Engineering design for timber and low-carbon building structures
Structure Design has proven expertise in the design of timber structural systems, including engineered timber and mass timber solutions. We also provide engineering support for projects where embodied carbon reduction is a key consideration.
Timber structural design
Our timber design experience includes:
- Mass timber and light timber frame buildings
- Hybrid timber systems integrated with steel or concrete
- Timber bridges, wharves, and boardwalk structures
- Prefabrication-ready solutions that improve quality and reduce waste
Attention is given to connection detailing, movement, vibration performance, and construction sequencing to ensure reliable, buildable outcomes.
Hybrid and low-carbon structural systems
Hybrid systems combining timber with other materials often provide the most effective path to low carbon structural outcomes. Our hybrid designs support:
- Material-efficient structural systems that support cost control
- Reliable seismic performance
- Practical construction sequencing
- Reduced material use and embodied carbon
Pros include:
- Engineered timber and mass timber typically have a strength-to-weight ratio that is greater than steel.
- Components can be precision machined and prefabricated, allowing fast onsite assembly and reduced construction time, saving overhead costs.
- Many timber components can be moved in a single truckload, reducing transport costs and congestion at metro building sites.
- Large timber sections will achieve a certain level of inherent fire resistance by forming a layer of char on the surface.
- Timber will sequester biogenic carbon for the lifetime of the building, which benefits our 2050 emissions reduction goals.
Cons include:
- Timber floors typically have insufficient mass to achieve the acoustic ratings required by the Building Code for inter-tenancy floors. This can be resolved by using a denser floor screed or applying an acoustic overlay.
- Moisture control during construction is important to maintain dimensional stability.
Yes, when properly designed. Timber materials promote seismic resilience by being lightweight and strong in tension or compression along the grain. However, timber cannot dissipate earthquake energy through shape deformation and heat in the same way that steel materials can. To achieve seismic resilience, we typically design timber structures with steel components that can reliably dissipate earthquake energy (such as nail fixings in a plywood bracing wall). These components act as a fuse, protecting the main timber structure from damage and providing seismic resilience.
Embodied carbon can be reduced by using less materials, or by reducing the carbon density of the materials used. Significant carbon and cost savings often come from early design decisions. For example, reducing material quantities by optimising the footprint size of the building or re-purposing an existing building. Selecting a building type that is appropriate for the local ground conditions can avoid the need for extensive foundation works.
Optimisation of material quantities during detailed design has the potential to reduce embodied carbon. Project teams should consider whether the material cost savings and/or environmental benefits outweigh the cost of additional complexity during design and construction. To reduce the carbon density, low-carbon materials can be specified (e.g. steel manufactured using an electric arc furnace with a high proportion of recycled content). In some cases, moderate reductions in embodied carbon density can be achieved for little or no additional cost.
Yes. While rating tools like Green Star set minimum thresholds for embodied carbon reduction, meaningful outcomes can still be achieved without certification. We can work with your project team to develop a practical emissions reduction strategy tailored to your project goals and budget.