Si x do l l ars
P ubl i cat io ns M ai l agr eem ent #40063877
Winter 2015–16 — Number 72
Roy-Lawrence Residence Modern-day home reflects its natural environment
Wood Design Awards Meet the 2015 winners
Glued Composites
New connections extend the use of wood in complex applications
c o n t e n t s
Above and on the cover: Roy-Lawrence Residence, Sutton, QC
Photo Credit: Chevalier Morales Architectes
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Roy-Lawrence Residence 14 Modern-day home heavily influenced by iconic Swiss architecture reflects its natural environment.
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2015 Wood Design Award Winners 10 Wood Design & Building recognizes inspiring wood projects that have made their mark.
Fire Station 76 18
Against the Grain
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Bridges
Wood Chips
Canoes
Videotron Centre 26
Quebec City’s multipurpose arena evokes a snowy, northern aesthetic.
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News and events on wood-related subjects
Wood Ware
Understated functionality is complemented by a dark, charred exterior.
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French Pavilion 30
Part of the Expo 2015 Universal Exhibition, the pavilion was designed as an archetypal marketplace to showcase France’s agricultural identity.
Feature 34
In light of the recent United Nations Climate Change Conference and growing concern about the environment, we compare the environmental and cost savings benefits of wood versus steel.
Technical Solutions 44
Glued connections are the latest trend in adhesive technologies, as a stiff but ductile alternative to screwed connections.
Ideas & Applications 40
Putting the Pieces Together Prefabrication of wood components can shorten construction time and lower costs, when applied to the right project.
A New Year At Wood Design & Building magazine, we take great pride in the fact our award-winning magazine is the only one in North America dedicated exclusively to articles about timber architecture and engineering. Our goal is to inspire you with creative solutions for wood design and construction. The emphasis on sustainable solutions has never been greater and wood has a unique distinction as both a cost-effective and environmentally friendly building material that, especially given new technologies, can be used in more and more applications. In this issue, our story on glued composites (p. 44) details how innovations in connections technology are making the use of wood in the most demanding of applications – wind turbines and bridges – even more feasible. As our publication looks toward 2016, we will continue to explore inspired wood architecture and feature trends in wood design and construction. Prefabrication (p. 40) is one current trend that is transforming the world of construction, and the development of taller wood buildings (and accompanying code changes) is redefining the way wood is viewed as a structural material. This issue also features winners from our very own Wood Design Awards. From sports facilities to a fire station to an airport and a bar, this year’s winners truly showcase a diversity of wood projects. (You’ll have to get the 2015/2016 North American Wood Design Awards book next fall to see all of the winners!) We hope you will join us for another year as we feature the top creative designs and solutions in the world of wood architecture.
Theresa Rogers Executive Editor trogers@dvtail.com
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 Theresa Rogers at trogers@dvtail.com.
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inspiration
www.wooddesignandbuilding.com
Board
What I’ve fallen for this month...
Winter 2015-16, Volume 20, Issue 72 PUBLISHER Etienne Lalonde elalonde@cwc.ca Publishing manager Sarah Hicks shicks@wood-works.ca COMMUNICATION MANAGER Natalie Tarini ntarini@cwc.ca Special ProjectS Manager Ioana lazea ilazea@cwc.ca Executive EDITOR Theresa Rogers trogers@dvtail.com Staff writerS Hermione Wilson hwilson@dvtail.com Kelly Townsend ktownsend@dvtail.com Contributors
Maik Gehloff
ART DIRECTOR Sharon MacIntosh smacintosh@dvtail.com
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Celebrating Excellence in Wood Architecture 2014/15
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Against the GRAIN
Bridges Kelly Townsend The modern concept of a bridge is usually visualized as a functional steel or concrete structure that enables vehicles and pedestrians to cross from point A to point B. The wood bridges featured here have not only challenged that perception from an architectural point of view, but from an aesthetic one as well. The Bow River Footbridge, built in Banff, AB, one of Canada’s most iconic tourist destinations, is considered one of the world’s longest timber footbridges at 262 ft. Its 13-ft.-wide deck is constituted entirely of pre-stressed timber panels, with two tuned mass dampers constructed underneath to ensure a 75-year lifespan. Timber was specifically chosen as the primary building material, not only for environmental purposes, but for a natural aesthetic. Rotterdam’s De Luchtsingel has the distinction of being the world’s first crowd-funded public infrastructure. More than 8,000 of the wooden boards along the 1,312-ft. pedestrian bridge bear the inscriptions of donors, which residents can read as they make their way to the three districts connected by the bridge. The Henderson Waves Bridge proves that functionality and art aren’t always opposites. The bridge has become a landmark in Singapore, with its wave-like structure overhanging Henderson Road. Indigenous yellow balau timber was used to create the modular decks and balustrades which were sourced from certified sustainable timber farms. The VLM Bridge in Villamoura, Portugal, redefines the idea of moving pictures. Artist Domingos Loureiro created two images by painting on either side of the bridge’s 180 wood boards. While the artwork is invisible from a direct view, as drivers approach the bridge from an angle, the artwork comes to life, as if they are the frames of a movie. The Onepoto Pedestrian Footbridge in Auckland’s North Shore, was inspired by local history. The timber boards along the walkway mimic the skeleton of a whale. This is in tribute to local Maori who once fished in the Onepoto basin that lies below the 492-ft. walkway. The use of wood in these bridges plays a key role in connecting the often divergent lines of art and functionality, and brings modern innovation to traditional design. 1. Bow River Footbridge (2013) Architect: StructureCraft Builders Inc. Location: Banff, AB PHOTO CREDIT: Paul Zizka Photography 2. De Luchtsingel (2014) Architect: ZUS Location: Rotterdam, Netherlands PHOTO CREDIT: Ossip van Duivenbode
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3. Henderson Waves Bridge (2008) Architect: RSP Architects Planners & Engineers Pte Ltd and IJP Corporation Location: Southern Ridges, Singapore PHOTO CREDIT: RSP Architects Planners & Engineers Pte Ltd and IJP Corporation
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4. VLM Bridge (2009) Architect: AND-RÉ Location: Vilamoura, Portugal PHOTO CREDIT: João Soares 5. Onepoto Pedestrian Footbridge (2008) Architect: Beca Architects Location: Auckland, New Zealand PHOTO CREDIT: Simon Devitt Photographer
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When Execution Matters
Innovative Glulam & Timber Solutions
WOODCHIPS
k N ew Student Residence to be Among World’s Tallest Wood Buildings
The tallest wood building in Canada will soon be constructed at the University of British Columbia (UBC). When completed in 2017, the $51.5-million residence will stand at 174 ft. or 18 stories. It will consist of a mass timber superstructure atop a concrete base. “The UBC project will serve as a great example of the research and technology that is involved in taking wood construction to new heights,” says Michael Giroux, President of the Canadian Wood Council. The project’s architect, Vancouver’s Acton Ostry Architects, is working in collaboration with tall wood advisor Architekten Hermann Kaufmann from Austria. Fast + Epp, another local firm, is the structural engineer. The group is aiming for LEED Gold certification. www.ubc.ca www.cwc.ca
k S tudents Reproduce Traditional First Nations Wood Finishes
The American Wood Council (AWC) is shining a spotlight on the merits of mass timber construction. AWC joined with reThink Wood to host an “Urban Sustainability, Rural Prosperity” panel discussion at the National Press Club during National Forest Products Week. “It is our hope that this discussion will lead to new insights that can be used in designing buildings and planning communities,” AWC President and CEO Robert Glowinski says. Panel discussions included U.S. Forest Service’s efforts to promote renewable wood products, changing perceptions of tall wood buildings, the carbon sequestration properties of wood products and what some cities are doing to lead the way on tall wood buildings.
