Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/687429
36 | J UNE 2016 Engineered Wood Products PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY WESTERN ARCHRIB Versatile engineered wood products provide greater opportunities for the industry by LAURIE JONES Conquering New Frontiers D urability, sustainability, strength and the vast array of colour choices are just some of the reasons why so many architects, builders and home buyers are drawn to engineered wood products to create stunning structures. Previously unheard of building heights are now being achieved with wood construction, creating a path to an entirely new way of using our renewable resource. One of the tallest wood buildings in the world will soon be constructed at The University of British Columbia (UBC), providing housing for hundreds of students. When completed, the $51.5-million residence building (Brock Commons) will stand 53-metres tall (about 174 feet). "This beautiful, new tall wood building will serve as a living laboratory for the UBC community," says Martha Piper, UBC interim presi- dent. "It will advance the university's reputation as a hub of sustainable and inno- vative design, and provide our students with much needed on-campus housing." The 18-storey-tall wood student residence is set to open in September 2017. It will house 404 students in 272 studios and 33 four-bedroom units, and feature study and social gathering spaces. "This remarkable project will take B.C. to a new frontier of wood use in inno- vative design and construction of taller, larger and more complex buildings," says Lynn Embury-Williams, executive director of Wood WORKS! BC. "With the benefit of research and technological advancement in wood products and systems, we are continuing to push boundaries by optimizing the use of wood products and systems, which will transform our future built environment. "We are excited that B.C. is at the forefront of this global movement toward using more wood in design and building – creating real value for B.C. communities and offer- ing new opportunities to the construction and wood products industries, while play- ing an important role in sustainable development and climate change mitigation." Western Archrib has been supplying the construction industry with heavy timber products for over 65 years with manufacturing facilities in Alberta and Manitoba. Andre Lema, business development manager, confirms that the mass timber movement that is happening is a growing trend. "Glulam is what Western Archrib does specifically, whether it is a beam column system or components, we can create whatever size is needed," he explains. "Our products are designed for heavy frame construction using small dimension and laminate together to make large dimension wood. We can also provide glulam and fabricated steel packages with as much or as little shop finishing as the project demands." Lema says the majority of their customers are in Western Canada, but they have done several projects in the U.S. as well. "The main draw for clients with this type of product is the sustainability of wood that designers have taken a new look at," he says. "They have realized it is an environmentally conscious choice to use wood. It is a product that is always growing. Wood can be used in larger projects and is a sustainable material that deserves consideration for any project." Some of the products available through Western Archrib include CSA Spruce and Douglas Fir glulam, and their signature series Westlam products that include CSA Spruce and Lodgepole Pine for the structural glulam timber. Another major project that focuses on heavy timber construction is the 30,000-square-foot Mosaic Centre in Edmonton, Alberta. Under review for LEED Platinum and Living Building Challenge petal certificate, the building can har- vest rain, access power through solar PV (photo voltaic) panels and is heated and cooled by a geothermal system. "The Mosaic Centre for Conscious Community and Commerce was designed with the idea of being the first net zero energy building in the area. It is an excellent example of sustainable construction that will inspire other builders, especially in areas with challenging cold temperatures," says Rory Koska, program director for Wood WORKS! Alberta. With three levels and a roof terrace, the Mosaic Centre features exposed glulam framing, floor and roof panels, and the atrium has finely detailed wood/steel stairs and bridges. "When we were in the early design stage, we looked at various options including concrete, steel and wood," says Koska. "Wood was chosen because of its low embodied energy and the appearance of exposed elements. The second floor and roof have laminated wood decking." The Centre has exposed, solid wood floor- ing supported by a series of glulam beams. Columns on the second and third floor are topped with concrete. Mosaic Centre, Edmonton, AB.