Si x do l l ars
P ubl i c ati ons M ai l agr eem ent #40063877
Summer 2022 — Number 91
AWARD-WINNING DESIGNS Treehouses
Hotel Magdalena
Building Egress
Life among the leaves
A mass timber first
Exploring alternative solutions
Engineer-Build We engineer and build efficient and beautiful timber and hybrid structures that people love to own and use.
Structural Engineering
3D/Computational Design
Fabrication & Installation
Beautiful Structures The Soto Office Building, San Antonio, TX | Client: Hixon Properties | Design Architect: Lake Flato | Architect of Record: BOKA Powell | General Contractor: Byrne Construction | Engineer of Record & Engineer-Builder: StructureCraft
c o n t e n t s A b ove a n d o n t h e ove r: Malahat Skywalk & Visitor Centre
PHOTO: Hamish Hamilton
O
C
Malahat Skywalk & Visitor Centre 22 Canadian Wood Council Award Winner
D
Against the Grain 6
Innovation in the woods
Wood Chips
8
Projects to watch and industry news
Wood Ware 46
Barrel-crafted chairs
F es
Welcome to the Hotel Magdalena 30 Check in to this mass timber hotel
Take Me Home, Country Roads 34
A retirement retreat in the mountains of West Virginia
2021–22 WOOD DESIGN & BUILDING AWARDS HONOR AWARDS 12 85 Social Housing at Cornellà Parc de la Chute-Montmorency in Québec
MERIT AWARDS 16
Three winners: a cabin, an expo hall, and a brand headquarters
CITATION AWARDS 19
Nine winners include a bridge in China, a beach house in Saskatchewan, and a school in Germany
OTHER AWARDS 22
Nine winners, three Canadian Wood Council awards, and the following sponsorship awards: Sustainable Forestry Initiative, Sansin, Western Red Cedar, and Wood Preservation Canada
AGAINST THE GRAIN AWARD 29
Meet our first recipient: Nancy Mackin
T e c hn i c a l
S o l u t i ons
Up to Code 39
Noncombustible exit enclosures in mass timber buildings
‒ su m m e r 2 0 2 2
3
Endless Possibilities We enjoy highlighting various mass timber projects in the pages of Wood Design & Building. From parametric design to Passive House, we’re covering it all. The range of projects in each issue reveals that the use of timber is as diverse as tree species themselves. While the ingenuity and the sheer architectural beauty of these projects leap from the pages, the centerpiece of this issue is our annual Wood Design & Building Awards. Among the winners are a social housing project in Spain and the first Passive House–certified community center in Canada. Clearly, architects are designing with sustainability in mind. We also profile the recipient of our newest award, Against the Grain, which recognizes an individual who has made significant contributions to the wood industry. Read about Dr. Nancy Mackin of Vancouver, BC, on p. 29. In addition to highlighting our award winners, we also turn our attention to the unique role that wood can play in summer building projects. While sunbathing and boating are summer pastimes, so, too, is the long-standing tradition of building tree forts. Check out the spectacular treehouses (in one case, a first place in the Tree House 2021 Architecture Competition) on p. 6. These amazing structures give new meaning to living the high life. If heights aren’t your thing, perhaps your summer aspirations will include easing into a Muskoka chair on your deck and enjoying a glass of your favorite grape varietal. And while you sip, you might consider the container in which that potable aged. Wood Ware (p. 46) looks at brilliant projects handcrafted from old wine and whiskey barrels–tables, chessboards, and yes, Muskoka chairs. Innovative design with wood is endless, summer isn’t. Enjoy every minute.
Brooke Smith Editor
Wood Design & Building magazine invites you to submit your project for consideration and possible publication. We welcome contributed projects, bylined articles, and letters to the editor, as well as comments or suggestions for improving our magazine. Please send your submissions to wood.editorial@dvtail.com.
4
‒ su m m e r 2 0 2 2
inspiration BOARD
WHERE IN THE WORLD?
2020 www.WoodDesignandBuilding.com
Summer 2022, Volume 21, Issue 91
sponsored by PUBLISHER ANDREW BOWERBANK abowerbank@cwc.ca
LIMBURG, BELGIUM Limburg is one of the five provinces in Belgium’s Flemish Region.
SENIOR MANAGER, SPECIAL PROJECTS IOANA LAZEA ilazea@cwc.ca EDITOR BROOKE SMITH wood.editorial@dvtail.com
.
CONTRIBUTORS
MITCHELL BROWN JOEL KRANC
COPY EDITOR
MITCHELL BROWN
ART DIRECTOR SHARON MACINTOSH smacintosh@dvtail.com
ADVERTISING SALES SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE DINAH QUATTRIN dquattrin@dvtail.com 905.886.6641 ext. 308 PRODUCTION MANAGER CRYSTAL HIMES chimes@dvtail.com
PHOTO: Kurt Vandeweerdt
This easternmost province in Flanders (one of the three political/cultural subdivisions of Belgium), Limburg is home to Belgium’s only national park, Hoge Kempen. Limburg is also home to Cycling Through the Heathland, a 4 km cycling path that crosses the park. One of the highlights on the path is the 300 m wooden cycling bridge. At 3.5 m wide, the bridge offers plenty of room for cyclists and walkers to pass one another in both directions as they cross the bridge.
PHOTO: Kurt Vandeweerdt
PHOTO: Frank Resseler
DOVETAIL COMMUNICATIONS PRESIDENT SUSAN A. BROWNE sbrowne@dvtail.com
EDITORIAL BOARD Shelley Craig, Principal, Urban Arts Architecture, Vancouver, BC Gerry Epp, President & Chief Engineer, StructureCraft Builders Inc., Vancouver, BC Laura Hartman, Principal, Fernau & Hartman Architects, Berkeley, CA Randall Kober, Master Lecturer, Faculty of Architecture, Laurentian University, Sudbury, ON
CIRCULATION PUBLICATION PARTNERS wdesign@publicationpartners.com
The bridge, completed in July 2021 and designed by MAAT Ontwerpers, is made up of a fine-knit structure of beams and columns. Between the wooden structures, the concrete path gradually rises (a maximum incline of 4%) to 6.5 m high (then descends after 30 m). At the apex, cyclists can stop for a panoramic view of the park.
Three issues per year for $24.00, two years for $40.00, and three years for $50.00. Please call toll-free 1.866.559.WOOD or visit our website to subscribe. Subscription inquiries and customer service: 1.866.559.WOOD or email wdesign@publicationpartners.com Send address changes to: PUBLICATION PARTNERS Garth Atkinson 1025 Rouge Valley Dr., Pickering, ON Canada L1V 4N8
The weight-bearing structure is made of azobé, but the walls of the bridge are made of local pine, a nod to the region’s mining heritage. Masses of pine trees were planted to fulfil the demand for wood for the coal mines.
CANADIAN WOOD COUNCIL 99 Bank St., Suite 400, Ottawa, ON Canada K1P 6B9 1.800.463.5091 www.cwc.ca www.WoodDesignandBuilding.com www.WoodDesignAwards.com ISSN 1206-677X
Cycling Through the Heathland is the third in a series of innovative cycling projects in the country. The other two are Cycling Through Water and Cycling Through the Trees.