University of British Columbia (UBC) students Jun Lee and Vinicius Lube have reproduced traditional wood finishes used by First Nations people in B.C. With help from the Museum of Anthropology (MOA) at UBC, Lee and Lube, graduate students in chemical engineering and wood science, collected a number of natural pigments that First Nations people along the coast of the Pacific Northwest would have used to paint totem poles or other decorative wooden objects. These pigments included bone black, green earth and red ochre, among others. In order for a pigment to stain wood, Lee and Lube used salmon eggs, which had to be chewed and spit out to create the right consistency and color. Lube said the process and time needed to reproduce these finishes provides insight as to why traditional First Nations people may have adopted commercial products so quickly. Lee and Lube’s detailed technical report on how to produce the finishes will be housed in the MOA’s archives. They hope their findings can be used by anyone interested in reproducing the traditional finishes themselves, including indigenous artists.
http://awc.org/nfpw
https://youtube/7WwI91iqkG0
Robert Glowinski and USFS Chief Tom Tidwell
k AW C Wood Panel Highlights Merit of Wood Construction
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WOODCHIPS
k O ntario Wood
WORKS! 2015 Wood Design Award Winners Announced
Some of Ontario’s leading architects, engineers, and project teams received Wood Design Awards at the 15th annual Wood WORKS! Ontario celebration in Toronto. The awards program recognizes people and organizations that are advancing the use of wood in all types of construction. The group handed out 12 awards at the event; nine went to specific wood projects and three were given to professionals whose contributions to the design/build community made them stand out as wood design experts and advocates. “Wood has significant environmental advantages over competing materials and, in many applications, designers and developers are reporting significant time and cost savings,” says Marianne Berube, Executive Director of the Ontario Wood WORKS! program. Find the entire list of winners online.
k S tudy Underscores Importance of Forests and Forest Products in Mitigating Climate Change
The Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC) is applauding an issues paper released by the Canadian Climate Forum that documents how forests and products made from tree fiber will play a critical role in the transition to a low carbon economy. The study, “Contributing to Climate Change Solutions,” authored by scientist Dr. Stephen Colombo, explains how forests and trees absorb carbon. “We are delighted to see this paper confirm how our renewable forests can play a role in mitigating climate change,” says David Lindsay, former President and CEO of FPAC. www.fpac.ca/wp-content/uploads/
http://wood-works.ca/ontario
k A ccoya Wins 2015 Innovator Award Accoya wood, manufactured by Accsys Technologies, recently received the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovator Award, which recognizes leaders across industries that are designing for upcycling and making perpetually cycled and environmentally friendly products. Accsys Technologies’ Accoya wood is produced in a low-energy process using only sustainable sourced timber made from the fastestgrowing species. Through the acetylation process, the part of the wood that readily bonds with water is replaced by acetyl groups, which are naturally occurring in wood. At the end-of-use, Accoya can be treated in a similar way to untreated wood and be recycled or upcycled. www.C2CProductSymposium.org www.accoya.com
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2015 Wood Design Awards
Jurors
David Keltner Principal Hacker www.hackerarchitects.com
Stéphan Langevin Principal St-Gelais Montminy + Associés / Architectes www.stgm.net
Dean Maltz
Managing Partner Shigeru Ban Architects America www.shigerubanarchitects.com
Wood Design & Building magazine is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2015 Wood Design Awards. A jury panel selected 22 winning projects, including nine international entries, from 140 submissions. With a nod to the caliber of entries, the panel of three judges remarked on the excellence of the submissions throughout the judging process. All projects demonstrated a commitment to architectural excellence in wood. Special awards were also granted by the Canadian Wood Council as well as this year’s award sponsors, Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) and Western Red Cedar. In partnership with the Canadian Wood Council, Wood Design & Building would like to thank everyone who participated in the 2015 Wood Design Awards program. A special thank you is also extended to SFI, Western Red Cedar, as well as our esteemed jurors. Congratulations to the winners!
NORTH AMERICAN HONOR
Underhill, Matinecock, NY, Bates Masi + Architects LLC Stade de soccer de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Saucier + Perrotte architectes and Hughes Condon Marler Architects Guildford Aquatic Centre, Surrey, BC, Bing Thom Architects, Shape Architecture (Associate Architect)
MERIT
Lightbox, Point Roberts, WA, Bohlin Cywinski Jackson Roy-Lawrence Residence, Sutton, QC, Chevalier Morales Architectes Fort McMurray International Airport, Fort McMurray, AB, office of mcfarlane biggar architects + designers inc. Toronto Public Library Scarborough Civic Centre Branch, Toronto, ON, LGA Architectural Partners and Phillip H. Carter architects in joint venture MEC Head Office, Vancouver, BC, Proscenium Architecture + Interiors Inc. Fire Station 76, Gresham, OR, Hennebery Eddy Architects, Inc.
CITATION
Old Main Academic Building Addition, Thompson Rivers University, Kamloops, BC, Diamond Schmitt Architects, Stantec Architecture (Associate Architect) Whitetail Woods Regional Park Camper Cabins, Farmington, MN, HGA Architects and Engineers Bar Raval, Toronto, ON, PARTISANS Architects Mont-Laurier Multipurpose Performance Hall, Mont-Laurier, QC, Les architectes FABG
International HONOR
Puukuokka Housing Block, Jyväskylä, Finland, OOPEAA Office for Peripheral Architecture
CITATION
Nursery in Guastalla, Guastalla, Reggio Emilia, Italy, Mario Cucinella Architects Veneer House – Cogon Day School, Barangay Cogon, Balilihan Bohol, Philippines, Kobayashi Maki Design Workshop Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology Arts and Media Building, Nelson City, New Zealand, Irving Smith Jack Architects Ltd. Dune House, Terschelling, The Netherlands, Marc Koehler Architects Guessing Agricultural School, Guessing, Austria, PICHLER & TRAUPMANN ARCHITEKTEN ZT GMBH
CANADIAN WOOD COUNCIL AWARDS
Public Library of CONSTITUCIÓN, Constitución, Chile, Sebastian Irarrazaval Arquitectos
Philip J. Currie Dinosaur Museum, Wembley, AB, Teeple Architects (Design Architect); Architecture Tkalcic Bengert (Architect of Record); Reich + Petch (Museum Consultant)
MERIT
MAZAMA House, Mazama, WA, FINNE Architects
World Intellectual Property Organization Conference Hall, Geneva, Switzerland, Behnisch Architekten PINCH Sweep Warp, Shuanghe Village, Yunnan Province, China, Hong Kong University Architecture students
SUSTAINABLE FORESTRY INITIATIVE – SPONSORSHIP AWARD Quilakwa Center, Enderby, BC, KH Design Inc.
