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J U N E 2 0 2 5 | 63 2150 Keith Drive (The Hive) E X T ER I O R R EN D ER I N GS BY B EZI ER + I N T ER I O R R EN D ER I N G BY H O R IZO N S T U D I OS/CO U RT E S Y D I A LO G 2150 KEITH DRIVE (THE HIVE) by NATALIE BRUCKNER O n the edge of Vancouver's False Creek Flats, an architectural milestone is rising – a pio- neering project that is set to redefine what's possible with wood construc- tion in seismic zones. When complete at the end of the year, 2150 Keith Drive (The Hive) will be the tallest timber seismic-force-resisting building in North America. With its striking hon- eycomb-like structure of diagonal glulam braces, this 10-storey com- mercial office is both a sculptural expression and a feat of engineering. Designed by Dialog and built by Ventana Construction Corporation, the design-assist project is more than a marvel of mass timber – it's an integrated vision of sustainabil- ity, innovation, and resilience. At nearly 45-metres tall, the structure replaces conventional concrete cores with a perimeter system of glulam braces and cross-laminated tim- ber (CLT) shear walls, bolstered by revolutionary steel and rubber seis- mic dampers from Tectonus. These allow the building to self-centre after an earthquake – an unprecedented advancement for timber high-rises. "The project owners purchased the site from the City of Vancouver and planned to build a new head office for their company," says Ryan McClanaghan, architect at Dialog. "In close consultation with BGO — their third-party development and construction manager — the owners envisioned the building as an exten- sion of their sustainability mandate and decided to pursue a mass tim- ber building as a commitment to natural, renewable resources." Located next to VCC–Clark SkyTrain station and surrounded by active pedestrian and cycling corridors, the site offers superb con- nectivity and visibility. But those same benefits brought constraints. "One of the unique site challenges was the proximity to the SkyTrain," says Ryan Williamson, senior project man- ager at Ventana. "That required careful co-ordination with TransLink for safety and site access. Weekly co-ordination meetings helped us maintain pedes- trian flow and operational safety." The site's topography also posed challenges, sloping nearly 12 metres from west to east. Additional set- backs due to sewer, the Central Valley Greenway, and transit rights-of-way influenced the parkade's size and the building's distinctive south- east shape. Yet these constraints helped shape the building's ele- gant footprint and dynamic form. From the outset, the design pro- cess was deeply iterative and inspired by biophilia – design that connects occupants with nature. "Through an iterative concept design pro- cess, it was revealed that the owners had an interest in buildings that mirrored the patterns of nature," says McClanaghan. "That aligned perfectly with our architectural and structural vision: to stop the con- crete structure once the building rose out of the sloping site and build with a timber structure above that." This shared ambition culminated in a first-of-its-kind seismic design – a perimeter-based braced frame mass timber system. "It's an inno- vative approach and certainly sets a precedent for future mass tim- ber projects," says Williamson. The architectural identity and structural performance are combined. Diagonal glulam braces define both the seismic resistance and the visual language of the façade. Balconies form an elongated honeycomb pattern, a direct expression of the structural system within the building, creat- ing a building that is dynamic at many scales – from the city, the neigh- bourhood, and for the occupants. The building's innovation extended far beyond design. Fast+Epp, the struc- tural engineering firm, developed a four-phase seismic testing program on mass timber components in partner - ship with Queen's University and the University of Alberta. "Detailed struc- tural seismic analysis of the building was carried out as part of the structural engi- neering of the building. This included a peer review process as part of the City of Vancouver approvals process," according to Fast+Epp. The innovation, testing, and research carried out in the project cre- ates pathways for reconceptualizing tall wood buildings in seismic zones. The decision to use an open spec- ification for timber procurement allowed for global competition – but in the end, B.C.'s own supply proved most cost-effective. Glulam and CLT components were sourced from Kalesnikoff in Castlegar, B.C., high- lighting the growing strength of Canada's timber industry. LOCATION 2150 Keith Drive, Vancouver, B.C. ARCHITECT/INTERIOR DESIGN/ L ANDSCAPE ARCHITECT DIALOG GENER AL CONTR ACTOR Ventana STRUCTUR AL CONSULTANT Fast+Epp MECHANICAL CONSULTANT AME Group ELECTRICAL CONSULTANT AES Engineering Ltd. TOTAL SIZE 167,482 square feet TOTAL COST Undisclosed

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