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D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 4 | 69 Tall Timber Student Housing – BCIT R EN D ER I N G CO U RT E S Y P ER K I N S &W I L L C A N A DA A RC H I T EC T S CO. TALL TIMBER STUDENT HOUSING – BCIT by NATALIE BRUCKNER I n a groundbreaking shift towards sustainable living, the BCIT Tall Timber Student Housing proj- ect is redefining how we approach mass timber construction. The 12-sto- rey building, which will house 469 students and more than double the supply of on-campus housing, is a tes- tament to innovative thinking. "BCIT worked closely with the Province to address the student hous- ing needs. In addition to education services, our students need wrap- around services to be successful. Having housing on-campus resolves not only much-needed housing demand, but it also brings vibrancy to our campus and provides a sense of belonging and comfort to students," explains Danica Djurkovic, associate VP of Campus Planning and Facilities. Djurkovic adds that the new space will offer contemporary and comfort- able housing, as well as social indoor and outdoor spaces for students to thrive. "This is the first tall mass tim- ber building in Burnaby, with a high level of sustainable performance, including CaGBC [Canada Green Building Council] and targeted for Net Zero certification." Through its bold use of mass timber and steel, this facility represents a revo- lutionary approach to building design, emphasizing efficiency, aesthetic appeal, and ecological responsibility. The large mass timber panels, measuring three-and-a-half metres wide, have been engineered for swift installation, enabling an expedited construction timeline. The choice to use Western Hemlock highlights a commitment to local resources. "Efficiency and cost were impor- tant for this project since affordability was a priority for BCIT," explains Jana Foit, principal, Perkins&Will Canada Architects Co. "Key material choices were a mass timber floor structure, which aligned with provincial fund- ing requirements. We introduced steel vertical cores and load-bearing struc- tural columns for faster erection and a smaller cross section, providing more usable space." For the exterior envelope a metal panel was chosen for its lightweight application. "We selected a warmer terracotta colour to create a less insti- tutional feel. Because of building code regulations, we couldn't expose the mass timber structure, but we included interior finishes to showcase wood," adds Foit. The project site, a former parking lot near BCIT's SW3 building, once housed portable classrooms. It is ide- ally situated, as Djurkovic explains, because it is adjacent to transit and a future rapid bus line. "It's in a quieter campus zone, close to recreation activ- ities, open space, and natural wooded areas," Djurkovic adds. Building on an active campus pre- sented challenges, but the project team developed an effective traffic man- agement strategy through meticulous planning. "We created traffic circles and redirected flows to minimize disruption," Cole Edwards, project manager at Ledcor, explains, high- lighting the importance of maintaining a clean and organized construction site. By utilizing a just-in-time deliv- ery method for materials, the team reduced clutter and enhanced safety. Prefabrication played a key role in both the CLT and steel superstructure. "This kind of pre-planning is essential for these types of buildings," Edwards remarks, noting the collaborative effort before on-site mobilization. "We had already ironed out potential issues," he adds, which led to substan- tial time savings. Foit adds that the design celebrates the innovative aspects of prefabrica- tion integral to a mass timber building in B.C., while reflecting BCIT's values as an innovative technical institution serving the needs of the BC industry. "The building massing is organized into two residential wings positioned at 90 degrees, sitting above a semi- public ground floor. Intended to frame a southeast-facing outdoor commons, the project is designed to activate the campus and public realm. In con- trast, the ends of the building are fully glazed to emphasize the 'skin,' differ- entiating bedroom programs from shared programs and vertical circu- lation, which also extends to the fully glazed ground floor." Foit adds that student housing buildings are typically highly modu- lar, with repetitive bedrooms stacked vertically along a double-sided cor- ridor. "The façade embraces this repetition with a modular expression, featuring equally spaced deep vertical and horizontal projections that create a three-dimensional play of light and shadow," Foit adds. LOCATION 3700 Willingdon Avenue, Burnaby, B.C. OWNER /DEVELOPER British Columbia Institute of Technology ARCHITECT Perkins&Will Canada Architects Co. GENER AL CONTR ACTOR Ledcor STRUCTUR AL CONSULTANT Fast + Epp MECHANICAL CONSULTANT Introba ELECTRICAL /COMMUNICATIONS/ AV CONSULTANT WSP CIVIL CONSULTANT McElhanney BUILDING ENVELOPE CONSULTANT RDH Building Science L ANDSCAPE ARCHITECT HAPA Collaborative TOTAL SIZE 18,914 square metres TOTAL COST $120 million

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