WESTERN RED CEDAR – SPONSORSHIP AWARD
Treehouse, Treehouse, Ottawa, ON, Ha2 Architecture & Design
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2015 Honor Awards North American
Underhill Bates Masi + Architects LLC Drawing on the history of the community in which it is located, an early Quaker settlement, this suburban retreat in Matinecock, New York, was designed around the principles of simplicity, humility and inner focus. The house is broken into a series of modest gabled structures, each one focused inward on its own garden courtyard instead of outward to the surrounding neighbors. Every interior space is connected to the exterior on two sides. The layering of spaces from exterior to interior to courtyard collapses the boundaries between them. From select vantage points, one may see across multiple spaces and courtyards to framed views beyond. Each volume has a sculpted roof that funnels light and air into the center of the structure. The oak floor and weathered oak ceiling boards both radiate outward from the center. The floor and ceiling boards are custom cut in width and mitered to trace continuously and concentrically around the courtyard. The building’s inverse form is carved out of the earth to create a lower courtyard at the basement level. Planted retaining walls slope down to let light and air into the lower level. Similarly, a sloped, depressed area forms a destination in the landscape where a grove of trees grows, creating a contemplative spot much like the interior courtyards. The shingle coursing and pitched roofs reference the early Quaker settlement buildings in the area.
Stade de soccer de Montréal Saucier + Perrotte architectes and Hughes Condon Marler Architects Montréal’s new soccer stadium stands on the site of the former Miron quarry and that of a future ecological park. The building emerges from the park’s artificial topography as a layer of mineral stratum that recalls the geological nature of the site, articulated by a continuous roof which cantilevers over the entry plaza and folds down over the interior soccer field. It extends to the ground to become the spectator seating for the outdoor field. To ensure the unity of the soccer center over different programs, the stratum appears as a single gesture with a laminated wood structure supporting the roof. The roof’s crossing beams form a seemingly arbitrary lattice suspended over the entire site. A series of crystals emerge from the augmented landscape to provide daylight and views for the administrative and public spaces housed behind. They project out from the landscape toward the street to receive abundant natural light. A large crystal which contains the main lobby emerges from the berm’s southeast end, signalling the entrance. Despite the broad scope of the project’s program, the series of structural louvers that compose the facade succeeds in retaining a human scale and preserving the natural context for the nearby residents.
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INTERNATIONAL
Puukuokka Housing Block OOPEAA Office for Peripheral Architecture
Guildford Aquatic Centre Bing Thom Architects, Shape Architecture (Associate Architect) The Guildford Aquatic Centre project, which added a FINAcertified lap pool and leisure pool facilities to the existing recreation center, is a refreshed and amenity-filled community hub in the growing city of Surrey, BC. A key design element of the new center is a prefabricated wood truss system that fully integrates with the lighting and mechanical systems. As the prime architectural feature in the natatorium, the wood truss system provides an economical and unique solution to the structural and operational requirements of the facility. The 22 repeating, V-shaped wood trusses were prefabricated and installed with the services in place. This allowed for rapid on-site assembly with no scaffolding. The design team decided to use wood trusses for their many benefits, among them corrosion resistance, ease of maintenance, and the fact that wood is renewable and sequesters carbon. The natatorium is illuminated by indirect lighting from the wooden trusses, so the interior wall treatments were carefully selected to provide specific tint and gloss levels in order to achieve the desired reflectivity. The continuous ribbon of skylights allows beams of sunlight to streak across the walls, shifting throughout the day and enhancing the animation of the natatorium. 12
The energy-efficient and ecological trio of multi-story wood-framed apartment buildings of the Puukuokka Housing Block are the first of their kind in Finland. In Puukuokka, the goal was to create a building that combined the privacy of a single-family dwelling with the semi-public character of shared spaces. The project also served as a pilot case to develop and test a CLT-based system of volumetric modules. Architects were challenged to make the best possible use of the technical and aesthetic qualities of CLT to create a wooden building in large scale with a distinct architectonic expression. The use of CLT made it possible to create a spacious and energy-efficient hallway and atrium with a lot of light. The facade elements that were prepared separately and brought to site ready for assembly were made entirely of wood. Spruce treated with a coat of dark paint was used in the facades facing the street, and untreated larch was used for the interior courtyard. The use of prefabricated modules made it possible to cut the on-site construction time to six months and to reduce the exposure to weather conditions.
Public Library of Constitución Sebastian Irarrazaval Arquitectos The Public Library of Constitución is one part of a public-private initiative to rebuild the city of Constitución, Chile, following the devastation of an earthquake and tsunami in 2010. Constitución is a small town situated in the very core of the most active wood industry in the country, which made it easy to source not only high-quality wood but also extremely gifted carpenters for the project. The library is organized into three zones (children, young and adult readers) on two levels and is covered by three wood naves that filter and balance the light. The main level overlooks the millenary trees of the civic square (the only historic landmark left virtually untouched by the earthquake) and can be accessed from street level either by a ramp or a staircase that can be also used as a kind of small auditorium for storytelling. Furniture creates different corners for reading within the building and orients the view toward the trees of the square. The luminosity of the spaces was enhanced by coating the wood with a watery white varnish. The few colors that can be seen inside were chosen to mimic the colors of the trees during the different seasons. The facade, with its three monumental windows, benches and canopies, provides an inviting entrance to the building.
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Reclaimed Douglas Fir
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Douglas fir Kalolam™
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Roy-Lawrence Residence Residence carries on tradition of Swiss architecture Sutton, QC
The estate upon which the Roy-Lawrence Residence sits is steeped in the architectural heritage of the original owners, Swiss immigrants to Canada in the 1930s. Considering that the modern-day structure is surrounded by iconic Swiss chalets and other buildings of a similar nature, the use of wood was a crucial element of the project. It ensures the building carries on the character of its surroundings and fits in with the natural context of the eastern township of Quebec where it resides. The strong architectural concept of this house and the material use of wood were key in convincing the
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city planners to review and approve the construction of this project in the natural setting of Sutton. The iconic Swiss chalet, imbued with nostalgia for a lost way of life, was the starting point for the conceptual development of the residence. Aiming to reinterpret in a contemporary manner the traditional composition of these chalets, the final result can be read as a composition of three distinct formal elements stacked on top of each other: a solid concrete base anchored to the rocky ground, a long and low wood frame allowing panoramic views, and a prominent and protective wood roof which projects itself over the mountain.
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natural lighting, dominant winds and panoramic views to the southwest. On the northeast side, a long wooden wall follows the path and leads visitors to the main entrance which has been recessed toward the middle of the residence, creating a compression effect at the entry point. Like a bite taken in the layout, the glazed interior courtyard creates transversal transparency and gives the owners the opportunity to fully experience contact with the mountain. This connection between built space and exterior space contributes to the spatial quality of the main living area by integrating within the house a fragment of the mountain. AR C HITE C T
Chevalier Morales Architectes Montreal, QC
S TR U C T U RAL ENGINEER
Structure Pierre Gosselin Montreal, QC
The impressive wood roof is a strong statement and magnifies the view above the valley. Traditional wood trusses form the structure. The depth of the roof is used to span the six-meter-long cantilever, and permits different ceiling heights, varied interior spaces and an interior courtyard. The rough cut pine cladding is stained with a semi-transparent coating. Here, the mountain and surrounding nature influenced the choice of colors and textures, intrinsically linking the residence to its local environment and landscape. The interior layouts were organized according to very simple principles. Informed by the structure’s geographic orientation, the layouts are a response to 16
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GENERAL C O NTRA C T O R
Self-construction/client PH O T O GRAPH Y
Chevalier Morales Architectes Montreal, QC
P r o j e c t Fac t s Building Size 2,432.64 sq.ft. Completion Date Winter 2014
THOUGHTFULLY ENGINEERED DETAILS CAREFULLY CRAFTED STRUCTURES REALIZED ARCHITECTURAL VISION
Architect: KMBR
Client: Surrey Christian School
Ed White Photographics
20,000 sqft prefabricated mass timber panels on glulam beams and columns - site installed in 5 days StructureCraft is a team of engineers and builders who work with architects and clients to deliver well-conceived and detailed timber structures, from simple to complex, small to tall. Our experience with a broad range of materials from mass timber to hybrid allows us to offer highly efficient solutions with early price certainty.
