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Modularmasstimberhelpscreateurgentlyneededchildcarecentre
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Modularmasstimberhelpscreateurgentlyneeded childcarecentre
DanO’Reilly
July20,2023
ELEMENT5-DesignedbyCurranGacesaSloteArchitects,the90-spotStationviewChildCareinSt.Thomas,Ont.opens thisSeptember.ConstructionbyGraceviewEnterprisesbeganinthespringof2022.
Amodularmasstimberconstructiondeliverysystemhelpedspeedupthebuildingofanurgently neededchildcarecentreinthesouthwesternOntariocityofSt.Thomas.
Andakeyplayerintheprojectwasalocalcompanythatspecializesinthedesign,fabricationand assemblyofmoderntimberbuildings.
DesignedbyCurranGacesaSloteArchitects(CGS),the90-spotStationviewChildCareopensthis SeptemberandwillbeoperatedbytheYMCAunderaleaseagreementwiththecity.Constructionby GraceviewEnterprisesbeganinthespringof2022.
Locatedonthesiteofaformercity-ownedparkinglot,the781-square-metrebuildingfeaturescrosslaminatedtimberandglulamasthesuperstructureandcrosslaminatedinsulatedpanelsastheenvelope.
Element5,whoseproductionplantisbasedinthecity,wasthemasstimberdesignerandmanufacturer, consultantandassemblyprovider.
DesignworkstartedinNovember2021,withproductioncommencinginAugust2022,saysitsvicepresidentofmarketstrategyandcorporatecommunicationPatrickChouinard.InstallationbyContract FramingstartedlastNovember.
Thecomponentsincluded1,005squaremetresofcross-laminatedroofing,535squaremetresofCLT walls,29piecesofglulamcolumns,43piecesofglulambeamsand26sectionsofsteelcolumns,says Chouinard.
“It(thetimberassembly)wentupfairlyfast,”saysCGSprincipalWilliamCurran,emphasizing,though, thatotherfactorsbesidesspeedwereatplay.
Usingmasstimberfacilitatedthecreationofamoreestheticallypleasingfacility.
Akeydesignobjectivewas“tomakethebuildingpartofthechildren’slearningexperienceoftouching, moving,listening,exploringandobservinginarich,warm,stimulatinganddynamicenvironment.”
Usingcross-laminatedtimberpanelswithglue-laminatedcolumnsandbeamsallowedforlongspansand soaringceilingsrightuptotheroof.
Thepanelsgivethespaceshigher,unencumberedspace,whichwhencombinedwithgenerous,tall windowwalls,givestheclassrooms,a“veryunique,lightandairyspatialqualityandastrongvisual connectiontothelandscape.”
ELEMENT5–The781-square-metrebuildingfeaturescross-laminatedtimber(CLT)and glulamasthesuperstructureandcrosslaminatedinsulatedpanelsastheenvelope.Shown hereistheCLTporticoandoutdoorplayarea.
Someofthefeaturesofthebuildingincludeanextendedsouthwallwith“dynamicSwisscheese windows”whichmaketheareaplayfulforthechildrenandlargecoveredplayterracesfromthe classroomswhichcanbeusedonrainydays,saysCurran.
Anothermajorfeatureisitslocationdirectlyacrossfromthenewsoon-to-be-openedone-acreWest-Lake EvansParkonCurtisStreet.Acontrolledpedestriancrossingwillprovideincreasedsafetyforchildren usingthepark,saysthecity’sdirectorofparks,recreationandfacilitiesJeffBray.
Rightbesidetheparkisalibraryandthecombinationofthosetwofacilities,plusthechildcare,andthe cityhallonthesouthsideofCurtisStreetwillforma“precinct”thecityisdevelopinginthecentral downtownarea,hesays.
ELEMENT5–Componentsofthechildcarefacilityincluded1,005squaremetresofcrosslaminatedtimber(CLT)roofing,535squaremetresofCLTwalls,29piecesofglulamcolumns, 43piecesofglulambeamsand26sectionsofsteelcolumns.
“Wecouldseetheneedfor(thecentre),”saysBrayontheplanningprocesswhichbeganin2018.That waslongbeforethecitywaschosenasthesiteforVolkswagen’s“gigafactory”electricbatteryplant.
Scheduledtoopenin2027theplantisexpectedtogenerateasignificantnumberofjobsandincreaseSt. Thomas’populationwhichcurrentlystandsat43,000.Thentherewillbetheadditionalemploymentwhich willbecreatedby“feederplants”providingpartstotheVolkswagenfacility,hesays.
Eventhoughthechildcarewon’topenuntilSeptember,italreadyhasfullenrolmentandthereisawaiting list,saysBray,inunderscoringtheneedforthefacility.
Curransaysthereisadirectcorrelationbetweenthehousingcrisisandthelackofchildcarefacilities rightacrossCanada.Onewaytoaddressthatlackisthroughmasstimberconstruction,hesays.
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