As one of the most original timber projects Specialised Timber Fabrication have undertaken, the eye-catching Swinburne “Factory of the Future” dome was constructed completely out of prefabricated timber elements; from a curved timber substructure with curved timber ply skin covering it.

The structure was modelled in Finite Element software and detailed with both standard framing connectors, custom brackets and innovative self-drilling screws up to 400mm in length. The LVL ribs were precisely CNC cut on all sides, while the 2-way curved plywood panels were laminated on a custom jig to develop the complex curvature.

The "Factory of the Future" received the 2015 Australian Timber Design award in the ‘Excellence in the Use of Timber Products – Timber Panels’ category.