Concept
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StructureCraft offers services in all phases, including concept design, parametric modeling, engineering, fabrication, and site installation. For more information on our projects, materials, and services visit www.structurecraft.com.
Engineering
Fabrication
Installation
structurecraft.com +1 604.940.8889
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Fire Station 76 Shou Sugi Ban creates striking black exterior Gresham, OR
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siding and treated with a Japanese technique called Shou Sugi Ban, a treatment that transforms the wood by charring its surface. The effect is striking and it protects the wood from moisture, decay and insects. The material and treatment presents the dualities of fire to create a structure suffused with meaning. Functionally, the design solution divides the facility into two complementary masses: a vaulted apparatus bay featuring exposed glulam arches, skinned with a light-colored metal exterior, and conventionally framed living quarters featuring wood siding on both the interior and the exterior, blending the inside and outside through material continuity. The long, linear form of the living quarters faces the Cascade Mountains and warm Western red cedar-clad porches carve into the living quarters’ structure, sheltering these gathering spaces from weather. The cedar continues to the building interior, surrounding the primary gathering space of the living quarters. Large skylights fill the fire crew’s living and working spaces with natural light. The apparatus bay faces the road, presenting the most recognizable feature of a fire station, the engines, to the public. The exposed wood structure extends over the fire engines like the vaulted ceiling of a cathedral with regularly spaced glulam Tudor arches and exposed Douglas fir tongue and groove roof decking. The station reflects the context of its community in both massing and materials, providing a legacy for the fire district. The result is a station that embraces fire and uses it as a feature of beauty and protection. The functional simplicity of Multnomah County’s Fire Station 76 fits right in with the practical agricultural buildings that dominate this rural community. Indeed, the fire station comprises little more than a dwelling with an oversized garage. The understated aesthetic is echoed in the building materials and provided the inspiration for the building concept. Fire Station 76 is comprised of two buildings: an apparatus bay and living quarters. The apparatus bay houses the emergency response vehicles and work spaces that include a shop, washing machines and storage, and an Emergency Medical Services (EMS) room. The living quarters house the crew and provide a day room, kitchen, fitness room, showers, lockers, and bunk rooms. An area for public reception that includes the station office, conference room, and district administrative office space is located at the front entry to the living quarters. Fire, the primary focus of the station, influenced the treatment of materials. The building is clad in dark, charred, reclaimed Douglas fir timber from an old barn. The reclaimed barn boards were milled into 20
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Multnomah County Rural Fire Protection District #10 AR C HITE C T
Hennebery Eddy Architects, Inc. Portland, OR
S TR U C T U RAL ENGINEER
Nishkian Dean Portland, OR
GENERAL C O NTRA C T O R
Bremik Construction, Inc. Portland, OR
PH O T O GRAPH Y
Josh Partee
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P r o j e c t Fac t s Building Size 10,120 sq.ft. Completion Date May 2015
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Height of Exposed Glulam Arches 27 feet
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Wood takes centre ice in Québec City’s new hockey arena.
VIDÉOTRON CENTRE, QUÉBEC CITY POPULOUS | ABCP ARCHITECTURE
© Photos : Stephane Groleau
NATURALLY PERFECT WOOD PROTECTION Inspired by drifting snow, the white aluminum oval of the new Vidéotron Centre arena is paired with massive engineered wooden trusses that evoke the city’s rich hockey heritage. Harsh arctic weather and hot, humid summers meant choosing the right wood coating was critical – inside and out, all wood surfaces were protected during and after construction with Sansin Enviro Stains. With the growing movement towards using wood in large structures, Sansin is the first choice in environmentally-friendly performance wood coatings.
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Videotron Centre Wood allows an elegantly curved exterior, giving peripheral concourses a unique feel Quebec City, QC
The idea of building a multipurpose arena for Quebec City emerged in 2009 with the creation of “J’ai ma place”, a group seeking to rekindle public interest in bringing a professional hockey team back to the city. In 2012, an integrated architect/engineer/build team was officially tasked with designing the project. The arena, which stands on the site of a former horse racing track, boasts a main structure that clearly marks the building’s function from multiple viewpoints around the city. Its immaculate white skin and openings evoke snow and more broadly, the city’s northern character. The accumulations of snow, the cold, and the frigid wind that shape and carve the landscape during winter became the subtle visual leitmotif and conceptual guideline for the city’s newest sports and cultural venue. The Videotron Centre is a hybrid steel/glulam wood structure. Wood plays an important role not only in the center’s sustainability, but also in its structural performance and beauty. Wood was chosen to support the envelope of the main structure in order to elegantly embrace the curve of the exterior space and give the peripheral concourses a unique feel. Running from the main concourse to the low roof, over a total height of more than 25 m (82 ft.), the wood structure has only one intermediate support point. The composite glulam arches, spaced 5 m (16.4 ft.) apart, make up the 92 facets of the arena oval. Black spruce in 25 x 25 mm (0.98 in.) sections was selected for its local availability and structural characteristics, which made it possible to minimize the dimensions of the imposing arches. 26
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2 3 1. lobby
6. corporate suites
2. budweiser club
7. suites
3. home club dressing room
8. loft
4. north atrium
9. upper concourse level
5. main concourse level
10. media space
cross section
The expansive entrance hall opens onto a plaza, giving the commanding building a pedestrian-friendly feel. The hall features a long, patterned-glass wall that acts as a sunshield, minimizing solar gain in summer. The structure supports this impressive facade which measures more than 93 m (305.1 ft.) long and 11 m (36 ft.) high, and is suspended dramatically 4 m (13.1 ft.) above the ground. At night, the wall is lit to enhance the arena’s urban presence. The large plaza opposite the hall is sure to become a favorite spot for viewing hockey games outside on the giant built-in screen. The need for proper protection of the wood to maintain durability and aesthetics was important. At the Quebec City site, for example, environmental conditions can be daunting, with long periods of cold from the Arctic. High-performance, water-borne, environmentally friendly wood finishes were used, some prior to construction. The finishes were selected to complement the coloration of the wood and were recommended by Cecobois, a regional program of the Québec Forest Industry Council. The arena and is seeking LEED Silver certification — a rare qualification for a building of this type and size. It’s the biggest public investment in the city’s history. The developers’ trust in a wood design demonstrates foresight and stands as a world-class example for building structures of all sizes, shapes and functions.
P r o j e c t Fac t s Opened Sept. 1, 2015 Budget $400 million USD Size 689,000 sq.ft.
