Timber Framing 101

AIA-CEU

This course examines the craft and modern practice of timber construction through the work of Elevated Design Build. Participants will explore the history of timber buildings and see how advances in engineering and prefabrication have reshaped the industry. The session highlights design approaches that ensure structural safety, reviews materials and methods that enhance occupant health and well-being, and demonstrates sustainable practices that reduce environmental impact. By integrating history, craft, engineering, and sustainability, the course shows how timber construction can deliver resilient, high-performing, and healthy buildings for the future.

Prerequisite Knowledge:
None Required

HSW Justification:
This course promotes health, safety, and welfare by demonstrating how timber construction supports healthier indoor environments through natural, non-toxic materials. Participants will learn how sustainable design and energy-efficient strategies reduce environmental impact while enhancing building durability. By applying these practices, timber buildings deliver resilient, high-performing spaces that prioritize occupant well-being and minimize ecological footprint.

Learning Objective 1:
Analyze how the use of natural, non-toxic materials in timber construction enhances indoor air quality and supports occupant health and well-being.

Learning Objective 2:
Ensure structural safety through effective design and engineering strategies in timber construction, prioritizing stability and occupant protection.

Learning Objective 3:
Apply appropriate natural building materials and construction methods to create buildings that actively support occupant health, safety, and welfare.

Learning Objective 4:
Investigate the history of timber framing as a foundational natural building method and illustrate how its use promotes environmental sustainability.

David Kaplan, president of Elevated Design Build in Fort Collins, CO will present an overview of timber framing.

David Kaplan is General Manager, Lead Designer, Hands-on Building at Elevated Design-Build, Ft. Collins, CO

Elevated Design Build is a full-service design and construction company with over 60 years of combined experience in the design and construction of custom homes and timber frame structures. In that time, we have been involved in over 800 projects in 14 states and 4 different countries. We love this stuff, and have earned the ability to instill the things we value most into each of our projects and the way we operate our business.