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Introduction to Wood Design

Resource Description

This comprehensive course package provides educators with a ready-to-use framework for teaching structural wood design, aligned with CSA O86 and the Wood Design Manual. Suitable for advanced undergraduate or graduate engineering students, the materials include:

Lecture Notes: Covering eight key topics with examples and explanations.
Assignments & Exams: Five assignments, two midterms, and a final exam (or optional project) to reinforce learning.
Design Notes & Tutorials: Step-by-step guidance for practical applications of wood design concepts.
Project: Optional real-world design project to apply knowledge.
3D Models & Softwar: Visualization tools and WoodWorks Connections tutorials support interactive learning.

3D Models & Software: Visualization tools and WoodWorks Connections tutorials support interactive learning.

Acknowledgments

Lead Authors

Dr. Niel Van Engelen

Reviewers

Canadian Wood Council

Usage and Citation Guidelines

These teaching materials were developed byDr. Niel Van Engelen with partial funding support from the Canadian Wood Council. The content is provided free of charge for teaching and educational purposes only. Any commercial use, redistribution, or modification outside of academic teaching is strictly prohibited.

When using these resources in any context that requires citation, please use the format below.

Author(s). (Year). Title of module [Teaching Module]. Funded and published by the Canadian Wood Council.

Wood Bridge Design

Resource Description

This comprehensive pedagogical resource presents two detailed mass timber projects, developed to support educators in teaching advanced wood construction concepts.

The first project is a 3-storey mass timber office building featuring a Glulam post-and-beam main structural system supporting CLT floor and roof panels. The case study includes extensive engineering calculations for the primary structure, detailed analyses and design of CLT shear walls, and full calculations for all major connections. Sample construction documents are provided at the end of the case study, offering practical examples of how the design can be implemented. The resource is complemented by a fully detailed architectural and structural Revit model, providing a complete digital representation of the project. An accompanying Design Example illustrates practical applications of the design principles, helping students connect theoretical concepts with real-world practice.

The second component focuses on timber highway bridge design. Key reference materials include Wood Highway Bridges (CWC), the Canadian Highway Bridge Design Code 2014 (CHBDC), CAN/CSA O86-14, and the Ontario Wood Bridge Reference Guide. The material covers wood bridge systems—including decks, superstructures, and substructures—with examples from Canada, the United States, and Europe demonstrating a variety of timber bridge types and designs. Durability considerations are emphasized, including protective roofing, preservative treatments, moisture control, proper detailing for drainage and airflow, and the use of corrosion-resistant connectors. A detailed design example of an 18 m single-span vehicular bridge is included, featuring transverse glulam deck panels on glulam girders. Structural analyses for deck panels and girders, stiffener beams, diaphragms, and major connections are provided, with calculations and code-based design methods aligned with CHBDC standards.

Together, these projects provide educators with a robust, ready-to-use teaching package that integrates theoretical knowledge, engineering calculations, construction documentation, and digital modeling. The resource supports instruction in both building and bridge mass timber systems, allowing students to explore structural design, durability, load transfer, and practical implementation in real-world contexts. It is intended to facilitate comprehensive learning in wood construction, bridging the gap between classroom theory and professional practice.

Acknowledgments

Lead Authors

Canadian Wood Council

Usage and Citation Guidelines

These teaching materials were developed by the Canadian Wood Council. The content is provided free of charge for teaching and educational purposes only. Any commercial use, redistribution, or modification outside of academic teaching is strictly prohibited.

When using these resources in any context that requires citation, please use the format below.

Author(s). (Year). Title of module [Teaching Module]. Funded and published by the Canadian Wood Council.

Building Science for Wood Buildings

Resource Description

This 8-lecture module provides a comprehensive introduction to the principles of thermodynamics and hydrodynamics as they apply to wood buildings. It equips students with a foundational understanding of building science, emphasizing the critical role of energy efficiency, air tightness, and moisture control in modern construction.

The module addresses the evolving demands of taller and larger wood buildings and highlights the impact of prefabrication on envelope assemblies and modern manufacturing methods. Content is specifically aligned with NBCC Divisions 5 and 9, ensuring relevance to structural and enclosure design standards. The package includes lecture slide deck; instructor lecture notes; and sample questions for assessment.

This resource is designed for architectural design educators aiming to deepen knowledge for their students in high-performance wood building envelopes and contemporary construction strategies.