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Owner
City of Quebec Quebec, QC
Architects
ABCP Architecture Quebec, QC
GLCRM Architects Quebec, QC
Populous
Kansas City, MO S t r uc t u r a l E n g i n e e r
SNC-Lavalin Montreal, QC
G e n e r a l C o n t r a c to r
Pomerleau Quebec, QC
P h oto g r a p h y
Stéphane Groleau Quebec, QC
Naturally Durable Wood Solutions Since 1971
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French Pavilion Unexpected organic contours moulded from glulam Milan, Italy 30
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Expo 2015, the Universal Exhibition, was hosted last year in Milan, Italy, from May 1 to October 31. More than 140 participating countries mounted exhibits that celebrated the theme, “Feeding the planet, energy for life.” Many of the world’s most acclaimed architects were commissioned to design the pavilions. The avant-garde pavilions celebrated form and function in buildings intended to embody the essence, technical expertise, and innovative spirit of the countries they represent. The French Pavilion’s architects began by talking with agriculture experts and sociologists, which led to an understanding of France’s food identity as a product of both its amazing geological and genea-
logical diversity. The architect galvanized the idea of a covered market as a crossroads where all foods meet and decided to produce an archetypal market: freestanding spaces sheltered under one huge roof. To lure visitors in, the architects engineered a fullimmersion approach to the stagecraft. The building invites people from the outside to embark on a journey inside. Once past the pavilion’s doors, visitors are plunged into the upside-down world of the hilly countryside. Tree-like pillars support the living roof that frames the spaces, functional areas and pathways. The ground floor houses the market, exhibit booths and partner
zones. Unlike conventional covered markets where products are displayed in stalls, this pavilion features a variety of themed stations set into the chambers created by the structure. These “vaults of plenty” serve up a menu of offerings like regional specialities, delicacy tastings, scientific and biotechnological research, agro-ecology, new agri-food technologies, genetic discoveries, life chemistry and beneficial flora. The next floor hosts offices and VIP rooms. The top floor is a restaurant. The glue-laminated structure is made completely of wood grown in France: the interior in spruce and the exterior in larch. Every building element – from
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The French Pavilion adopted a low-tech approach, so the entire building can be taken apart and put back together. With its cross-ventilation and the central clerestory designed to remove heat, the market is naturally ventilated and cool, making it a low-energy consumption building. Client
FranceAgriMer Architects
XTU Architects Paris, France
Atelien Architecture Milan, Italy
S t r uc t u r a l E n g i n e e r
Grontmij
De Bilt, The Netherlands P h oto g r a p h y
Andrea Bosio Genova, Italy
the main and supporting structures and ceiling to the floorboards and facades – is made of interlocking pieces that form a single unified edifice that simultaneously outlines the exterior casing and the interior expanse. The carpenters used a high-precision digitally controlled robot to cut out every angle of the framework. The main structure is made of lattice girders and pillars, spaced at 4.5 m (14.7 ft.), braced by a supporting framework slotted in every 1.5 m (4.9 ft.). The result is a series of highly uniform right-angle cubicles. The project is groundbreaking because the orthogonal frame is notched into uneven shapes called “frees” that create the stunning vault-like effect. The complex geometry of the French Pavilion’s framework creates a roller coaster of curves that demonstrates wood’s ability to mould into unexpected organic contours. Beyond its dramatic form, this marquee is a showcase for French innovation in wood architecture using invisible fastening systems patented by Résix. 32
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P r o j e c t Fac t s Completion April 2015 Building surface area 38,018 sq.ft. Cost $15.2 million USD - 750 different curved pieces - 1,139 straight pieces - 172 surface pieces
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FEATURE
Big Box Retail: Wood Saves Nearly $1 Million Cost and environmental studies compare wood to steel
While many U.S. apartments are woodframe, wood structures are far less common in stores and restaurants – even though wood construction is permitted by code in numerous applications – and the use of wood in the sub-category known as ‘big box’ retail is infrequent at best. To evaluate the opportunity, WoodWorks commissioned two studies, one cost comparison and one life cycle assessment (LCA), on the same big box project designed in steel vs. wood. This article excerpt summarizes the results of those studies and highlights opportunities for greater wood use in this segment of the construction market. To read the full case study, visit http://www. woodworks.org/wp-content/uploads/Big34
Box-Retail-Wood-vs-Steel-Oct-2015.pdf. Among developers, architects and engineers, cost tends to be cited as the number one reason to specify wood as a structural material. For multi-unit residential buildings, for example, design teams often report that wood-frame construction allows them to achieve greater density at less cost, while meeting performance goals and allowing more budget for amenities. More recently, environmental considerations such as wood’s relatively light carbon footprint have been getting a greater share of the attention, with some governments going so far as to call for the use of wood as a low-carbon alternative to other materials.
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In addition to the study highlights, this excerpt discusses options for achieving the design requirements of big box stores. These requirements include: • L arge, open f loor plan with tall ceilings • Minimal structure • Interior space flexibility • Adaptability – i.e., the ability to adapt to future needs through redesign Although these requirements are often met with systems that include structural steel columns, open web joists and joist girders, and steel roof decking, they can also be achieved with wood framing – likely at less cost and with less impact on the environment.
Askew’s Foods Uptown Store Photo Credit: Derek Lepper Photography
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FEATURE
This Whole Foods Market in Atlanta, GA, uses metal-plated glulam trusses, tongue and groove decking, and glulam beams and columns. Photo Credit: S. Lockyear
Project Scope Having received the drawings for a onestory, 54,800-sq.ft. steel-frame big box retail store in California (reference building), WoodWorks commissioned Parker Structural Engineering to design a comparable building using wood materials (proposed building). Both buildings are designed according to the 2010 C alifornia Building Code which is based on the International Building Code model code. The two designs share the same geometry, structural layout, and column grid, including: • Rectilinear building footprint • Sloping roof deck on joists supported by a system of beams and perimeter load bearing walls ±23'-8" in height • System of columns which support the beams, spaced at 30' – 45' by 30' – 64' • Spread footings supporting the columns and strip footings supporting the perimeter walls • A 400-sq.ft. equipment platform, slab-on-grade construction and no basement level 36
The buildings have the same gross floor area, floor plan and layout, functions, location, orientation and operating energy performance. For the LCA study, equivalent energy performance was established by proxy in lieu of performing an energy simulation for each building design. This was done by maintaining the same window-to-wall ratio and by designing the proposed building envelope to be thermally equivalent to the reference building envelope. WoodWorks then provided both sets of drawings to two firms. SSA Quantity Surveyors was asked to undertake a detailed cost comparison of the reference and proposed structures. Coldstream Consulting, a firm specializing in LCA of buildings, was asked to undertake a cradle-to-grave analysis of the material effects of structure, envelope and interior partition assemblies. Sixty years was selected for the service life because this timeframe is commonly used in North American LCA studies and is the minimum requirement for the LEED v.4 whole building LCA credit.
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Cost Comparison: Wood vs. Steel According to the comparison, the reference steel building design was estimated to cost $4,488,597, while the proposed wood building design was estimated to cost $3,499,971, resulting in a total cost savings of $988,626 for the wood design. The total building cost difference is equal to a 22% savings or $18 per sq.ft. savings for the wood building. Hard costs associated with each building were limited primarily to structure and envelope. Stairs and elevators, interior finishes, fittings and equipment, electrical and mechanical were noted but not assigned values. The largest cost savings were associated with the structure and roof insulation. The structure category included items such as roof framing (beams, trusses and decking) and vertical framing (columns and wall framing). A large number of items including the slab-on grade foundation, roofing, wall finishes, and exterior windows and doors were identical for both buildings and are included in the Other category.
