New applications and challenges for engineered timber structures

Engineered timber structures are moving into new grounds, thanks to significant interest from major developers and builders who see potential for reducing construction times and costs, while improving sustainability and comfort. With the ingenuity and pragmatism for which they have become known, Australian engineers are pushing the boundaries of standards and codes, prototyping and testing, and solving unconventional and creative structural problems to design timber structures and define applications that will shape the future of the way we build. This paper describes the main projects currently under development, with an insight into engineering challenges for design, code compliance, manufacturing and constructability.