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Education,networkofexpertisekeytosuccessinmasstimberprojects
INFRASTRUCTURE
Education,networkofexpertisekeytosuccessinmass timberprojects
AngelaGismondi
February2,2023
EDGEARCHITECTS-WOODin,amasstimberofficebuildinginWaterloo,Ont.designedbyEdgeArchitectsandElement5, wasputonholdduetotheCOVID-19pandemicandthereduceddemandforofficespace.
ForMattBolen,principalofEdgeArchitects,everymasstimberproject,eventheonesthatdon’t cometofruition,areanopportunitytobuildknowledgeandexpertise.
BolenwasoneofthespeakersattheOntarioGeneralContractorsAssociationwebinarentitledMass Timber:IssuesandOpportunity,heldlatelastmonth.
Duringthediscussion,BolentalkedabouthisKitchener,Ont.-basedfirm’sexperience,including successesandfailures,onmasstimberprojects.
“Inordertoexecuteonthistypeofinnovationinthemarketitisverychallenging,butoneofthethings aboutbeingheretodayisreinforcingtheimportanceofcollaborationamongstnotjustdesignor consultantsorconstructorsbutaroundeveryonethatisultimatelyresponsiblefortheexecutionofthe projectrightuptotheapprovalauthorities,”saidBolen.“It’ssoimportant.Forus,that’swhatwe’rereally tryingtopushandpromoteinourindustryrightnow.”
Hediscussedthreedifferentprojectsinhisfirm’shistorywhentheyattemptedtoincorporatemasstimber. Ononeparticularproject,theWOODincommercialofficespace,masstimbermanufacturerElement5, whichalsotookpartinthewebinar,wasbroughtonasadesign-assistpartner.
“WeactuallygotfundingthroughNRCAN(NaturalResourcesCanada)throughoneoftheirprogramsfor greenconstructiontodoallsortsoftestingthatcouldhelpfillinalotofgapsandmissinginformationin themarketplacearoundacousticandvibrationandstrengthandoptimizingstructure,”recalledBolen. “Thisonewethoughtthisisgoingtobeaslamdunk.
“Wewerescheduledtosubmitandmakeourpermitapplicationsinthespringof2020.Assomeofus mayrememberthatalsocoincidedwiththetimewhenalotofusstartedtomovetoawork-from-home model.”
WhentheCOVID-19pandemichit,themarketdemandforofficespacedriedup,henoted.
“Bringingthattypeofaspecofficebuildingtomarketdidn’tquitehappen,”Bolensaid.
“Idon’twanttofocusheretodaycompletelyonhownottoexecutemasstimber.Thereisagoodnews storyhereinthatwewereabletoachieveit.Ibringuptheseprojects,whereitdidn’thappen,because thatactuallyinformedusnotjustonaneducationandaknowledgebasebutactuallyonanetwork(of expertise)thatwasessentialinultimatelyrealizingourfirstmasstimberproject.”
ThatfirstprojectwastheYWKitchener-Waterloo(KW),afour-storeytransitionalhousingcomplexfor womenbattlinghomelessness,operatedbythelocalbranchoftheYWCA.Theprojectreceivedfunding throughtheCMHC’sRapidHousingInitiative.
“Alotofthatworkandcollaborationthatwedid,studies…ourworkinmodularandtheworkIdiscussed onthewoodofficebuildingproject,thatultimatelyledustotheYWCAlocalbranchYWKWtransitional housing,”saidBolen.
Theteamwasgivenatight12-monthwindowforcompletion.Theybroughtalltradesandconsultantsinto thefoldearlyintheprocess.
EDGEARCHITECTS–Thefour-storey,22,000-square-footYWKitchener-WaterlooisamultiunitresidentialbuildingthatwasbuiltundertheRapidHousingInitiative.The41-unitbuilding, whichwasbuiltusingmodularconstruction,featurestimberframingandcross-laminated timber.
“Wewerealsoreadyforitalittlebitearlybecauseweknewoftheprogramandsomeoftheobjectivesof itandsowewereabletodothissuccessfullyonphaseone,”saidBolen.“We’veactuallybeenableto usethatsameapproach,thatsameteamandmasstimberasourprimarystructuralresourceonrounds twoandroundthreeofthefunding.
“Thedegreeofcollaborationandcommunicationrequiredthroughtheprojectwasextensiveand ultimatelyledtoalotofoursuccess,”headded.
WhilealotofCLTandmasstimberprojectstheyhaveseenoverthelastfewdecadeshavebeenhigh endandhigh-profileinstitutionalprojects,oneofthethingsthatwasimportanttoEdgewasaddressing thehousingcrisis,saidBolen.
EdgeandElement5wantedtocomeupwithasolutionthatwouldbesuitabletotheneedsofnot-forprofits,supportiveandaffordablehousingproviders.
“Werealizedwehadthisopportunityandifwecouldexecuteithere,theabilitytotransitionthatbackout toeithermarketratehousingorofficeorinstitutionalwasgoingtobe,wethought,amucheasier process,”Bolensaid.“Ithinkwhatweareseeingnowinthemarketplacetwoyearsaftertheoccupancyof thisprojectisthatisreallystartingtobethecase.
“Itjustgoestoshowtheversatilityandtheadaptabilityandtheefficiencyofbeingabletorepeatthe model,”Bolenadded.
FollowtheauthoronTwitter@DCN_Angela
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