FEATURE
Structure cost savings associated with the wood design totaled approximately $425,000. Ranked from highest to lowest, savings were concentrated in roof framing beams, roof decking, roof framing columns, primary roof framing such as trusses and joists and wall framing. It is interesting to note that the wood roof option required a direct-applied ceiling due to the use of batt insulation (as opposed to rigid insulation on top of the decking for the steel option), which consisted of one layer of 5/8" gypsum and resilient channels. While this added about $80,000 to the overall cost, the structure cost savings was still approximately $425,000. Savings associated with roof insulation represented the largest single element savings (over $400,000), due to the cost difference between rigid insulation (steel design) and batt insulation (wood design). The rigid insulation was 4½" XPS (extruded polystyrene) and the batt insulation was 5½" fiberglass. Each insulation option provided a roof insulation R-value of 22. The depth of wood roof and wall framing associated with big box stores, due to roof spans and wall heights, is typically more than adequate to house batt insulation, even in colder climates where more insulation may be required. Where more insulation is required, the increased cost of insulation would still be offset by significant savings associated with the wood structure as well as increased energy efficiency. Due to the lower hard costs associated with the wood design, additional savings of $162,706 were achieved in contractor’s general requirements and contingencies.
Environmental Performance: Wood vs. Steel Life cycle assessment is an internationally recognized method for measuring the environmental impacts of materials, assemblies or buildings over their entire lives – from extraction or harvest of raw materials through manufacturing, transportation, installation, use, maintenance and disposal or recycling. It allows design professionals to compare different building designs based on their environmental impacts and make informed choices about
COST Nearly $1 million savings (22%), primarily: • Structure cost savings – $425,000 • Roof insulation savings – $400,000
ENVIRONMENT Better than steel in 5 out of 6 impact categories: • Global warming potential • Acidification Potential • Eutrophication potential • Smog potential • Non-renewable energy use
the materials they use. Increasingly, LCA is being used instead of a prescriptive approach to material selection, which assumes that certain prescribed practices (such as specifying products with recycled content) are better for the environment regardless of the product’s manufacturing process or disposal. This shift is reflected in all of the major green building rating systems, codes and standards, including LEED v.4, Green Globes, the International Green Construction Code, California Green Building Standards Code and ASHRAE 189.1. LCA studies consistently show that wood outperforms other materials across a range of environmental performance indicators including embodied energy, air and water pollution, and carbon footprint.
Scope of Life Cycle Assessment The LCA described in this paper was conducted in conformance with the Committee for European Standardization (CEN) standard EN 15978, which stipulates an LCA-based calculation and reporting method for whole buildings or building parts. While European
in scope, many EN 15978 provisions are becoming the standard manner by which whole-building LCA work is conducted worldwide. For sake of clarity and conciseness, of the 17 indicators applicable to this study, the LCA comparison of the steel and wood buildings focused on the following six required for the LEED v.4 whole-building LCA credit: 1. Global warming potential 2. Ozone depletion potential 3. Acidification potential 4. Eutrophication potential 5. Smog potential 6. Non-renewable energy use Whole-building LCA typically draws on environmental product declarations (EPDs) and/or life cycle inventory (LCI) environmental data sources. The wood industry has been at the forefront of this trend and EPDs are available for many wood products (www.awc.org). However, this assessment did not use EPDs as a source of data since 1) EPDs are not widely available for competing building products, and 2) there is, so far, a lack of consistency between EPDs in different product categories. The assessment drew on the following three LCI data sources: • The Athena LCI Database (http://www. athenasmi.org/our-software-data/ lca-databases/) • T he US LCI Database (http://www. nrel.gov/lci/) • The Ecoinvent LCI Database (http:// www.ecoinvent.ch/) This study considered the following elements: foundations, slab-on-grade, floor construction, roof construction, exterior walls, exterior windows, exterior doors and roof coverings. This group of elements broadly includes structure, envelope and interior partition materials, which corresponds to the current modeling capacity of the Athena Impact Estimator LCA software and is compliant with the requirements of the LEED v.4 whole-building LCA credit. Notable assessment omissions include: • Non-structural fasteners, clips, etc. • Surface treatments (e.g., weatherproofing, fire retardant coatings)
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FEATURE
• Adhesives and sealants • Soffit, drain covers, vents, roof hatches, etc. • Temporary works used during construction and demolition/deconstruction phases (e.g., shoring, formwork) • Freezer and cooler box, including walls and doors • Soil treatments
LCA Results The proposed wood building uses less mass of materials than the reference steel building and performs better against five of the six environmental indicators. In addition to manufacturing processes, transportation and other factors, the amount of materials used in a building has an impact on its LCA results. The total mass of materials used by the steel and wood designs are 6,924 and 5,923 metric tonnes, respectively, resulting in a 14% reduction for the proposed wood building. Relative to the steel building, the wood building uses 66% less steel, 26% less concrete, 1,125% more wood and 36% more gypsum. Differences between Fossil Fuel Derived and Other products can be primarily attributed to the choice of roof insulation – i.e., extruded polystyrene vs. fiberglass batt.
Highlights from the LCA Report Impacts of the proposed wood building are lower than those of the steel building for all indicators except ozone depletion potential, where the proposed building results were 5% higher. Raw Materials through Demolition/Disposal: • Global warming potential: wood building saves 642 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) • Non-renewable energy use: wood building saves 9,116 gigajoules (GJ) • Raw material supply and manufacturing: wood building has an average of 30% less impact across all indicators • End of life transport: wood building has 11% less impact across all indicators
Conclusion Although big box retail buildings are typically framed with structural steel, masonry and concrete, significant cost savings and environmental impact reductions can be realized through the use of wood framing. As this paper illustrates, wood was able to meet the same performance criteria as steel for a 54,800sq.ft. big box store in California while saving nearly $1 million, using 14% less total mass of materials, and performing better overall and in five out of six LCA environmental impact categories. For these reasons, designers are encouraged to consider wood framing as an alternative to traditional building materials for big box stores and retail building projects. Reprinted with permission. WoodWorks – The Wood Products Council is available to provide project assistance at no cost related to the use of wood in retail buildings – or any non-residential or multi-family building in the U.S. Email the project assistance help desk at help@woodworks.org or visit the WoodWorks website to contact a regional member of WoodWorks’ technical staff: www. woodworks.org/project-assistance.
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IDEAS&applications
N-Habit Belltown photo credit: Lifestring Photography
Putting the Pieces Together On the right projects, prefabrication and modular construction can increase speed and lower cost 40
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IDEAS&applications
For a growing number of contractors and developers, it’s the answer to a milliondollar question: how to build faster, safer and better – and do it for less. Although the choice to use on-site wood framing versus some level of prefabrication depends on many factors, prefabricated and modular construction can offer a number of benefits, including faster construction, improved material efficiency and worker safety, enhanced quality assurance, and reduced material, labor and interest costs. Options range from prefabricated components and panelized assemblies to full modular units. In the U.S., for example, all can be used for a wide variety of applications, including Type III or V structures up to five stories for education, commercial, multi-family, healthcare and other occupancies under the International Building Code (IBC). Prefabricated and modular designs can accommodate architectural aesthetics such as building offsets, angled walls, balconies, pitched roofs, and more. In fact, in a well-designed structure, it can be impossible to tell that any level of prefabrication was used at all. Wood is well-suited for prefabricated and modular construction because it is lightweight and easily transported, strong, straightforward to engineer, energy efficient, durable and cost-effective.
Benefits of Prefabrication Prefabrication can offer a variety of benefits, especially when it comes to prefabricated systems and modular construction. Speed – Prefabrication may allow simultaneous instead of linear construction, which shortens on-site erection time. As foundation work is being done on site, fabricators and manufacturers can be building prefabricated components, panelized systems or modules at the same time, speeding construction. This can also lessen the impact of weather disruptions because workers have a protected work environment for fabrication, which helps ensure on-time delivery of components to the jobsite.
