Mr. Krahn holds a master’s degree in geotechnical engineering and a Bachelor's degree in civil engineering from the University of Manitoba. He has experience in residential and commercial construction and holds a certificate in carpentry and wood working from Red River College. Mr. Krahn is also a LEEDTM accredited professional, an active member of the Timber Frame Guild's Timber Frame Engineering Council and a founding member of the Natural Building Engineering Coalition. He spent five years on the board of directors for the Ontario Natural Builder’s Coalition, three of those as chair. Mr. Krahn currently sits on the Standing Committee for Housing and Small Buildings under the Canadian Centre for Building and Fire Codes. He is the author of "Rammed Earth Construction", part of the Sustainable Building Essentials series from New Society Publishers.
Building Alternatives Inc. (BAI) is a consulting engineering firm licensed in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Ontario. BAI specializes in engineering design using low-embodied energy, low carbon emission materials such as wood, earth, stone, straw, clay, hemp, and lime. This engineering design includes the techniques with which these materials are combined and assembled and incorporates responsible and appropriate current technologies such as air barrier membranes and geosynthetics that allow new applications of the older, time-tested materials. BAI actively participates in educational programs both at university and college level institutions as well as through professional and trade associations.