Acknowledgments

Reviewers

Canadian Wood Council

Usage and Citation Guidelines

These teaching materials were developed by Scius Advisory and BIM One with funding support from the Canadian Wood Council. The content is provided free of charge for teaching and educational purposes only. Any commercial use, redistribution, or modification outside of academic teaching is strictly prohibited.

When using these resources in any context that requires citation, please use the format below.

Author(s). (Year). Title of module [Teaching Module]. Funded and published by the Canadian Wood Council.

Prefabrication of Wood Buildings

Resource Description

This module provides an introduction to wood prefabrication, exploring its various levels and methods to give students a fundamental understanding of the advantages, disadvantages, and market factors that influence its successful implementation. Designed for students in structural engineering or related disciplines, the module can be delivered flexibly as four blocks of 90–120 minutes, two blocks of 3–4 hours, or a single full-day session.

Acknowledgments

Lead Authors

Dr. Guido Wimmers

Reviewers

Canadian Wood Council

Usage and Citation Guidelines

When using these resources in any context that requires citation, please use the format below.

Author(s). (Year). Title of module [Teaching Module]. Funded and published by the Canadian Wood Council.

BIM for Wood Buildings – An Introductory Guide

Resource Description

This resource provides educators with an accessible introduction to Building Information Modeling (BIM) in the context of wood construction. It explains core BIM concepts, outlines the implications of adopting BIM, and demonstrates its value for efficiency, reliability, and sustainability. The guide serves as a clear starting point for teaching BIM practices to students in architecture and engineering, with practical examples to support classroom discussion.

Acknowledgments

Lead Authors

Scius Advisory and BIM One

Reviewers

Canadian Wood Council

Usage and Citation Guidelines

When using these resources in any context that requires citation, please use the format below.

Author(s). (Year). Title of module [Teaching Module]. Funded and published by the Canadian Wood Council.

Considerations in the Design & Prefabrication of Mass Timber Buildings for Architects

Resource Description

This resource is intended to provide educators with a clear framework for teaching the principles of mass timber design and prefabrication. The content is organized into four modules that highlight foundational knowledge, technical design considerations, early construction strategies, and sustainability. Together, these modules support students in developing a holistic understanding of how mass timber projects are conceived, designed, and delivered.

Module 1 – Introduction & Project Planning Provides an overview of mass timber, highlights the advantages of prefabrication, and outlines key early-stage considerations for optimizing design.
Module 2 – Design Optimization Considerations Explores critical aspects of design including structural performance, fire protection, acoustics, and vibration.
Module 3 – Early Construction Strategies Focuses on Building Information Modeling (BIM), Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DfMA), systems integration, and best practices for building envelope and moisture management.
Module 4 – Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) Examines the importance of carbon accounting, introduces available LCA tools, and discusses broader sustainability and biophilia considerations.

Acknowledgments

Canadian Wood Council

Usage and Citation Guidelines

These teaching materials were developed by university professors with funding support from the Canadian Wood Council. The content is provided free of charge for teaching and educational purposes only. Any commercial use, redistribution, or modification outside of academic teaching is strictly prohibited.

When using these resources in any context that requires citation, please use the format below.

Author(s). (Year). Title of module [Teaching Module]. Funded and published by the Canadian Wood Council.

Condensed Timber Engineering Module for Hybrid Course

Resource Description

This module series is designed for use in 3rd- or 4th-year steel design courses, providing an efficient way to introduce key wood design concepts within a steel-focused curriculum. It represents a condensed version of the full 10-lecture undergraduate wood design course, distilling the essential principles, methodologies, and applications into a streamlined format. The series can be delivered over approximately four 50-minute lectures, making it suitable for integration into existing course schedules without requiring extensive additional class time. Each module is structured to offer clear explanations, practical examples, and relevant exercises, ensuring that students gain a solid understanding of wood design fundamentals while complementing their study of steel structures.

Acknowledgments

Lead Authors

Dr. John Gales Dr. Chorlton Bronwyn

Usage and Citation Guidelines

These teaching materials were developed by university professors with funding support from the Canadian Wood Council. The content remains the intellectual property of the respective author(s) and is provided free of charge for teaching and educational purposes only. Any commercial use, redistribution, or modification outside of academic teaching is strictly prohibited.

When using these resources in any context that requires citation, please use the format below.

Author(s). (Year). Title of module [Teaching Module]. Funded and published by the Canadian Wood Council.