Once on site, erection is also faster both with panelized and modular systems. According to Harold Marek, Director of Modular Design for Clayton Building Solutions, contractors can set anywhere from eight to 12 modules a day. Using typical 16-ft. x 60-ft. modules, this can translate into 12,000 sq.ft. of completed structure daily. Added Value/Lower Cost – Many factors can lead to lower cost. Prefabricated components, systems and modular units are assembled under controlled conditions using materials which are often ordered from the supplier cut to exact lengths. This results in more efficient material utilization. Consistent conditions may also help improve labor productivity. Fabricators and manufacturers often prebuy materials, which can lead to more predictable profits for developers and contractors. Speed of construction leads to earlier completion and faster occupancy, resulting in quicker revenue and less interest paid on construction loans. Quality Assurance – The controlled fabrication and manufacturing environment is easy to monitor and inspect; depending on the level of prefabrication, multiple inspections may take place throughout the process to ensure a high quality assembly. Because components and systems are built in a climate-controlled environment, there is less weather-related damage to materials and fewer potential moisture issues. Prefabrication facilities use tables and jigs for walls, ceilings and floor systems, which helps ensure consistent results. Reduced Risk/Improved Safety – For panelized and modular construction, the chance of injuries on the jobsite is reduced because assembly takes place on the ground in a familiar, monitored environment without hazards caused by bad weather. There is also less risk to materials at the jobsite because prefabricated components, systems and modules are typically delivered and installed within a day or two.
Environmental Benefits – Because components and systems are prefabricated, on-site waste is reduced. Less than five percent scrap is typical for modular construction, which means less material going to landfills. Prefabrication also results in less site disturbance and thus lower environmental impact at the jobsite, while tighter tolerances may create fewer gaps between assemblies, resulting in improved energy efficiency.
Building Codes and Inspection All prefabricated building materials – regardless of whether they are components, assemblies or modular structures – must be designed to current IBC requirements applicable at the jobsite location. Inspection requirements, on the other hand, depend on the type of component. Wallace Building Products specializes in prefabricated wall, floor and roof systems. “We build open-wall construction, so there’s no inspection process in our facility,” said Doug Hounsell, Wallace’s Sales Manager. “All the inspections and certifications are done on site by the engineer and building inspector during their walk-through, just like they would for a traditionally-framed job.” Inspections for modular construction are different. “Each modular manufacturing facility uses third-party inspectors that work for the state,” explained Howard Koenig, CEO of Zeta Design+Build. “When we ship modules to a jobsite, our modular units must meet local ordinances, so building inspectors from the local jurisdiction make sure that anything delivered on site meets the code requirements of that city or county.” Third-party inspectors do their work from the Zeta Design+Build factory, inspecting modules as they move down the assembly line. “When a module is approved, it gets an insignia fixed on the exterior,” said Taeko Takagi, Zeta’s Vice President of Product Development. “The module is then closed up so local inspectors don’t have to worry about what’s behind the walls; they’re only looking at the connections made on site. It’s really quite easy.”
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IDEAS&applications
“Like other modular manufacturers, we also have our own quality control program where we inspect everything as it is being built,” added Clayton Building Solutions’ Marek. “For some projects, the owner will also have an inspector in the plant as the individual components are built. The key to success is to have the local authorities or inspectors available; we invite them to our facility to show them the assembly line before we go into production. We also meet with the fire inspectors before we begin assembly, to make sure that the completed module will meet all their requirements before we begin.”
Panelized Construction Panelized construction, where prefabricated building components are assembled into larger panels before being shipped to a building site, is efficient, fast and cost-effective. When wall, floor and roof components are pre-assembled in a climate-controlled environment, builders and developers can save time and money with improved speed and ensured quality. Fabrication capabilities vary, but firms that target commercial construction can typically fabricate wall panels up to 60 feet long (or more) and up to 16 feet tall that include window and door openings and sheathing on the exterior face. Roof and floor systems can also be panelized in similar-sized sections using dimension lumber, trusses or I-joists. Panels are sheathed to allow for staggered installation of wood structural panels between sections on site. Quality is a key benefit of panelized construction. “Our factory guys are not factory workers,” said Wallace’s Hounsell. “They’re framers who frame inside. We frame everything and nail it all with a nail gun on tables; it’s all hand-done.” Since fabricators often buy material on contract and can produce components and systems year-round, this can help them reduce the impact of price fluctuations during the year. “Panelizing simplifies the construction process,” Hounsell added. “Contractors come to us because we give them a fixed price contract for an erected 42
package. We provide the trucking, lumber, field labor, hangers and other hardware – all for a fixed price. “The multi-family market is very strong right now. Developers want to shorten the timeframe between when they begin construction and when the project is complete, because that’s when their cash flow turns positive. Panelized construction helps them do that.”
Modular Construction Most agree that the modular construction industry is and will continue to grow, in large part because owners and developers want their projects completed quickly and cost-effectively. Companies fabricate complete modules with finished exteriors and interiors, and complete mechanical/electrical/plumbing systems installed. Modules can arrive at the jobsite up to 95 per cent complete. Built in a controlled environment by skilled workers, modules are inspected multiple times by independent inspectors and approved before being transported to the jobsite. Once there, they are lifted into place by crane and then all modules and MEP systems are connected together. A qualified general contractor then finishes the exterior of the building and turns over a completed project. Once erected, modern modular buildings are essentially indistinguishable from typical site-built structures. Modular construction is different from manufactured housing or mobile homes because modules are always installed on a foundation, slab or podium, and are under the jurisdiction of the local building department (IBC instead of HUD/Housing and Urban Development) for permits and inspection. Projects can also be built using a hybrid of modular and traditional or panelized construction, since not every design is suited to just one method. For example, a student or senior housing project may consist of a central space flanked on either side by rooms. The architect may want to feature long spans and exposed framing members in the central area, which is better
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suited to traditional framing, whereas the other areas may be built using modular construction, which is most cost-effective when the module design can be repeated.
Challenges, Opportunities Opportunities for both panelized and modular construction are growing as architects, general contractors and developers become more familiar with their benefits. But with growth comes both challenge and opportunity. Historically, modular construction was used when the structure was a simple box, but current construction capabilities allow more creative designs. “Our industry will continue to grow and improve as we work together to build attractive modular structures,” said Marek. “But these can be more complicated to build. We will also be challenged by the fact that we need to have all the answers up front before modules go into production; that’s one of the biggest challenges for modular manufacturers.” Modular construction is also opening doors to projects that weren’t previously possible. “A lot of developers who never even thought about modular construction are now considering it because of speed,” said Koenig. “We are also seeing a lot of interest in modular because some think this type of construction holds the key for below-market-rate and affordable housing.” Marek added, “Some people think that the main benefit of what we do is that it’s less expensive. That’s not always true. But it is more efficient. You certainly will save time with modular construction, and the process will result in a very high quality building.” Excerpt reprinted with permission. WoodWorks – The Wood Products Council is available to provide project assistance at no cost related to the use of wood in retail buildings – or any non-residential or multi-family building in the U.S. Email the project assistance help desk at help@woodworks.org or visit the WoodWorks website to contact a regional member of WoodWorks’ technical staff: www.woodworks.org/ project-assistance. To read the full case study, visit: www.woodworks.org/wp-content/uploads/prefabmodular_case_study.pdf
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Glued Composites Stiffer, yet more ductile and more predictable in failure than screws, glued composites are further extending the use of wood Maik Gehloff As the world’s oldest building material, wood has been used in various forms for millennia. From solid sawn timber and lumber to modern engineered wood products like LVL, glulam and OSB, wood products have evolved over time and the connections used to combine these materials in structures must keep pace. The design of connections in a timber structure has the single biggest influence on the performance of that structure. Traditional connections, such as mortise and tenon or bolted connections, are rather inefficient and, more often than not, govern the timber sizes in order to allow sufficient end and edge distances and to accommodate the fastener spacing required to transfer the loads. It comes as no surprise then that a considerable amount of research has been focused on connections and connection systems. Among the more modern developments in connections technology are self-tapping wood screws and systems that use self-tapping wood screws. Systems and connections based on self-tapping wood screws have found wide acceptance in the industry today and are present in almost all larger wood structures. Now, however, with ongoing improvements in adhesive technologies, the latest trend is toward glued connections. Glued connections have some advantages over screwed connections, in stiffness, but also in shape. Connections using screws generally rely on the principle of individual struts forming a system to transfer loads. These individual struts require some attention when trying to create connections that can be loaded around 44
concrete concrete
HBV– shear-connector
reinforcement concrete bearing
HBV– shear-connector
timber
timber HBV– shear-connector
Wrapped-around concrete, with front end shear connector. Detail provided courtesy of Leander Bathon, University of Applied Sciences Wiesbaden.