SUBSCRIPTIONS
Published by:
DOVETAIL COMMUNICATIONS INC. 30 East Beaver Creek Rd., Suite 202, Richmond Hill, ON Canada L4B 1J2 905.886.6640 Toll-free 1.888.232.2881 www.dvtail.com
For:
Copyright by Canadian Wood Council. All rights reserved. Contents may not be reprinted or reproduced without written permission. Views expressed herein are those of the authors exclusively. Publication Mail Agreement #40063877 Printed on PEFC certified paper Printed in Canada
‒ su m m e r 2 0 2 2
5
Against the GRAIN
Look Up, Look Way Up Mitchell Brown What is it about treehouses that attracts us to them? The promise of reconnecting with nature? The fulfillment of our dreams of freedom and independence? A simpler way of life that takes us just a little closer to the stars? Whatever our reasons for loving treehouses, designers around the world have taken this staple of childhood dreams and created breathtaking wooden structures that inspire our imaginations. In Iran, architects Kajal Kouchakpour and Roza Bemani earned first place in the Tree House 2021 Architecture Competition with their innovative design. As they put it, “The spatial structure of the wood allows you to experience a variety of views through breaks at different levels. This idea transforms life in the forest into a dynamic spatial experience by emphasizing the unique potential of trees and thereby challenging the notion of living.”
1
2
British designer Sebastian Cox has created a treehouse on the grounds of Harewood House in West Yorkshire, England, to show how cutting down trees can make woodlands healthier, and also provide a sustainable source of material for designers and builders. His Sylvascope treehouse is made almost entirely of wood harvested from the site. Soaring above the forest floor, the A-F3 treehouses by Antony Gibbon Designs are modern in design, yet their dark timber cladding and delicate pedestals allow them to stand comfortably within the natural landscape. The upper floor of each structure houses a bedroom, while the lower provides a spacious living area. To one side of the hexagonal floorplate is a large, uninterrupted window that offers a unique view of the natural surroundings.
3
And take a second look at Woodnest by Norway’s Helen & Hard; it’s actually two shingle-clad treehouses arranged around the tree trunks that form the main structural core. Suspended about 6 m above the forest floor, each of the cabins has an internal floor area of just 15 sq.m that incorporates sleeping areas, a bathroom, a kitchen, and a living space with views of the majestic Hardangerfjord. 1. Life in a Tree PHOTO: Kajal Kouchakpour and Roza Bemani 2. Sylvascope PHOTO: Sebastian Cox 3. A -F3 Treehouse PHOTO: Antony Gibbon Designs 4. Woodnest PHOTO: Helen & Hard
6
‒ su m m e r 2 0 2 2
4
YOUR MASTERPIECE DESERVES THE BEST WOOD PROTECTION
Smart VMC Bus Terminal | Vaughan, Ontario
Naturally Perfect® Factory Finishes with Proven Protection and Performance. Sansin Precision Coat products offer unparalleled beauty and durability in an environmentally friendly formula. Contact us about our specification program so we can help you achieve the perfect finish and protection, every time. Warrantied for up to 20 years, Precision Coat factory finishes deliver the color, transparency and performance that architects, engineers and builders can count on.
1-877-SANSIN-1 sansinfactoryfinish.com
WOODCHIPS
PROJECTS TO WATCH CANADA
IMAGE: Courtesy of the Government of British Columbia
Victoria, BC
The current Royal BC Museum in Victoria will close its doors this September, as a brand new museum will be rebuilt using mass timber. The new museum will be one of the first government projects of this size to include local First Nations on the team. First Nations will participate in both project development and delivery, including design influence to reflect the Lekwungen peoples and members of the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations. The new museum is expected to open in 2030.
Kelowna, BC
Faction Projects heads up the design for a four-story, mixed-use industrial/retail/office building in Kelowna’s north end. The Exchange, as it’s called, offers a vibrant marketplace, continuing the tradition of the Kelowna Growers Exchange, a farmers’ co-op originally conceived in 1913. The building’s retail space occupies the main floor, and the office and amenity space encompass the upper levels. The vaulted lobby offers a spacious and well-lit welcome for visitors, and a rooftop patio provides access to outdoor amenities and views of the surrounding valley. The building will feature NLT construction for the floor and roof panels, supported by a glulam or PSL post-and-beam substructure. It’s scheduled for completion in winter 2023.
8
‒ su m m e r 2 0 2 2
IMAGE: Courtesy of Smoke Architecture
Toronto, ON
Centennial College’s six-story, 150,000-sq.ft. addition to its existing Progress campus is moving along. The college collaborated with Smoke Architecture, DIALOG, and EllisDon to design and build the first zero-carbon, mass timber higher-education building in Canada. The building will demonstrate the college’s commitment to reconciliation, Indigenous education, and sustainable design. It’s due to open in 2023.
WOODCHIPS
UNITED STATES
INTERNATIONAL
IMAGE: Courtesy of Studio Marco Vermeulen IMAGE: Courtesy of DLR Group
Austin, TX
Ground broke in February this year for T3 Eastside in Austin. This mass timber building will consist of 92,000 sq.ft. of office space and 9,200 sq.ft. of residential space. The project is located at 1200 East 4th Street and will be constructed using sustainably sourced wood. T3 Eastside is set to open in summer 2023.
Eindhoven, Netherlands
Studio Marco Vermeulen has released its preliminary design for The Dutch Mountains, two connected hybrid skyscrapers made from CLT and concrete. The building – set in the city’s railway zone – will comprise two rectangular towers, 130 m and 100 m tall. The CLT will be sourced from sustainably managed forests, and will be largely prefabricated and assembled on-site.
IMAGE: Courtesy of Gensler
Baltimore, MD
Under Armour will have a new 280,000-sq.ft. global headquarters at its Port Covington campus. Its design team includes Gensler, Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects, and Kimley-Horn. The headquarters will house 1,500 corporate employees and feature a flagship store, a track and field facility, a sports field, and a basketball court. The location – currently known as Teammate Building 2 – will be constructed using mass timber and incorporate geothermal and water-reduction technology, with the goal of achieving net zero operation. Full occupancy is expected by 2025.
IMAGE: Courtesy of Henning Larsen
Gothenburg, Sweden
The World of Volvo is driving forward. Henning Larsen’s design of the 236,805-sq.ft. (22,000 sq.m) new facility is expected to be completed in late 2023. Home to both Volvo Group and Volvo Cars, the facility will function as the host for a number of events, including exhibitions, talks, conferences, and music. Timber construction started in the spring last year. Beams and columns will be built from glulam timber, and the floor slabs will be made from locally sourced CLT. ‒ su m m e r 2 0 2 2
9
We design, engineer, manufacture and install Wood100®DLT, a 100% wood, no glue DLT Available as both a stacked and cross laminated product for application in single family homes and smaller spaces. Architects, engineers and builders are realising the potential of Wood100® DLT as a truly healthy, sustainable and energy efficient building product.
Collaborating with architects on detail solutions across the design process.
www.itimberf.com/dlt
Golden BC
(1) 250 439 1099
JURORS
Donald Chong Design Principal HDR www.hdrinc.com/ca
Tom Chung
Principal Leers Weinzapfel Associates www.lwa-architects.com
Marie-Odile Marceau Principal McFarland Marceau Architects www.mmal.ca
2021–22 Wood Design & Building Award Winners As the pandemic put a halt to many in-person events once again this year, the jury was relegated to the Zoom room for the 2021–22 Wood Design & Building Awards. Each year, three jurors individually review and score all the submissions. Then, on award decision day, they come together to discuss and debate the entries that received the highest scores. This year, we welcomed Donald Chong, design principal at HDR; Tom Chung, principal at Leers Weinzapfel Associates; and MarieOdile Marceau, principal at McFarland Marceau Architects. Despite the virtual platform, our jurors were up to the task. Their expertise and knowledge came through as they separated the exceptional from the expected. And, without question, they separated wisely. However, our jury was discerning when it came to the top prize: the Honor Award. Only two entrants received this distinction. First, 85 Social Housing at Cornellà in Barcelona, Spain, stood out as a “brilliant piece of architecture” for the jurors, who noted that it’s difficult to do good design in social housing. “It’s robust, industrial, and beautiful, and makes the spaces so human,” they said.
