MHS Building Systems

Tim Siahatgar

My name is Tim Siahatgar, and I am an architectural engineer based in Irvine, California. Having graduated from a leading architectural engineering program, my career has been marked by a deep interest in modularity and flexible structures. As an expert in building construction, I recognize that the connectors within a building's structure are crucial for creating solid and rigid constructions. Whether it involves wood-to-wood lumber connections using nails, glue, or bolts, or metal-to-metal connections through bolts or welding, the strength of a building hinges on these essential connections. Upon meticulous examination, I have identified that aluminum extrusions offer numerous advantages over traditional wood or metal materials for human habitation. However, a persistent challenge for over a century has been the connection of two hollow extrusions. Although aluminum welding is precise, it is prohibitively expensive, and bolting two extrusion elements together fails to adequately handle lateral loads. While aluminum extrusions have been used for building framing since 1904, their applications have primarily been limited to interior framing within the building industry. Several European companies, such as Syma-Systems in Switzerland, attempted to develop locking solutions for connecting extrusions as early as 1985, but these efforts were largely confined to interior framing. The true breakthrough came with the work of Buckminster Fuller (1895-1983), a renowned architect who invented an interlocking joint specifically for aluminum extrusions in constructing geodesic dome structures. Inspired by Fuller's pioneering work, I have, after years of research and development, created an enhanced interlocking clamping system for modular aluminum geometric profiles. This invention offers swift and straightforward improvements to traditional connector techniques, thereby enhancing the robustness, comfort, efficiency, affordability, and sustainability of building structures. A comparison between conventional wood connectors, current wood stud skin stress framing, and the state-of-the-art technology in MHS building systems reveals significant differences. My design incorporates an interlocking structural aluminum framing that, through testing and analysis, has proven to be twenty times stronger than counterparts commonly found in almost all wood or light steel stud framing used in Type 5 light building construction. Beyond strengthening structural integrity, my design contributes to sustainability by making building structures recyclable, relocatable, and renewable. As an architectural engineer committed to advancing building construction, I take immense pride in my ability to make a positive and lasting impact on our world