Timber Plate Structural Design and Digital Fabrication

Modern timber construction is undergoing a digital revolution, combining traditional woodworking with advanced computational design and automated manufacturing. Understanding how to design and engineer timber plate structures opens up new possibilities for sustainable, innovative architecture. This text-only course guides you through the foundational concepts of timber plate structural design and digital fabrication. You will transition from basic wood mechanics to understanding complex joint geometries and modern robotic manufacturing workflows, all through clear, written explanations and structural design principles. What you'll learn: • Understand the fundamental mechanical properties of timber plates and engineered wood products • Explore the geometric principles of integral mechanical attachments and wood-wood connections • Learn how digital fabrication and CNC milling translate architectural designs into physical timber components • Apply structural modeling concepts to analyze timber plate assemblies and load-bearing capacities • Discover modern parametric design workflows and sustainable timber engineering practices. The course begins with essential terminology, material properties, and structural mechanics before exploring digital joinery, fabrication constraints, and modern computational design workflows. This course is designed for aspiring architects, structural engineers, and wood construction enthusiasts who are new to digital timber design. No prior experience with advanced parametric tools or structural engineering is required. Start reading today to build your foundation in modern timber engineering and digital architecture.