision for sustainable building was created, his longtime involvement in This Old House TV show, his invention of the Open Built building system, and his plan to license his technology to other manufacturers.

Tedd started his construction firm in 1974 with the mission to create long lasting structures that used little energy, while still being beautiful and offering a strong connection to nature. If readers are thinking, “Hmmm…that sounds like green building,” you’d be right. Ted was sustainable even before the movement grew the green catchphrase.

In the intervening years, Tedd has become nothing short of a giant in the timber frame and structural insulated panel (SIP) building industries. He literally wrote the book on timber framing—actually he wrote four books and counting. (He’s at work on his fifth.) Tedd is one of the original founders of the Timber Framers Guild and he was the 2006 winner of Innovative Small Builder of the Year award from PATH or partnership for advancing technology in housing. His company employs 75 and has built more than 700 timber frame structures in its long history. Listen in on our latest podcast to discover how the new housing economy will cause the use of building systems to revolutionize how homes are constructed in the U.S.