Last December, Eesti Elu spoke with Tallinn-born, Burlington-based Maria Pernits, a structural engineer working with timber as a sustainable construction resource. Below is a conversation about her path into the field, her research on reclaimed timber, and her impressions of the Toronto-Estonian community from an outside perspective.
Could you introduce yourself and talk a little bit about your path to Taltech?
I’m Maria, I’m twenty-six years old. After high school, I went to the University of Tartu to study materials science. I realized fairly quickly that it was too theoretical for me, and I ended up leaving the program before COVID started. I then moved back to Tallinn and began studying civil engineering at Tallinn University of Technology (TalTech), which felt much more practical and hands-on.
“The construction sector is one of the largest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions… Using reclaimed timber is one small way to make the industry more sustainable.”
(Maria Pernits)
How would you describe your research to people who may not be familiar with engineering?
My research was titled Structural Fire Design with Aged Reclaimed Timber: Small-Scale Charring Performance Assessment. Essentially, I conducted small fire tests where I burned wood and observed how it behaved. The goal was to assess whether aged, reclaimed timber could be safely used in construction.
This has important sustainability implications. The construction sector is one of the largest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions, so finding more environmentally friendly alternatives is very important. Using reclaimed timber is one small way to make the industry more sustainable.
What did a typical week look like for you in your program?
I graduated in June [2025], but before that, I was really busy. My weeks consisted of working. I was working thirty to thirty-two hours a week. And then on the weekends, I was working on my master's thesis, so my weeks were very, very busy.
What sparked your interest in this particular research topic?
Well, I knew I wanted to do research in timber engineering, so I reached out to one of my professors to see if there were any larger research projects underway. He gave me a few topics to choose from, and the one focused on aged timber stood out to me the most. I also liked that it was part of a bigger project. I enjoy contributing to something that feels meaningful and has the potential to make a real difference.
Architects sometimes have very ambitious or unconventional ideas… but that’s also part of what makes it fun!
(Maria Pernits)
So, now working as a structural engineer, what are some rewarding and challenging parts about your work?
One of the biggest challenges is figuring out how to actually construct a building. Architects sometimes have very ambitious or unconventional ideas… but that’s also part of what makes it fun! The most rewarding part is when you finally figure it out and then see the building go up. You can look at it and think, “I contributed to this.”
What advice would you give to someone who's curious about doing this kind of work?
I think being very curious about new things and being patient is very important. Engineering often involves learning new things and problem-solving over long periods of time.
What kind of projects excite you as you look towards the future?
I’m really interested in timber engineering, so I’d love to work on larger-scale timber projects. I hope to see timber regain popularity as a construction material.
As someone who didn't grow up in the Toronto-Estonian community, what's it like getting to know it or being here so far?
It’s been really nice. The community feels very close-knit. I don’t think many Estonian communities around the world are as active or visible as the one here in Toronto. It’s nice to see how people know each other, how there are so many events and gatherings, and how there are Estonian schools and programs for kids to connect. That sense of community is really special.
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This article was written by Natalie Jenkins as part of the Local Journalism Initiative.
Responses have been edited for clarity.