Second, Parc de la Chute-Montmorency – Experience Chute in Québec City, QC, was, according to one juror, “able to make the wood talk about its historical use and importance.” Said another, “It does a lot with a few moves. The viewing platform...and passage and gathering circulation allow people to pause and slow down their experience.” The jurors’ wise choices continued, bestowing three Merits and nine Citations on an eclectic array of deserving projects, including a community center, a beach house, and a branch headquarters. New to the awards program this year is Against the Grain. This is not awarded to a structure. This award recognizes an individual who has made significant contributions to the wood industry. You can read about this year’s recipient, Dr. Nancy Mackin, on p. 29. In partnership with the Canadian Wood Council, we’d like to thank everyone who participated in the 2021–22 Wood Design & Building Awards program. Congratulations to our winners! We’d also like to give a special thank you to our jurors for their time and dedication, and to the program’s sponsors. We couldn’t do it without you.
‒ su m m e r 2 0 2 2
11
HONOR AWARD
12
‒ su m m e r 2 0 2 2
85 Social Housing at Cornellà Barcelona, Spain
This social housing project has a matrix of communicating rooms that eliminates corridors to guarantee optimum use of the floor plan. Its use of mass timber enables the industrialization of elements, improves quality of construction, and reduces CO2 emissions. There are 85 units over five floors. Four or five homes are laid out around the communication shaft, ensuring all the typologies are cross-ventilated and face two directions. The apartments consist of five to six modules, depending on whether they have two or three rooms. The inclusive open-plan kitchen is located in the central room, acting as an element of distribution that replaces the corridors, simultaneously making domestic work visible and avoiding gender roles. On the model floor, entry to the apartments is from the communication shaft and the private terraces that make up the ring of outdoor spaces overlooking the courtyard.
The porch on the ground floor opens up to the city, anticipating the doorway of the building and filtering the relationship between public space and the courtyard, which acts as a small plaza for the community. The four vertical communication shafts are situated at the four corners of the courtyard so that all the occupants converge and meet in the plaza, which represents a safe space from a gender perspective. ARCHITECT
Peris+Toral Arquitectes Barcelona, Spain
STRUCTURAL ENGINEER
Bernúz Fernández Arquitectes Barcelona, Spain
G E N E R A L C O N T R A C TO R
Vias y Construcción NA, Spain
P H OTO G R A P H Y
José Hevia
Barcelona, Spain
‒ su m m e r 2 0 2 2
13
HONOR AWARD
14
‒ su m m e r 2 0 2 2
Parc de la ChuteMontmorency Experience Chute Québec City, QC
More than 800,000 people visit Parc de la ChuteMontmorency each year to enjoy the 83 m waterfall and the scenic surroundings. Wood was chosen for aesthetic and structural reasons for this walkway, and for its connection with the history of the site. The laminations and tectonics of the boardwalks are inspired not only by the iconography of log piles that accumulated at the base of the falls during the log drives, but also by the stacks that characterized the sawmill landscape of the last century. Yellow pine was used for its strength on both the horizontal and vertical faces. The cantilevered pergola portion is made with structural Western red cedar. There are two areas within the project. The Visitor Reception Area, south of the Chemin de fer Charlevoix, aims to redefine the entrance route, reconfigure and introduce landscape into the parking area, develop thematic gardens, interpret and highlight industrial remains, and build a new service pavilion. The Experience Chute Area, north of the railroad tracks, consolidates a universally accessible circuit, allowing visitors to approach the waterfall and complete a foursegment tour around the river basin. The overall vision of the project is rooted in the historical richness of the place, and differentiated from the cliff top. The upper plateau of the waterfall
is still associated with one of the great English estates that overlooked the St. Lawrence in the 19th century through the presence of the Manoir Montmorency. The historical evolution of the foot of the falls is representative of the layers of urbanization specific to the banks of Québec City. From a natural site where the St. Lawrence River came to touch the foot of the cliff – named at the time the Bas-du-Sault – it was gradually modified by human interventions to develop its military, energy, and industrial potential, as well as by the passage of the railroad and a highway on large embankments. ARCHITECT
Daoust Lestage Lizotte Stecker Montréal, QC
STRUCTURAL ENGINEER
Tetra Tech
Québec City, QC G E N E R A L C O N T R A C TO R
Construction Deric Québec City, QC
P H OTO G R A P H Y
Maxime Brouillet Montréal, QC
‒ su m m e r 2 0 2 2
15
MERIT AWARDS
Adidas North American Headquarters Expansion
The Adidas campus expansion is one of the largest mass timber projects in the U.S. The addition of a new 182,000-sq.ft. office building and a 31,000-sq.ft. athletic center on campus showcases regional mass timber, giving both buildings a strong Pacific Northwest identity and sense of place. The placement of the two timber buildings around a new central sportscape transforms the existing plaza into a more cohesive campus, strengthens connectivity internally between the existing buildings, and alters the landscape connections to the adjacent residential neighborhood. Both buildings cantilever over the soccer field and include biophilic design elements, which have positive effects on occupants’ health and well-being. ARCHITECT
LEVER Architecture and Studio O+A Portland, OR
STRUCTURAL ENGINEER
KPFF Consulting Engineers Seattle, WA
G E N E R A L C O N T R A C TO R
Turner Construction Portland, OR
P H OTO G R A P H Y
Jeremy Bittermann Portland, OR
16
‒ su m m e r 2 0 2 2
m.o.r.e. Cabin While most cottages are typically “woodsy” versions of suburban homes, appearing to be one with the land, the reverse could not be more true of m.o.r.e. Cabin. It’s separated from the landscape and more sustainably constructed than other cottages. It uses CLT in innovative ways as a folded structure to achieve greater strength in spans and cantilever. Zoning rules required a 100-ft. (30 m) setback from the lake, so a cliff face was incorporated into the design. To minimize harm to the hillside, a zoning variance was obtained to allow the front of the cabin to hover above, rather than sit on, the 100-ft. mark. The cabin’s name is lovingly derived from the first initials of the clients’ grandmothers.