An Overview of Sustainable Forestry in Canada for Architecture and Engineering Students 2022

Resource Description

Canada: A Forest Country

With 362 million hectares of forest, Canada is the third-most forested country in the world.

Acknowledgments

Prepared by:

The Mass Timber Institute at the University of Toronto’s John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design for the Canadian Wood Council.

Lead Authors

Monique Dosanjh
Shan Shukla
Sanjana Patel
Dr. Anne Koven

Usage and Citation Guidelines

Coming soon

CIVE480 Timber Structures 2019

Resource Description

This course provides a comprehensive introduction to wood and timber engineering, covering materials, structural applications, and design principles. Historical and modern timber structures are examined, with practical design examples provided throughout to reinforce key concepts. Students will explore sawn lumber, panel products, and engineered wood products such as glulam, structural composite lumber, and CLT, along with their applications and design considerations. The course also covers lateral load-resisting systems, member design for bending, tension, and compression, as well as connections, fasteners, and fire safety design.

Low‐Rise Commercial Mass Timber Design Case Study

Resource Description

This case study presents a 3-storey mass timber office building designed with a Glulam post-and-beam main structural system supporting CLT floor and roof panels. It has been developed as a teaching resource for educators, providing comprehensive engineering calculations for the primary structure, detailed analyses and design of CLT shear walls, and full calculations for all major connections.

To support practical learning, sample construction documents are included at the end of the case study, offering concrete examples of how the design can be implemented. The resource is complemented by a fully detailed architectural and structural Revit model, giving educators a complete digital representation of the project that can be used in teaching or demonstration settings. An accompanying Design Example further illustrates the application of design principles, helping students connect theory with real-world practice.

This material is intended to facilitate the instruction of advanced mass timber construction concepts, supporting both the theoretical understanding and practical skills of students. By integrating structural calculations, construction documentation, and digital modeling, it provides educators with a comprehensive, ready-to-use resource for teaching wood-based building design and construction.

Acknowledgments

Lead Authors

Structural Design: Carla Dickof, P.Eeng. M.Sc. Fast+Epp
Architectural Design: George Brown College Architectural Technology Program,CADE3002, Class of 2021 – Co-op Students

Reviewers

Structural Design: Nick Bevilacqua, P.Eng, Struct Eng, Fast+Epp
Reed Kelterborn Canadian Wood Council
Yang Du Canadian Wood Council
Ali Mikael Canadian Wood Council
Architectural Design: Dr. Hoda Ganji George Brown College

Usage and Citation Guidelines

These resources were developed collaboratively by Fast+Epp, the Canadian Wood Council, and contributors from George Brown College. They reflect current design and construction practice and were created to support teaching and learning in wood design and architecture.

The resources remain the intellectual property of the respective authors and are provided free of charge for educational purposes. Any commercial use, redistribution, or modification outside of an academic setting is strictly prohibited.

When these resources are used in a context that requires citation, please use the following format:

Author(s). (Year). Title of module [Teaching Module]. Funded and published by the Canadian Wood Council.

Wood as a Structural Material: Properties, Systems, and Design

Resource Description

A structured undergraduate timber engineering course designed to introduce students to the fundamental material properties of wood and the principles of structural design with timber. Each module includes lecture slides, notes, and worked examples.

Module 1 – Physical & Mechanical Properties of Wood.
Covers density, moisture content, cellular structure, shrinkage, strength, stiffness, behavior under stress, test methods, failure modes, and modification factors.
Module 2 – Structural Wood Products and Systems.
Introduces sawn lumber, panel products, and engineered wood products (EWP) such as glulam, structural composite lumber, and CLT. Discusses applications and design considerations.
Module 3 – Axially Loaded Members.
Examines the behavior and design of tension members, compression members, and members subject to combined axial and bending forces, with examples.
Module 4 – Bending Members.
Focuses on the design of members subject to bending, including sawn lumber, glulam, composite beams, and CLT panels.
Module 5 – Shearwalls and Diaphragms.
Discusses lateral load resisting systems, vertical and horizontal bracing, load paths, and the design of light wood frame shearwall and diaphragm assemblies.
Module 6 – Design of Connections.
Introduces fasteners and connection systems, including nails, screws, bolts, dowels, glued-in rods, and proprietary connectors.

This 6-part course provides students with a solid grounding in timber engineering and can be integrated into structural design curricula at the undergraduate level.