Element5 - Join the revolution! - Business View Magazine

BusinessViewMagazineinterviewsPatrickChouinard,Founder&VPofNewBusinessofElement5,forourfocusonNorthAmericanMassTimber Construction

Theglobalconstructionindustryisinthemidstofarevolutionthathasbeguntoradicallychangethewaybuildingsareconstructed Concreteandsteel production,relieduponforthelast150yearstobuildcities,istheleadingcauseofthecurrentCO2crisis

Now,morethanever,thesearchforalternative methodsandmaterialsisimperative astheworldpopulationrapidlyapproachesninebillionpeople Thoseunitedindrivingthechangerevolutionsee timberastheessentialbuildingmaterialofthe21stcentury AndElement5ishelpingleadthecharge

Thenameofthecompanydatesbacktoancientalchemy–andthevebasicelements:earth,water,re,air,andwood PatrickChouinard,Founder&VPof NewBusinessofElement5,explains,“Woodisconsideredthefthelementandwechosethatnamebecausewoodhassuchahistoryinconstructionand wewantedtotieinwhatwedowiththeancienttraditions,andvalues,andcraftsmanship”

Element5’spassionateandhighly-skilledteamofdesigners,craftspeople,andassemblyexpertsiscommittedtohelpingachievepositiveoutcomesin communities,theenvironment,andfuturegenerationsbyadvancingawarenessofthebenetsofmasstimberconstruction Inthatcause,therm providescostconsulting,designconsulting,engineering,fabrication,andassemblyservicestoagrowingcommunityofvisionaryarchitects,owners, developers,andgeneralcontractors–withallthe3Dmodelling,shopdrawings,andmanufacturingofcomponentpartsdoneinhouse

Chouinardisadedicatedadvocatefortimberconstruction,havinggainedvaluableindustryknowledgeinthemanufacturingandserviceprovidersectors beforeestablishingElement5 HeoriginallyworkedatStructurlam(apioneerinthemasstimbermanufacturingindustryinNorthAmerica)astheir representativeinQuebec,Ontario,andAtlanticCanada Whilethere,helearnedthebusinessfromamanufacturer’sperspective ThenhejoinedSpring ValleyArchitecturalInnovations–aproviderofconsulting,engineering,anddesignservicesfromtheearlystageofaprojectthroughtocompletion After spendingtwoyearsthere,learningthebusinessfromaserviceprovider’sperspective,Chouinardrecognizedthetremendousopportunityforprefabricated offsitemasstimbermanufacturinginthecommercialconstructionindustryandleftthecompanytostarthisownrm

Thatwasinlate2015 Withinsixmonths,Element5hadtakenontwonewbusinesspartnerstohelpfundgrowthandexpansion Oneyearlater,they purchasedtheassetsofasmallCLT(crosslaminatedtimber)manufacturingcompanyinRipon,Quebec,anhoureastofOttawa,Ontario,andtookoverthe leaseonthebuilding “So,injust18months,Element5hadbecomethethirdlargestCLTmanufacturerintheNorthAmericanmarketplace,atthattime,” saysChouinard “IncomparisontoStructurlamandNordic,thetwogiantsinthemasstimberindustry,wewerejustablipontheradar,butthatgotusinto theindustry Wewonsomeprojects,startedtobuildourteam,andearnedagoodreputation”TheRiponplanthasnowbeenoperatingforoverthreeyears andiscontinuingtoexpand

ButChouinardalwayshadhissightssetontheOntario-basedmarket Twoyearsago,hemetwithFrankDottori,whoishighlyrespectedintheforest industry andfounderofacompanycalledTembec–whichheturnedfromasinglesawmillinreceivershipinto48operationsaroundtheworld Chouinard recalls,“Iknewhewasinterestedinthemasstimbermovementandhaddonesomeresearch,soIinvitedhimtoinvestwithus ThenFrankintroducedme toTomKennedy,ManagingDirectorofKensingtonCapitalPartners(oneofCanada’slargestventurecapitalrms),whoalsobecameaninvestor Together, FrankandTomownsharesintwolargesawmillsinnorthernOntario,soourrelationshiprunsrightfromtheforesttimbertonishedproduct Andthanks toTom,wehaveaccesstothenecessarycapitaltofundexpansionandgrowth”

Masstimberisbeingusedineverythingfromsinglefamilyhomesandcottages,

toverylargemulti-unitresidentialcomplexesandofcebuildingsofve storiesandevenhigher TheElement5pipelineisfullofthoseopportunities Thesweetspottendstobethelargerprojectsbuttheyalsogetsome“really cool”smallcommercialbuildingsandveryinterestingsingle-familyhomesandcontemporary-stylecottages