ARCHITECT
Kariouk Architects Ottawa, ON
STRUCTURAL ENGINEER
Dan Bonardi Consulting Engineers Arlington, MA
G E N E R A L C O N T R A C TO R
GPL Construction Gatineau, QC
P H OTO G R A P H Y
Scott Norsworthy Toronto, ON
‒ su m m e r 2 0 2 2
17
MERIT AWARDS
Tianfu Agricultural Expo Main Hall
The Tianfu Agricultural Expo Main Hall is part of a major development program in Chengdu, the capital of China’s Sichuan Province. Tianfu Agricultural Expo’s five main buildings create the space for many different venues, from a museum to a convention center. At over 75,000 sq.m, it is the largest timber structure in Asia. The series of five vaults use unique Vierendeelinspired trusses, which are a hybrid of timber chords and steel webbing, to achieve clear spans up to 110 m and heights up to 44 m. The unique wave of the building ensemble blends gently into the landscape. ARCHITECT
China Architecture Design & Research Group Beijing, China
STRUCTURAL ENGINEER
StructureCraft Abbotsford, BC
P H OTO G R A P H Y
China Architecture Design & Research Group Beijing, China
18
‒ su m m e r 2 0 2 2
CITATION AWARDS
IMAGE: Ema Peter IMAGE: Jan Bitter
IMAGE: Andy Chen
Ashen Cabin Ashen Cabin is a simple, but fullyfunctional, cabin crafted from wood salvaged from ash trees killed by the emerald ash borer beetle. Architecturally, the cabin walks the line between familiar and unfamiliar. The undulating wooden surfaces accentuate the building’s program, yet remain reminiscent of the natural log geometry from which they’re derived. The curvature of the wood is strategically deployed to highlight moments of architectural importance such as windows, the entrance canopy, and roof drainage, or to provide additional programmatic opportunities such as integrated shelving, desk space, or storage. While transformed and reconfigured, the natural tree remains legible in the architectural design. ARCHITECT
HANNAH Design Office LLC Ithaca, NY
Berlin Metropolitan School – Sustainable extension of a GDRera prefabricated school building Founded in 2004, Berlin Metropolitan School is housed in existing prefabricated structures that were erected in 1987. Three building wings are clustered to create a generous and protected schoolyard. This project comprises rooftop extensions to three of the existing structures, as well as a lateral annex that continues down to ground level. The new spaces provide additional classrooms, music rooms, a library with access to a roof garden, administration offices, and a large auditorium. The extension was designed as a prefabricated timber system, which ensured speedy erection with minimal disturbance.
Clayton Community Centre The aesthetic goal of the Clayton Community Centre in Surrey, BC, was to establish a “lattice-like” structure resembling tree canopies native to the area. This allows natural light to filter through to the building’s interior spaces, centered around a dramatic spiral staircase, representing the tree’s trunk. The roof structure’s reciprocating frame is an assembly of pinwheel-shaped modules of glulam beams. The two-way wood system allows the wood structure to span to discrete column locations without the need for dropped beams. The community center is Canada’s largest Passive House-certified facility to date. ARCHITECT
hcma
Vancouver, BC STRUCTURAL ENGINEER
RJC Engineers Vancouver, BC
ARCHITECT
Sauerbruch Hutton
G E N E R A L C O N T R A C TO R
EllisDon
Berlin, Germany
Vancouver, BC STRUCTURAL ENGINEER
Andreas Kuelich Berlin, Germany
‒ su m m e r 2 0 2 2
19
CITATION AWARDS
IMAGE: Jeremy Bittermann
IMAGE: Niels Nygaard
Erlev School
IMAGE: Kendall McCaugherty
McDonald’s Chicago Flagship This new Chicago flagship restaurant celebrates pure simplicity and enduring authenticity. The site is a full city block and the new design rebalances car-pedestrian traffic, creating a city oasis where people can eat, drink, and meet. A generous solar pergola visually unites the restaurant into a single volume. Beneath this “big roof,” indoor dining areas, contained in a pure glass box, are seamlessly connected to outdoor spaces. The dining room features a hanging atrium planted with ferns and white birch trees floating above a digital ordering “street.” Capped with CLT and glulam beams, the restaurant was the first commercial use of CLT in Chicago.
The design of Meyer Memorial Trust’s new headquarters was an opportunity to use construction choices and intentional wood procurement as vehicles to advance the foundation’s mission. Wood as a primary building material was selected with the goal of increasing the project’s overall impact toward equity and sustainability, and to support rural forestry-based jobs, rural communities, and innovation in Oregon. Wood was sourced locally and met the equity goals of supporting minority-owned businesses, safeguarding rural jobs, engaging local FSC-certified businesses, and encouraging climate-smart forestry. Biophilic design principles were also incorporated into the overall design to promote health and wellness for occupants.
ARCHITECT
ARCHITECT
ARCHITECT
Arkitema
Ross Barney Architects
LEVER Architecture
STRUCTURAL ENGINEER
STRUCTURAL ENGINEER
STRUCTURAL ENGINEER
SlothMøller Engineering Consultants Aarhus, Denmark
Goodfriend Magruder Structures
KPFF Consulting Engineers
Erlev School is the first “newgeneration” timber in Denmark and one of the first of its kind in Scandinavia. The load-bearing structure of the school is made of glulam; the qualities of this engineered wood have been skillfully exploited to create a visually attractive building and emphasize environmental values. Timber strengthens the sensory experience of the building; the scent, feeling, and sound of this material create an environment that comes alive through its warmth and visually interesting surfaces. Furthermore, the exterior is covered in wood lamella that fits between the exposed load-bearing beams. Upon arrival, visitors can appreciate how the timber structure of the school reveals itself at every corner.
Aarhus, Denmark
Portland, OR
Chicago, Il
G E N E R A L C O N T R A C TO R
Ommen A/S
Rødekro, Denmark
Portland, OR
Portland, OR
G E N E R A L C O N T R A C TO R G E N E R A L C O N T R A C TO R
Walter Daniels Construction Chicago, Il
20
Meyer Memorial Trust Headquarters
‒ su m m e r 2 0 2 2
O’Neill/Walsh Community Builders Portland, OR
IMAGE: Lisa Stinner-Kun IMAGE: doublespace
Waskesiu Beach House
Osler Bluff Ski Club The Osler Bluff Ski Club in The Blue Mountains, ON, is a renovation of, and addition to, a heavy timber and core slab structure built in 1974. A renovation and expansion were required to solve the most pressing issues facing the club, including overcrowded lunchtime seating and a deafening après-ski experience. The design resolution focused on tying together the old and new structures with an intent to capture the spirit of the existing heavy timber spaces while creating a modern and sustainable expression. The new Y-columns reinterpret the existing heavy timbers and are CNC milled to mimic the soft profiles discovered through the history of hand-carved wood skis. A new custom-designed Douglas fir acoustic ceiling runs through the entire project. ARCHITECT
Williamson Williamson Inc. Toronto, ON
STRUCTURAL ENGINEER
Blackwell Engineering Toronto, ON
IMAGE: Jin Weiqi
Timber Bridge on Gulao Waterfront Due to the geographical proximity to water, Gulao Water Town of Jiangmen is home to an agricultural tradition that makes use of the water system to fish and farm. It’s particularly common for bridges to connect these areas. The bridge is built entirely of wood using traditional construction techniques common to wood bridges in the region. Called “great work made of common materials,” the technique features numerous, small interconnected sections. The roof covering on the top not only ensures structural stability, but also protects the arched wood below from the elements. ARCHITECT
LUO Studio Beijing, China
Positioned in the same location as the original, the new Waskesiu Beach House sits on the east side of Saskatchewan’s Prince Albert National Park. The beach house replaced the previous 40-year-old facility that wasn’t accessible. The roof structure is constructed from economical LSL roof joists with good one side plywood serving as the roof sheathing. As the three-season roof is not insulated, the plywood sheathing serves as the finished surface for the ceiling. The threeand four-season components are detached from one another under a single, simple gable roof. The void between these two elements creates a dramatic framed view of the lake beyond, celebrating the design of the original. ARCHITECT
1x1 architecture inc. Winnipeg, MB
STRUCTURAL ENGINEER
Crosier Kilgour & Partners Ltd. Winnipeg, MB
G E N E R A L C O N T R A C TO R
G E N E R A L C O N T R A C TO R
Upstream Construction LLC
Alto Construction Ltd.
