Design

Design Alternatives

Design alternatives differ in the type of roof. The deflection beam will be attached to the 2nd floor system for all design alternatives as pictured below. Windows are not pictured in the simple design alternatives.
Design 1 has a shed roof incorporated into the structure. 
Design 2 has an Open Gable incorporated into the structure. 
Design 3 has an M Shape incorporated into the structure.

Please Click Here to Refer to the Timber-Strong Design Build 2025 Rules for Further Information on Design Criteria and Constraints.

DESIGN 1

DESIGN 2

DESIGN 3

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Decision Matrices

Design Decision Matrix

The proposed structure was evaluated and selected using the table below. Key criteria components were used such as the structural integrity, cost, constructability, aesthetics, functionality, and sustainability. A scale of 1 to 3 was used used to rate each criteria, with 3 being the best rating. Each design then had a totaled value to provide a form of comparison. The highest scored Design was Design 3. This approach ensures a balanced decision.

Timber Type Decision Matrix

The proposed Timber Type selection was evaluated using the table below that based its criteria on cost, strength, and constructibility. 

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Final Design

Design 3 was selected as the final design for its ability to highlight the natural beauty of Flagstaff, drawing inspiration from the iconic San Francisco Peaks. This design not only met all structural requirements but also captured the essence of the region through its form and layout. Each element—from the roof to the walls and floor—was carefully engineered for durability, sustainability, and aesthetics. For a more detailed look at the layouts and structural elements, please refer to our construction drawings.

Roof Design

Our roof design is inspired by the silhouette of the San Francisco Peaks in Flagstaff, AZ, blending structural integrity with regional character. Designed for gravity, wind, and seismic loads, the system includes carefully calculated rafters and ridge beams sized for worst-case scenarios. Aesthetic and functional considerations led to the selection of nominal 2x4 rafters and 2x6 ridge beams, ensuring both strength and visual harmony.

Construction Drawings Final Report

Wall Design

The wall design balances structural performance with visual intent, featuring carefully sized members for both gravity and lateral loading. The first story north wall, shown here with a door frame, includes headers, jack studs, and king studs designed to resist compression, shear, and moment using NDS equations. While each component was precisely calculated, nominal 2x4s were selected for all framing members to ensure constructability and consistency.

Construction Drawings Final Report

Floor Design

The floor system was engineered to support combined gravity loads from the structure above, including walls, roof, and live loads. Floor joists were sized using NDS equations for shear and flexure, with a controlling depth of 4.747 inches—safely met with nominal 2x6s. A cantilevered beam was also analyzed for both load and deflection, ensuring structural performance under point and distributed loads.

Construction Drawings final report
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Construction Costs

Construction Costs includes billable rates for personnel, travel costs, lab use daily rates, and material cost for the construction of the final design. Travel costs include to and from the competition in Tucson, AZ, lodging, and food. This comes out to a total cost of $144,110.

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