About the Book

Welcome!

This textbook is prepared explicitly for students seeking a degree in an Architecture program and taking an introductory course in structural engineering. It is assumed that students referring to this textbook have a minimum background in math and physics. Therefore, principal concepts are explained using visual demonstrations, videos, graphics, and jargon-free descriptions. Wherever a minimum knowledge of trigonometry and math is required, additional materials are introduced for review. Unlike traditional textbooks, this resource is intended to foster self-guided exploration of foundational topics in structural design, rather than simply presenting a fixed script to memorize. It brings together a curated collection of visual materials and interactive resources—many developed by research groups and public agencies and freely available online. Examples are provided to clearly illustrate theories and solve math problems step-by-step.

New in 2025, the textbook now includes video tutorials on using Karamba 3D for basic structural analysis. These tutorials are explained in plain language for learners with no prior experience in Grasshopper or computational modeling.

I hope this textbook is an accessible and enjoyable resource to support your learning about fundamental concepts of structural design. I acknowledge that this textbook will never really be finished. It can always be better. The readers’ perspectives on both content and style are valued as I revise and improve this book. Please do not hesitate to contact me with your critics via email akhodada@buffalo.edu.

About the Author

Anahita Khodadadi is an Assistant Professor at the University at Buffalo (SUNY) in the School of Architecture and Planning and collaborates with researchers across the Graduate School of Education, College of Arts and Sciences, and School of Engineering and Applied Sciences as a part of the campus-wide Learning Science Initiative. She earned her Ph.D. in Architecture, specializing in building technology, from the University of Michigan. Her research focuses on advancing computational frameworks and tools to support design decision-making, developing interactive multi-objective design exploration methods, processing complex geometrical configurations, and enhancing STEM education for non-STEM learners. Khodadadi’s significant fields of expertise are geometrical modeling of spatial forms, object-oriented programming, and understanding and analyzing the structural performance of buildings.