Chouinardexplains,“Ourindustryisevolving Alimitednumberofarchitects,engineers,owners,anddevelopersarefamiliarwiththenewmodernwayto constructmasstimberbuildings,sothereisatremendousamountofeducationthat’snecessary Itmakesitchallengingforusbecausewe’renotselling intoanestablishedmarket,weactuallyhavetoblazeatrailandteachpeopleaboutthisindustryandwhyitmakessomuchsensetobuildwithmass timber Architectsarefantasticsourcesofopportunities,somuchofourmarketingandeducationaleffortsarefocusedonthearchitecturalcommunity”

Traditionally,architectsweretherstpeoplethatanowneranddeveloperwouldcontactwhentheywantedtoconstructabeautifulbuilding Thearchitect wouldorchestratealltheresources–engineer suppliers etc –aroundthatopportunity Theywouldmanagetheclientrelationshipandpullalltheparties togethertomaketheprojectareality Unfortunately,therearen’tenougharchitectswhoknowhowtodesigninmasstimber,buttherearealotofowners anddevelopersinterestedinmasstimberbecauseitisacheaper,fasterandmoresustainablewaytobuild

“Asaresult,thoseownersanddevelopersarecomingtousdirectly,”saysChouinard,“becausetherearen’tenoughpractitionerswiththeexperienceto coordinateamasstimbersolution Thatmeanswebecomeinvolvedmuchearlierinaproject Wecancontributeourexpertisetotheprocessearlyonto helpoptimizethedesignsolution Byengagingthearchitectsandtheengineersordoingtheengineeringourselves,webecometheorchestratorofthe overallsolutionforthesemasstimberprojects It’snotonlychangingtheconstructionmaterialsbeingusedtodaybutit’salsochangingthego-to-market approach”

In2019,Element5beganconstructionofamassive,137,000sq footmasstimbermanufacturingfacilityinSt Thomas,Ontario Whencompleteandinfull productioninQ1of2021 theplantwillbrieyownthetitleofthemostfullyautomatedmanufacturingplantintheworld–untilsomeoneelseaddsthenext advancedlineofequipment WhentheSt Thomasplantisfullyoperational,itwillemploy20peoplejustinproduction Insixmonthsthatwillbecloserto 50

Chouinardnotes,“Atthatfacility,we’remakingCLTandglulamcolumnsandbeams–essentiallyprovidingthewholestructure

Onethingthat differentiatesusfromsomeothermasstimbermanufacturersisthatwearecommittedtoproductinnovation MostothersfocusontheCLTandthe glulamthatformtheskeletonofthestructure Wedothattoo,butwearealsomakingprefabricatedenvelopepanels,whichwecallCLIPs(crosslaminated insulatedpanels) Thesepanelsprovideacompleteenvelopesolution comprisedofaCLTpanel,vapourpermeablemembraneinsulation,andcladding Eventhewindowsandthedoorscanbepreinstalledinthefactory Sowe’reabletoofferaweathertightshellpackageforthesebuildings”

Buildingwithmasstimbergivescompleteexibilityforarchitectstobecreativewiththedesign–imposingfewlimitations Theindustrycallsitmass customization Essentially,mostofthebuildingsaremadewithapostandbeamstructure Glulamcolumnsthatsupporttheroof,andglulambeamsthat supportthemassiveCLToorslabs Buttherearemasscustomizationoptionstomakethebuildingsmaller,bigger,addoors,addwings it’slikeaLego set Element5providesthecorecomponentsandthearchitectcreatesthedesign

EnvironmentalsustainabilityisthemotivationfuellingtheElement5teamandtheytakegreatprideinofferinganalternativebuildingmethodologyusing sustainablematerials “Withmasstimber,we’releveragingourforests’naturalabilitytoabsorbcarbondioxide,”saysChouinard “Andforestsproducethe oxygenwebreathe Theremainingcarbonisstoredinever-increasingamountsofwood We’reinthemidstofthisconstructionrevolution,wherebuildings arebeingconstructedoffsite,andithasthepotentialtodramaticallychangethewholeindustry Ideally,wewanttoconvincemoreowners,architects, engineers,andgeneralcontractorstogetonboardwiththisbecause,collectively,wecanmakehugecontributionstocommunitiesandtheenvironment

Rightnow,therearemoremasstimberbuildingsbeingdesignedandconstructedinCanadathantheUS butChouinardpredictsthatwillchangeinthe nexttwoyears Heshares,“Weseeatremendousopportunityforus,particularlyintothecentralUSandtheeasternseaboard Wehonestlybelievethat peoplewillbuyfromusnotbecauseofwhatwedobutwhywedoit Sowehand-pickthepeopleonourteamwhosharethesamepassionformakinga positivecontributiontotheenvironmentandcommunities–we’rechangingtheworldforthebetter Wehopeyou’lljoinusintherevolution!”

AT A GLANCE

Element5

What:Full-solutionmasstimbermanufacturerandserviceprovider

Where:Ripon,QuebecandSt Thomas,Ontario

Website:wwwelementveco

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