Caledon, ON
Saskatoon, SK
‒ su m m e r 2 0 2 2
21
CANADIAN WOOD COUNCIL AWARDS
IMAGE: Lara Swimmer
Idaho Central Credit Union Arena The 4,000-seat, multi-use Idaho Central Credit Union Arena was designed as a dramatic gateway to the University of Idaho campus. It serves as the home for the institution’s basketball program and a gathering place for a variety of activities. The mass timber design and abundant use of natural light represent a significant break from the traditional steel and concrete sports arena typology. The design also serves as an educational catalyst in the form of a learning laboratory for students in the university’s forestry and engineering departments by showcasing the innovative use of locally harvested timber in glulam long span trusses, and DLT mass timber and CLT structural elements. ARCHITECT
Opsis Architecture with Hastings+Chivetta Portland, OR
IMAGE: Hamish Hamilton IMAGE: Scott Norsworthy
Malahat Skywalk & Visitor Centre The single-story Malahat Visitor Centre features mass timber and light wood-frame construction. It connects to a 500 m (1,650-ft.) elevated boardwalk, which leads visitors through the forest canopy, zig-zagging through the arbutus forest. A gentle spiral ramp, cantilevered off a ring of glulam columns, takes visitors up to the top of the 30 m (100-ft.) viewing tower. The intent behind the tower – where visitors enjoy views of Finlayson Arm and the Coast Mountains on Southern Vancouver Island – is to bring visitors of all abilities into nature. The design looked to successful precedent structures locally and internationally, and was driven by accessibility requirements. ARCHITECT
Whistler, BC
Vancouver, BC
(base) KPFF Consulting Engineers Boise, ID
G E N E R A L C O N T R A C TO R
Hoffman Construction Portland, OR
22
The most powerful design aspect of Forest Retreat is the long, tentlike roof, which follows the site’s topography. Despite its 60 m length, the roof needed to seem light, so the folds and angles of the steel roof are supported by the meandering ridge beam. Being cognizant of the clients’ desire for a warm interior, the ridge beam was enveloped in white oak. The roof cantilevers and tapers at all edges. At the entry side of the house, the roof lifts like a bird’s wing off the garage volume beneath, sheltering an outdoor terrace. ARCHITECT
Kariouk Architects Ottawa, ON
STRUCTURAL ENGINEER
Blackwell Structural Engineers Toronto, ON
Murdoch + Company Ltd.
STRUCTURAL ENGINEER
(roof) StructureCraft
Forest Retreat
STRUCTURAL ENGINEER
Aspect Structural Engineers Vancouver, BC
G E N E R A L C O N T R A C TO R
Kinsol Timber Systems Mill Bay, BC
‒ su m m e r 2 0 2 2
G E N E R A L C O N T R A C TO R
Michael Dunn Construction Ltd. Tottenham, ON
SPONSORSHIP AWARDS
IMAGE: James Steinkamp
Sansin Award
IMAGE: Matthew Millman
District of Columbia Public Library, Southwest Library
Western Red Cedar Award
The new Southwest Library will replace the existing branch library at 900 Wesley Place SW in Washington, DC. The library’s distinctive form is capped with a roofline inspired by the bold mid-century shapes found in the architecture of DC’s Southwest neighborhood. The “crinkle” folded plate uses similar geometry to the historical cast-in-place concrete roof outlines of the 1950s but without the burden of framework and with a nod toward modern connection technology and lowcarbon materials. The result is a series of DLT panels that create a unique building and a memorable space within. ARCHITECT
Perkins&Will Chicago, Il
Riverbend This 6,250-sq.ft. main house and 1,000-sq.ft. guest house in Jackson, WY, used Western red cedar for the majority of the exterior cladding, 10-ft.-deep soffits, interior window cladding, and ceilings. The west end of the primary suite features a long cedar wall with shelves and cabinets that disappear into it. The powder room was conceived as an infinite train tunnel, with mirrors on either end to accomplish the effect. The arched walls are clad in blue-stained shou sugi ban STK cedar that gives the unique space an extra level of visual interest. While ground and polished concrete floors are located throughout the lower and main levels, the upper level is engineered beech that complements the cedar with its warmer tones. ARCHITECT
CLB Architects
STRUCTURAL ENGINEER
Jackson, WY
StructureCraft Builders Abbotsford, BC
STRUCTURAL ENGINEER
KL&A Inc.
G E N E R A L C O N T R A C TO R
Golden, CO
Turner Construction Washington, DC
G E N E R A L C O N T R A C TO R
Peak Builders Jackson, WY
Sustainable Forestry Initiative Award
Idaho Central Credit Union Arena Featured on page 22. IMAGE: Lara Swimmer
‒ su m m e r 2 0 2 2
23
Bringing a legacy of high performance to mass timber.
Code-listed fasteners. Concrete-anchoring adhesives. Concealed connectors, brackets and splines. Simpson Strong-Tie ® mass timber structural solutions give you maximum strength and design flexibility. With our team of expert engineers, ongoing technical support and a nationwide supply network that delivers exactly what you need, when you need it — you can be sure that your mass timber projects are stronger, faster and easier than ever. To learn more about our innovative solutions, see our Connectors & Fasteners for Mass Timber Construction catalog at strongtie.com/masstimber. © 2022 Simpson Strong-Tie Company Inc. MT21
From rendering to reality.
When execution matters Innovative glulam and timber solutions Contact us to discuss your project (888) 898-1385 | sales@fwtimber.com www.fraserwoodindustries.com
Photo credit: Kyle Slavin, St. Michaels University School
SPONSORSHIP AWARDS
IMAGE: Bright Photography IMAGE: Stéphane Groleau
Western Red Cedar Award
Wii Gyemsiga Siwilaawksat Student Housing
Wood Preservation Canada Award
Wii Gyemsiga Siwilaawksat is a new student housing building for Coast Mountain College. The housing facility sits on the traditional territory of the Kitsumkalum people in Terrace, BC, serving seven different First Nations. Guided by an Indigenous-led process of co-creation, the building is informed by Indigenous peoples’ stories – and their right to share their histories with future generations. The three-story, 40,500-sq.ft. building includes 108 beds, six shared kitchens, an Elders residence, hoteling units, dining areas, a central celebration and shared space, project rooms, maker space, cultural room, computer lab, e-sports room, and bicycle storage.
Wood was chosen for this project in the interest of sustainable development and harmonious integration into the natural environment of the St. Charles River Linear Park. The architectural concept of the “suspended” pedestrian and cycling bridge is notable for its light and delicate bearing, while its masts fill an identifying function that symbolically references the ships of Jacques Cartier that spent the winter of 1536 on the St. Charles River, near the site of the bridge. The V-shaped masts – made of digitally cut glulam poles – are located at the edge of the high watermark, at about one-third of the span, and rise more than 20 m above the river.
