3 minute read
Clayton Community Centre
Award of Excellence
RJC Engineers
Clayton Community Centre is a 78,000-sf, two-storey building that provides a gathering place and social hub for the fast-growing community of Clayton Heights in Surrey, B.C. The centre combines various services under one roof, such as a library branch, gymnasium, fitness centre, child care and art spaces.
A new iteration of ancient technology The project team had a strong desire to use wood as a primary material, but the required spans and architectural intent led RJC Engineers to develop the concept of a two-way wood system, composed of three-member reciprocating wood modules that are repeated and expanded to create a complete roof system.
Connecting discrete wood members with shear connections in such a way is not new; this technology was implemented in ancient China, using members with limited length to build structures with significant span. This general idea was modified and built upon to arrive at the two-way interlocking system.
The basic module comprises three wood members placed in three different directions, creating a minimalistic pinwheel element. The triangular form can engage neighbouring, identical pinwheel elements, interlocking and combining to form a genuine two-way system. The advantages are similar to those of concrete flat plate construction.
The form of the two-way system posed many technical challenges. The architectural vision led to a system where all wood members are of the same width and depth. To improve the system’s efficiency, key members were reinforced for moment and/or shear to minimize the overall system’s typical member size.
The member reinforcing was achieved with a combination of diagonally installed self-tapping wood screws and steel plates. This type of reinforcement for glulam members is not codified in Canada, so reinforced beams were proof-tested at the University of British Columbia (UBC).
The two-way system’s reciprocating nature led the team to investigate system redundancy and measures to carefully prevent progressive collapse. The solution included the introduction of continuous steel ‘integrity plates,’ strapped to the top of the structure and
“A clever use of wood modules for an efficient structural system.” - Jury spanning to critical lines of support.
Construction-wise, there were several challenges in implementing the pinwheel system on a large scale. The engineering team worked closely with supplier Western Archrib and erector Seagate Structures to develop feasible and cost-effective methods. The system’s reciprocating nature meant temporary shoring of at least the leading edge of the erected structure was needed.
A platform was created adjacent to the building, where three-member pinwheel modules were prefabricated on the ground, labelled and stacked. A crane then lifted the modules into place.
Targeting PH certification Targeting Passive House (PH) certification provided a guide early on for the centre’s design and layout, including building massing, materials selection, consideration of solar orientation and shading and attention to key details. At press time, Clayton Community Centre is on track to be the first community centre to be PH certified in North America—and Canada’s largest PH facility to date.
Clayton Community Centre, Surrey, B.C. Award-winning firm (structural engineer): RJC Engineers, Vancouver, B.C. (C.C. Yao, Ph.D., P.Eng.; Meredith Anderson, P.Eng.; Tom Tong, P.Eng.; Robert Koller). Owner: City of Surrey. Other key players: HCMA Architecture + Design (client, architect), EllisDon (contractor), Integral (mechanical), AES Engineering (electrical), GHL Consultants (code), Aplin Martin (civil), Morrison Hershfield (building enclosure), Hapa Collaborative (landscape architect), EnerSys Analytics (energy modelling).