concrete
concrete
reinforcement
HBV– shear-connector
timber
wall HBV– shear-connector timber
Extended concrete, with top side shear connector. Detail provided courtesy of Leander Bathon, University of Applied Sciences Wiesbaden.
a corner, for example, as can be the case for some support conditions. Glued connections allow utilization of plate-like elements that by their shape alone allow such support conditions. The technology has been used in various high-profile projects, including the Earth and Ocean Sciences Building at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver where there are wood-concrete-composite floors and glued steel
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mesh for the stunning staircase. Another example is the Wood Innovation and Design Centre (WIDC) in Prince George, BC, where the staggered floor panels are connected using glued in steel mesh. Glued connections, as previously mentioned, are very stiff but also ductile. Using a glued in steel mesh provides yielding in the connection. The stiffness of glued connections makes them very interesting for limiting deflection and
TechnicalSolutions
optimizing member sizing. Great examples are wood-concrete-composite floor systems where the overall floor thickness can be optimized. These composites can also be created using glued in rods, self-tapping wood screws or mechanical interlocking systems like dados cut into the wood. These different systems vary in their performance and stiffness and can be adjusted by changing the number of fasteners used to create the composite action between the wood and concrete. Another advantage of a wood-concrete-composite is that in almost all cases, the concrete is at the top of the composite and covers the wood, protecting it from the elements. In this configuration, with the concrete as the top layer, wood-concrete-composites are a viable option for bridges. Traditionally, a wooden bridge was covered with a roof to protect the wood deck from the elements and increase the longevity of the bridge. With larger demands on bridges in terms of capacity, wooden bridges have been replaced by reinforced concrete bridges, which are themselves composites, using steel in tension and concrete in compression. The steel is cast in concrete to protect it from corrosion, essentially forming a protective “roof ” over the material, like the roofs built over traditional wood bridges. Combining that with all other benefits of the wood-concrete composites, large wood bridges are now more feasible. With the increased capacity and efficiency of wood-concrete composites, whether screwed or glued, new challenges have arisen. One of these challenges is providing the necessary bearing to support such composites. The nature of the composite uses the wood in tension and since the wood is almost always located at the bottom of the composite, the compression force perpendicular to the wood grain becomes the limiting factor for bearing support. Research on reinforcing wood in compression perpendicular to the grain has shown that such reinforcement is possible and feasible, but limited by the geometry of the support condi-
tion and the wood cross section. Another potential challenge for the bearing support of wood-concrete composite bridges would be wood to concrete contact near the end-grain which can pose a risk to the longevity of the structure due to the decay of the wood in the support area. Research at the University of Applied Sciences in Wiesbaden, Germany, has taken a closer look at the particular issue of increasing the bearing capacity of wood-concrete composites, for both residential/commercial construction, as well as for bridges. The research has shown that using glued in steel mesh as the shear connector (HBV) for composite action dramatically increases the bearing capacity. That increase in bearing capacity is achieved by stopping the wood element short of the support and instead bearing on the concrete. This provides a greater compressive strength than wood perpendicular to the grain and resolves the potential issue of wood decay in the support area. The bearing on the concrete portion of the wood-concrete-composite can be achieved in two different ways, depending on the particular need. One option is wrapping the concrete around and another is to simply extend it to create a bearing surface (Figures 1 and 2). The shear transfer either at the front end for the wrapped around option as well as the top for the extended option are also shown in the figures. Glued in connectors, whether used in wood-concrete-composites or in woodto-wood connections, have been used in Canada and in Europe. In Europe they have been used the construction of wind towers, an application which shows their ability to handle even the toughest conditions like the dynamic loads present on wind turbine towers. Figures 3 and 4 show application examples of glued wood-concrete-composites where an increase in bearing strength was required and achieved. Figure 3 depicts the bearing condition of a wood-concrete composite on a concrete wall. Figure 4 illustrates the bearing condition of a fully pre-fabricated wood bridge where
Wood-concrete-composite bearing on concrete wall in residential construction. Image provided courtesy of Leander Bathon, University of Applied Sciences Wiesbaden.
Wood-concrete-composite bridge bearing on concrete support. Image provided courtesy of Leander Bathon, University of Applied Sciences Wiesbaden.
there is increased bearing capacity but also increased protection of the wood. The wood is not in contact with the concrete support and the concrete deck forms a protective “roof ” for the beams. In summary, it can be said that the use of glued wood-concrete-composites increases the number of opportunities to use wood and wood composites into areas that were, until now, out of reach with screwed or form-fitting shear connectors. Not only are glued composites far stiffer, they are also more ductile and more predictable in failure than their screwed counterparts and thus an excellent solution for more complex and demanding applications. Maik Gehloff is the founder and owner of Gehloff Consulting Inc. as well as a Senior Lab Instructor at the University of Northern British Columbia’s Masters of Engineering in Integrated Wood Design program. Maik Gehloff holds a Dipl.-Ing. (FH) degree in Wood Science and Technology specializing in timber engineering from the University for Applied Sciences in Eberswalde, Germany, as well as a MASc in Timber Engineering from University of British Columbia (UBC) in Vancouver. He is a member of the Timber Framers Guild of North America as well as the Timber Frame Engineering Council. He can be reached at maik.gehloff@unbc.ca.
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W A R E Canoes, Light and Whales Brenden North is a Canadian artist who creates sculptures out of wooden canoes and light. When an accident shattered the right side of North’s skull, it was reconstructed with titanium. The artist’s very personal theme, Bone and Armor, resonates throughout his work, where one side of the piece shows the ribs/bone, while the other side is concealed. Old canoes are the perfect vessel for this artistry. Each unwanted canoe has a story to tell, and North gives it another life and purpose. The pieces are deconstructed according to a design influenced by whale skeletons, and light is used to bounce shadows through the structure to tell a story. The finished pieces combine nature, art and functional design in an organic and interesting way. www.brendennorth.com
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SMARTER. From the ground up. Bensonwood designs and builds durable, LEED and high-performance buildings throughout North America. Our craftsmanship and off-site fabrication ensure that every Bensonwood structure delivers lasting elegance and value. Let us help you rethink wood. Learn More: bensonwood.com or (603) 756-3600.
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