ENGINEERING & INNOVATIONS
Two pioneers in modern timber construction
We are two expert engineers in the field of timber construction since the beginning. We combine well-founded practical knowledge with intensive teaching and research work at universities. Timber constructions have fascinated us since the mid-1980s, long before the trend began. Since then, we have been developing and promoting the design with timber and are extensively researching novel timber structures and construction details. At the holztragwerke.ch we combine and integrate the expertise of two successful engineering companies.
Andrea Bernasconi
Dr. sc. techn. ETH, Dipl. Ing ETH/SIA/OTIA
Managing director / Co-owner
​
Andrea Bernasconi is co-owner of the engineering company Borlini & Zanini SA in Lugano and professor for wood technology and timber construction at the High School for Engineering at Yverdon-les-Bains HEIG-VD/HES-SO.
For over 30 years he has worked in the timber construction sector in Switzerland and abroad, making him one of the pioneers. He is involved in the research and development of wooden structures and timber constructions.
​
​
Alessandro Fabris
Dr. sc. techn. ETH, Dipl. Ing. ETH/HTL/SIA
BWL Dipl. KMU-HSG
Managing director / Co-owner
​
Alessandro Fabris is co-owner of the engineering company Caprez Ingenieure AG and is the managing director of the branch office in Zurich. He is an expert for wood technology and timber construction at the FH Yverdon-les-Bains HEIG-VD/HES-SO. At the swiss society of engineers and architects SIA he is part of the professional group council and commissioner. Originally a specialist in steel and concrete structures he has been concentrating his activities for decades on, among other things, constructive timber construction.
​
​
Florian Rusterholz
Structural engineer / fire protection specialist
BSc Civil Engineering. FH / CAS earthquake safety FH Lucerne /
VKF fire protection specialist
​
Florian Rusterholz is a project manager with many years of experience in structural engineering. He has been working as a planning engineer for over 10 years and has already been able to plan and implement several demanding projects in timber construction. Since 2019 he has also held the competence certificate as a VKF fire protection specialist.
​
Andrea Gino Molinari
structural engineer
BSc Civil Engineering. FH / CAS timber structures - building physics in timber construction
​
Andrea Gino Molinari is a project manager with many years of experience in structural design. He has been working as a planning engineer for several years and has already been able to plan and implement a number of projects in timber construction. Through further training at the BFH Holz in Biel, CAS timber structures and CAS building physics in timber construction, he was able to deepen and expand his knowledge of timber construction.
Maria Grazia Di Pilato
Structural engineer / VKF fire protection expert
dot. Ing. Politecnico di Milano
​
Mariagrazia Di Pilato is a graduate civil engineer and structural engineer with a specialization and doctorate in the field of geotechnics and seismic safety. For more than 10 years she has been working as a project manager in the field of structural engineering, geotechnics and construction management. She has many years of in-depth experience in fire protection, both in planning and in monitoring and checking fire safety. She is on the board of the cantonal association of fire protection experts and has been registered as a VKF fire protection expert since 2021 as well as in the Lignum list "Fire protection specialist in timber construction".
Vittorio Borlini
VKF fire protection specialist
Dipl. SUP ATS OTIA
​
Vittorio Borlini has been working in the fields of geotechnics, water and sewage networks and construction management for over 30 years. His areas of expertise also include being an expert in the analysis of structural damage on behalf of building insurance companies and the fire protection authorities. He has been working as a fire protection specialist since 1997. Until 2020 he worked part-time in training.