ARCHITECT
ARCHITECT
hcma
ABCP architecture
STRUCTURAL ENGINEER
STRUCTURAL ENGINEER
Scouten Engineering
EMS
G E N E R A L C O N T R A C TO R
G E N E R A L C O N T R A C TO R
IDL Projects
Constructions Bé-con
Vancouver, BC
Prince George, BC
Prince George, BC
26
‒ su m m e r 2 0 2 2
Passerelle de la Tortue
Québec City, QC
Québec City, QC
Québec City, QC
INNOVATIVE CUTTING-EDGE INSPIRING ELITE
University of Alberta Botanic Garden Welcome Centre
2020-2021 Wood Design Awards Book Celebrating Excellence in Wood Architecture
Showcasing stunning architectural design and building from the 2020-21 Wood Design Awards program.
ORDER ONLINE TODAY! webstore.cwc.ca
39.95
$
*
*plus S&H and applicable taxes for each order
Against the GRAIN
Against the Grain Award
28
‒ s u mmer 2 0 2 2
Against the GRAIN
A new addition to this year’s program is the “Against the Grain” award. This award recognizes an individual who has made significant contributions to the wood industry. This year’s inaugural recipient is Dr. Nancy Mackin. Her architectural mandate – that each building can contribute to environmental and cultural resilience – is exemplified in the Tsawwassen First Nation Youth Centre. She included the Tsawwassen First Nation community in many architectural decisions and invited Tsawwassen artists to design both interior and exterior elements of the center.
Dr. Nancy Mackin says she’s always been an architect. “As a kid, what I wanted to do with my time was build buildings out of whatever materials I could find.” Although she has worked in many different materials throughout her architectural career, wood has always been one of her favorites – its reduced carbon footprint, its suitability for prefabrication, and its design potential. “It’s just such an interesting opportunity to be able to build a building out of wood and then show all of the wood,” she says. But of even greater importance to the architect is the interconnection of ecology and culture in design. “Long resident knowledge is the knowledge of the environment, and it’s responded to culturally. Since starting my practice, I’ve always worked quite closely with whatever community is there – whether they’re my client or whether it’s just listening very carefully to the knowledge of people who’ve lived in one place for a long time,” she says. Mackin points to the work she’s done in Haida Gwaii. “I travelled and talked to each community to find out what kind of architectural responses they foresaw as being meaningful, and also wise,” she says. “That’s when you really learn how very different the ecological conditions are in each area. You get into this deeper understanding of how many times the weather might change during a given day, for example, which probably wouldn’t show in the data, but that’s something that the people who are there would know. Working with Indigenous communities has led me to a whole area of wisdom and knowledge that wouldn’t be accessible otherwise.”
“ Working with Indigenous communities has led me to a whole area of wisdom and knowledge that wouldn’t be accessible otherwise.” In the case of the Tsawwassen First Nation Youth Centre, completed in March 2021, the Tsawwassen First Nation community was involved in the design from the beginning. It was the youth, specifically, who chose the cladding material. “We gave them a big slab of some very high-performance cladding materials and some cedar shingles. They were very insistent that they really wanted to see the wood,” she says. In addition, Elders of the community stressed that migrating birds were an important part of the design (see Creation Story). “We made sure we addressed that in window placement and other design areas,” says Mackin. Of Sami heritage herself, Mackin says it’s also being aware of the integration of art and building. “There’s this kind of spirituality that gets brought into construction, through the painting and drawing and carving of different images on a building.”
IMAGES: Ema Peter
Creation Story The Tsawwassen First Nation Youth Centre is located on a 4,000-yearold seaside village site in the heart of Coast Salish traditional lands. The location is a stopover point for millions of migrating birds. The 12,000-sq.ft. Youth Centre uses wood to retell a Coast Salish creation story in which the first ancestors came down from the sky as birds. They gradually transformed into humans, trading their nests for mono-sloped longhouses clad in hand-split Western red cedar and supported by a Western red cedar pole-and-beam framework. Respecting these origins, the Youth Centre design began as two shed-roofed longhouses linked by a shared cooking/feast space.
‒ s u mmer 2 0 2 2
29
FEATURE
Welcome to the Hotel Magdalena
Located in the heart of Austin’s South Congress neighborhood, Hotel Magdalena is the first mass timber boutique hotel in North America. The structure honors the history of the site, including the former 1950s Austin Terrace Motel – previously constructed of exposed heavy timber beams and columns in the mid-century modern aesthetic. The hotel’s interiors also draw inspiration from the city’s 1970s music scene, an homage to the site’s history as the Austin Opry House, revitalized by Willie Nelson in late 1975. Hotel Magdalena’s common exterior spaces, outdoor walkways, and lushly planted terraces enhance the outdoor experience for guests and foster a sense of community. Welcomed by a feature two-way, gridded porte-cochère structure, visitors enjoy an entry walkway shaded by one of several heritage oak trees preserved on the site. Deeply shaded porches and outdoor 30
‒ su m m e r 2 0 2 2
terraces create a unique experience that recalls the lake houses and natural artesian springs found in the Texas Hill Country. The mass timber panels, structural walls, and heavy timber porches were prefabricated off-site, then delivered and erected using a streamlined schedule, ensuring efficiency and quality control. A multistory timber walkway structure with gapped DLT panels outside of the hotel rooms required careful organization of boards with spacers and was designed to accommodate the preserved oak trees. By exposing the wood structure to guests, the materials tell the story of how the structure was built while providing a warm, textured material in the guest rooms and common outdoor porches. Showcasing the mass timber panels and heavy timber structural components ensures they become an integral component of the hotel experience, thus allowing
sustainable structures and construction practices to be viewed and shared by visitors. The design team also held an integrated design and sustainability charrette during the initial phase for the hotel. In these early conversations, hotel ownership and the team agreed that the building structure and materials needed to be integrated into the project’s larger sustainability goals: reducing energy demand and conserving water. As a result, all building roofs collect 100% of rainwater for storage in the 20,000-gal. underground cistern that’s used for landscape irrigation. And by using wood as the primary structural material and exposing the mass timber structural panels to the conditioned hotel rooms, the overall embodied energy for construction and finish materials was reduced. ‒ su m m e r 2 0 2 2
31
FEATURE
An equally important design goal was to enhance the outdoor experience for guests to encourage the use of the common exterior spaces. Not only does this foster a sense of community within the hotel and encourages guests to spend more time outdoors, it also reduces energy demands of the hotel, as guests spend fewer hours using the HVAC and lighting systems.
ARCHITECT
Lake | Flato Architects San Antonio, TX
STRUCTURAL ENGINEER
(timber) StructureCraft Abbotsford, BC
P H OTO G R A P H Y
Casey Dunn Austin, TX
32
‒ s u mmer 2 0 2 2
MANUFACTURERS of LAMINATED TIMBERS and WOOD TRUSSES
Pavilions Arches Heavy Timber Trusses Bridges Posts Beams
Turn your dreams into reality with the natural beauty of wood! Glue-Laminated Timbers offer performance, stability and charm to your project.
www.rigidply.com
717.866.6580 701 E. Linden Street, Richland PA 17087
FEATURE
Take Me Home, Country Roads
34
‒ s u mmer 2 0 2 2
Longtime partners Bill Pratt and Cheryl Richardson were looking forward to retirement when they purchased 80 acres of land near Delray, WV. Nestled in the mountains with sweeping views of the Short Mountain Wildlife Management Area, North River Branch, and surrounding mountain ranges, the property came with a rustic cabin they used as a weekend getaway.
As the two started to plan for retirement more seriously, they envisioned creating a private retreat, a home in close proximity to all the natural features West Virginia has to offer. They imagined a home constructed almost exclusively of timber and customized to meet their needs and design aesthetics. After finding the right building experts, the couple then chose the style
of home. They landed on a contemporary timber frame home that bridges the gap between modern and traditional, blending both of their preferences. The inspiration for the design of the home is revealed at once by opening the large French doors that spill out onto the deck into an expansive outdoor living space that offers breathtaking 360° views.
‒ s u mmer 2 0 2 2
35
FEATURE
“We maximized the airflow and visibility by incorporating Frenchstyle in-swing casement windows,” said Richardson. “The staircase was designed with open risers that walk up to a three-story-high window that frames Short Mountain. Custom, horizontal wrought iron handrails were hammered and hand-polished, adding authentic detailing.” The second design consideration centered around their growing family. With a combined family of six adult children and four grandchildren, it was important for Pratt and Richardson to build an open-concept home where all of the social and private spaces flow into one another – spaces where everyone has a cozy place to play games or read but still feel connected.
36
‒ su m m e r 2 0 2 2
The 3,900-sq.ft. custom timber-framed home was built with 444 pieces of timber weighing a combined total of 37 tons. “If the timber boards were laid down end to end, the amount of timber it took to build the home is nearly one mile long,” said Sam Ebersol of Mid-Atlantic Timberframes, who helped the couple design and build the home. “It was extremely important to us that the home was synonymous with the environment and appropriate for the location,” said Richardson. The custom walnut front door, with iron grates in an Arts and Crafts motif, welcomes you inside the home, where there are handcrafted custom elements, constructed with rich materials and textures lending to that Arts and Crafts feel. The expansive floor plan instantly makes you feel at home with warm accents, unique fixtures, and luxuriously comfortable furniture. In addition, there were a number of design details from around the world, including handmade door pulls from Siberia, tiles from Mexico, windows from Canada, and faucets from Italy. All of the intricate features and details play together harmoniously. “Nothing is highly polished. We wanted to address both of our design preferences by choosing elements that are rustic and handcrafted,” said Richardson. ‒ su m m e r 2 0 2 2
37
FEATURE
With the goal of bringing the outside indoors, permanent features such as a live edge walnut slab dining room table, walnut floors and cabinetry, a walnut slab bathroom vanity, and a custom oak sliding bedroom door are an ode to the surrounding forests. The custom timber-framed home gives the couple, their children, and grandchildren unfettered access to the outdoors and a place to celebrate family. And, as a retirement retreat, it will serve them for years to come. ARCHITECT
Mid-Atlantic Timberframes Lancaster, PA
STRUCTURAL ENGINEER
Mid-Atlantic Timberframes Lancaster, PA
G E N E R A L C O N T R A C TO R
Ecocabins
Warfordsburg, PA P H OTO G R A P H Y
Jana Bannan
Kennett Square, PA
38
‒ su m m e r 2 0 2 2
TechnicalSOLUTIONS
Up to Code The challenges of noncombustible exit enclosures and wood buildings. Steven Street and Veronica Madonna
The Ontario Building Code (OBC) 2012 amendment, which came into effect in January 2015, allows for combustible construction (wood) to be used in buildings up to six stories for both Residential (Group C) and Business and Personal Services (Group D) occupancies. These code provisions provide another solution for advancing mid-rise scale construction in city centers across Ontario, with similar midrise provisions being contained in the National Building Code of Canada 2015 used elsewhere in the country. With the provisions allowing for mixed major occupancies – such as first- and secondstory retail, restaurants, and other permittable commerce activities, – this creates a holistic approach to community planning while addressing critical strategies toward carbon reduction and providing increased housing stock. Bringing much-needed density into livable, established, and walkable communities has been the goal of city planners in urban centers for many years. Infrastructure is normally in place, and, typically, these are transit-connected neighborhoods. With a more human scale height and size, mid-rise buildings fit into existing neighborhoods with minimal impact.
A noncombustible exit enclosure with wood-framed walls. Project management and coordination of trades become critical in maintaining build schedule.
PHOTOS: Courtesy of Steven Street
‒ su m m e r 2 0 2 2
39
TechnicalSOLUTIONS
Isolation of the concrete masonry unit exit enclosure. Sound insulation is installed between the structural wood-framed wall and the exit stair shaft wall. PHOTO: Courtesy of Steven Street
One challenge for the construction of five- and six-story wood buildings has been that the OBC 2012 amendment provisions require exit stair enclosures to be made of noncombustible materials. The addition of noncombustible enclosures poses challenges in designing a building, not only from an architectural and structural engineering point of view, but also from a construction approach. Building designers need to carefully understand how the wood structural systems will interact with vertical shafts built of stiffer materials, by detailing them correctly and by calculating the expected cumulative vertical movement of the structure. This is important when considering and maintaining the 40
A steel shaft framing system being used for an exit stair enclosure. PHOTO: Courtesy of Steven Street
performance and integrity of the building envelope. Equally, vertical movement needs to be anticipated and designed to isolate stiffer materials from a more ductile wood structure. Acoustic performance must be considered in the design phase. Isolating and decoupling the stiffer exit stair shaft walls cuts flanking noise transmission and maintains the required sound transmission class. From the construction perspective, noncombustible exit stair enclosures require another trade on-site; this may have an impact on the build schedule and incur additional construction costs. As interest and confidence in mass timber develops, and with supply and use increasing, mass timber has caught the attention of design teams and developers
‒ su m m e r 2 0 2 2
who are exploring all-wood mid-rise buildings. This approach requires introducing an alternative solution that uses combustible construction in lieu of noncombustible materials for the exit stair enclosures. The alternative solution application that’s submitted to the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) will need to be shown to achieve the level of performance required by the acceptable solution in Division B of the current OBC 2012. (The OBC is objective based and will therefore allow for variations to the prescriptive acceptable solutions.) Engaging a code consultant on the design team from the outset is prudent, as early discussions with the AHJ are encouraged for buildings of this type where
TechnicalSOLUTIONS
An all-wood mid-rise approach using CLT, replacing noncombustible materials. The exit stair enclosure is designed, built, and installed seamlessly with the structural assembly by using the alternative solution approach. PHOTO: Courtesy of Timber Systems Ltd.
combustible construction is proposed for the exit stair enclosures and fire separations instead of noncombustible materials. Many all-wood buildings have been proposed and are currently under design and construction in Ontario. Six-story, mixed-use, infill residential buildings that are built using lower embodied carbon materials and achieving Passive House standards and net zero carbon are the vision of many development teams. The use of prefabricated wood structural systems like light wood-frame, mass timber, and factory built offers many benefits. Good repeatable architectural design in combination with structural systems that provide optimized unit layouts, like the R-Hauz Vertical 6 project in Toronto, is key.
This six-story urban infill development, constructed entirely out of CLT, including the exit stair enclosures, sets an important precedent. The CLT exit stair enclosure was approved through an alternative solution application, one of several required for the R-Hauz project. In replacing the required noncombustible assemblies, the CLT was protected by gypsum board on both sides of the assembly and achieved a two-hour fire rating, which exceeded the level of performance of 1.5 hours required by the OBC wall assembly detail for the CLT exit stair enclosure. Many of the urban cores that make up our towns and cities across Ontario contain two- and three-story buildings.
These buildings constructed in the early 20th century often have streetlevel retail, commercial, and restaurant spaces, with living space above. Buildings of this typology present an invaluable opportunity to add more density to vibrant and established communities by adding more stories to our existing building inventory by “topping up.” Preserving existing building façades and adding to our building inventory are good for neighborhoods. The additional density of this form adds vital new life and energy. Areas are upgraded, adapted, and repurposed, maintaining the cultural value of the streetscape to the community, and preserving a sense of connection with the past.
‒ su m m e r 2 0 2 2
41
PHOTO: Courtesy of R-Hauz Services Inc.
Mass timber and light wood-frame assemblies should be considered for constructing additional stories on existing buildings, including interior and exterior load-bearing assemblies. The lightweight nature of wood structural systems can be an advantage by reducing the loads carried by the existing structure. In addition, performing a structural analysis may result in existing foundations requiring little to no reinforcement or modification, making adaptation and renovation a viable alternative for housing and much-needed 42
rental density. The prefabricated nature of mass timber increases construction speed, and it reduces construction disturbances such as noise, dust, and traffic, as off-site prefabrication and just-in-time delivery methods are utilized. OBC Part 10 (Change of Use) and Part 11 (Renovations) allow some flexibility in maintaining and reusing existing buildings to preserve buildings’ existing appeal and provide owners with flexibility. However, moving from low-rise provisions into the mid-rise
‒ su m m e r 2 0 2 2
category of building typology (up to six stories) requires specific provisions in OBC Part 3 to be met. This includes two means of egress from all floors, compliance with fire separation requirements, and sprinkler systems incorporated into the new floors, meeting NFPA 13 provisions for the newly created stories. When planning a project, the vertical connection for exit enclosure fire separations is a significant consideration for the design team, particularly when adding stories to an existing building.
TechnicalSOLUTIONS
From the late 19th to the early 20th century, many older buildings were constructed with one interior stairwell. A secondary exterior stairwell, sometimes called a “fire escape,” was provided as a second means of travel between floors. In providing two means of egress as required by the OBC 2012, both exit stairs must be in fire-rated and fire-separated enclosures, as per OBC 3.4.4.1. In the case of mid-rise buildings, the exit stair enclosure must be built with noncombustible materials. Utilizing wood and mass timber assemblies in the design and construction of the exit stair enclosures has the benefit of maintaining an all-wood building. Materials of similar properties, old and new wood in this case, work in synchronicity. New wood will quickly take on the moisture content and humidity of the environment. More rigid noncombustible materials can have a detrimental effect on how the existing structure behaves. The question will have to be asked early in the design phase as to how the existing wood structure could carry the noncombustible assemblies required. Switching between structural materials will require having another trade on-site, producing challenges with the construction schedule. This is a good case for wood enclosure assemblies, designed to achieve the required firerated performance, being raised during conversations with the AHJ.
DETAIL: Courtesy of CMV Group Architects – R-Hauz project
‒ su m m e r 2 0 2 2
43
TechnicalSOLUTIONS
PHOTO: JHVEPhoto/Shutterstock
Another point to consider is the connection points to old multi-wythe load-bearing walls that many older buildings are constructed with. These walls often contain much softer, more porous masonry than modern-day materials. This can have a significant impact when considering the interface of connecting rigid systems, such as steel and concrete, to older wood and heavy timber structures that have different ductility. Wood systems can fully utilize the prefabrication process, a solution that reduces the time an existing building may be exposed to the effects of weather during construction. Craning already assembled components can be quick and efficient with the required planning, enabling additional stories and any prefabricated assemblies like exit stair enclosures to be positioned into place with precision. This minimizes moisture penetration and stops the existing structure from being damaged, such as any load-bearing masonry walls, existing timber framing, floor decking, and walls below. Careful planning and construction sequencing when removing an existing roof membrane and tying in the new structural systems to the existing structure must be carefully considered from the early design stages. 44
CLT used in a rooftop story extension. PHOTO: Courtesy of Eurban
Steven Street is the technical manager with the Canadian Wood Council and Wood WORKS! Ontario. Veronica Madonna is principal at Studio Veronica Madonna Architect and an assistant professor with the RAIC Centre for Architecture at Athabasca University. Additional contribution from Robyn Huether, a heritage building consultant and principal at Robyn Huether Architect Inc.
‒ su m m e r 2 0 2 2
Project: Passerelle de la Tortue, Québec City, QC Pressure treated wood produced by Goodfellow Inc. Image courtesy of Wood Design & Building Awards Photographer: Stéphane Groleau
Wood Preservation Canada
YOUR CONNECTION to information and resources on pressure treated wood in Canada
WoodPreservation.ca
Roll Out the Barrel
old discarded material.” The barrel as we know Moldovan sent a prototype it today was most likely to Stone Brewing within a developed by the Celts. week. The brewery ordered a Around 350 BC, they were few dozen more chairs for their already using watertight, several locations. From there, barrel-shaped wooden business was rolling. containers that were able to Moldovan says that within withstand stress and could be the first few years of working rolled and stacked. Whiskey Joel Kranc with recycled material he and wine were obviously knew he didn’t want to popular contents for the work with anything else. barrel and continue to “Taking something old be an integral part of the and useless and giving fermentation process for it a second life seemed these libations today. much more fulfilling.” And But when a barrel outlives that’s not just his way of its usefulness in the spiritthinking. “Living in southern making world, what else can California really showed me you do with it? Well, sit on it. how many others try to live In 2010, Balazs Moldovan, by this notion. That’s why owner of the Hungarian the Hungarian Workshop Workshop, based in Oceanside, started to gain momentum CA, first started making PHOTO: Courtesy of Hungarian Workshop and grow,” he adds. Adirondack (aka Muskoka) chairs Since 2012, Moldovan has out of standard redwood and pine been creating his projects using recycled barrels. purchased from lumber yards. It was mainly just a American white oak is definitely the best, he says. hobby at first to make some outdoor furniture for French oak feels less dense and is prone to more himself and his friends. “As I started playing around internal imperfections. As the French oak dries, with some other designs like tables and ottomans, I there are often areas of the wood that will bubble up, really started enjoying the art,” he says. creating weak spots. He says American oak and even After selling a few chairs through Etsy (and craft the more rare (on this side of the Atlantic) Hungarian fairs and farmers’ markets), he was contacted by the oak are higher quality. Stone Brewing Company, based in Escondido, CA. Moldovan, who loves his work, finds it challenging The manager liked the chairs Moldovan was making to keep craftsmen on board, however, as they often and wanted a dozen or so for their beer garden. leave to create their own projects. Material can also “After the first batch of chairs was delivered, he be tricky to source and has to come from a variety of showed me a dumpster full of old barrels that they different places. Still, after personally handcrafting used to make their specialty barrel-aged beers,” says more than 1,000 chairs, Moldovan has no plans to sit Moldovan. “He asked if I’d be interested in taking a down anytime soon. crack at making the same type of chairs but from this 46
‒ su m m e r 2 0 2 2
LEADING THE WAY IN MASS TIMBER Training Training & & Construction Construction in in Ontario Ontario We We are are Building Building for for the the Future Future
Carpenters’ District Council of Ontario Carpenters’ District Council of Ontario www.thecarpentersunion.ca | 905.652.4140 www.thecarpentersunion.ca | 905.652.4140
CLIMATE SMART
FORESTRY
Forests play a critical role in addressing climate change and storing carbon.
SFI-CERTIFIED WOOD PROVIDES BETTER BUILDING SOLUTIONS Mass timber certified to SFI standards provides assurance that forests remain forests for future generations. And, with over 350 Million acres certified, SFI offers solutions at scale.
Learn more: forests.org/better-building-solutions
