Republic of the Philippines

CAVITE STATE UNIVERSITY

Cavite, Philippines
Website: www.cvsu.edu.ph
Email Address: cvsu@asia.com

In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements in

ARCH 27
STEEL AND TIMBER DESIGN

Submitted by:
KLENT EVRAN D. JALECO
Bachelor of Architecture 4TH Year

Submitted to:
Engr. Larry Rocela
Instructor

February 01, 2016

WOOD INNOVATION AND DESIGN

CENTRE

WOOD INNOVATION DESIGN CENTRE / MICHAEL GREEN

ARCHITECTURE
Architects: Michael Green Architecture
Location: British Columbia, Canada
Design Team: Michael Green, Carla Smith, Krista lee Berger, Alfonso Bonilla,
Jordan van Dijk, Guadalupe Font, Adrienne Gibbs, Jacqueline Green, Asher
deGroot, Soo Han, Kristen Jamieson, Vuk Krcmar-Grkavac, Alexander Kobald,
Sindhu Mahadevan, Maria Mora, Mingyuk Chen and Seng Tsoi
Area: 4820.0 sqm
Project Year: 2014

This building
represents an
important milestone
in the evolution of
wood buildings in
North America and,
to some extent, the
world. The project
introduces new
methods of working
with mass timber
panels and
specifically cross
laminated timber.
We designed the project as a repeatable solution and a tool to educate
designers, building owners, code authorities, contractors and industry in the
opportunities of advanced wood products. We are proud of the leadership B.C.
has shown in envisioning the project and in helping us all truly deliver such a
significant step in the future of tall wood buildings.
MICHAEL GREEN, ARCHITECT

INTRODUCTION
Wood is arguably the greenest building material; it is renewable and
sequesters carbon for the life of the building. Vancouver architect Michael Green
has been working with wood for a while. He told Tree Hugger in an
interview last year: "The Earth grows our food; the earth can grow our homes.
It's an ethical change that we have to go through."
Now he gets to demonstrate it with the Wood Innovation Design Centre
(WIDC) in Prince George, British Columbia.
Design boom explains:
WIDC will exhibit wood as a sustainable building material widely available
around the globe, and aims to improve the local lumber economy while standing
as a testament to new construction possibilities. The structure will contain a
mezzanine level, classrooms, offices, and a public gallery on the ground floor
dedicated to the palpable experience of wood, lounges, and a rooftop deck.
Tall wood buildings are capturing the imagination of architects, engineers
and developers, who see them as a way to lessen the carbon footprint of the built
environment while demonstrating ingenuity and meeting the same standards for
safety and performance as any building type.
Heightened awareness of the environmental benefits of wood combined
with advances in wood technology and manufacturing have aligned to make tall
wood buildings not only possible but safe and cost effective.
Among the many accelerating aspects of the tall wood revolutionsuch as
seismic and other testing that will form the basis of further building code
developmentsinnovations in approach will be one of the most exciting to watch
as some of North Americas most creative minds embrace the challenge of
designing tall wood buildings.
Michael Green Architectures Wood Innovation Design Centre (WIDC)
is a wood-clad incubator for design and trade professionals working in the wood
industry. Located in British Columbia, Canada, the complex rises to eight stories,
making it the tallest all-timber office building in the world. At 97 feet, the

gorgeous building celebrates the diversity of timber with structural design and
ornamental features both inside and out.
The building is six storeys high because that is what the British Columbia
building code permits, but the floor to floor heights have been pumped up to make
it as tall as a nine-storey building and ensure that it is the tallest on the
continent.
Unlike most of the Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) towers that use loadbearing panels, the WIDC uses a post-and-beam structure of glulam (gluelaminated), with floor panels of Mass Timber Panels (MTP), a catch-all term
for engineered wood that could be any of CLT, Glulam or Structural Composite
Lumber (SCL). This makes sense for office buildings, where one wants open
space and more glass.
Needless to say, the concrete industry is outraged that the British
Columbia government promotes wood construction and actually passed
legislation that requires the use of wood as the primary building material in all
new provincially funded buildings. Too bad; this is the future of construction.

PROJECT OVERVIEW
The iconic, six-storey Wood Innovation and Design Centre will showcase
British Columbias expertise and global reputation as a leader in wood
construction and design and engineered wood products. Its construction will
catalyze new wood product development, commercialization and adoption and
will advance B.C.s expertise in wood-related products.
The primary structure will be 100 per cent wood, and the project will use
a full complement of wood from all corners of the Province of British Columbia,
including Douglas-fir, cedar, hemlock, pine and spruce. All engineered wood
products, such as glulam columns and beams, cross-laminated timber and
laminated veneer lumber, are produced in B.C.

Once complete, the $25 million building will house academic and research
programming with the University of Northern British Columbia, as well as office
space for industry and potential provincial use.
Once complete, the Wood Innovation and Design Centre will stand 29.25
metres tall, making it North Americas tallest contemporary wood structure.
Programming provided at the Centre will advance the Provinces Wood First
Agenda and the building is designed to meet Leadership in Energy and
Environmental Design (LEED) Gold or equivalent standards.
The building is being constructed in downtown Prince George on a site
selected and donated by the City of Prince George. An estimated 250 jobs will
be created during the life of the project, the majority of which will be in Prince
George. Construction began in 2013, and completion is expected in fall 2014.

The Wood Innovation and Design Centre is an integral component of the

City of Prince Georges economic development and downtown revitalization
strategies. We value the strategic partnerships that have enabled this project to
move forward and know that its completion will create many new opportunities
and markets for our community.
Shari Green, Mayor of the City of Prince George
PARTNERSHIP HIGHLIGHTS
The winning proposal was selected by an evaluation team comprised of
leading experts in wood building design and construction, environment,
engineering and other technical areas.
During the design and construction of the facility, the Province will make
monthly progress payments to the Design-Builder. The amount, timing and
terms and conditions of those payments are set out in the Design-Build
Agreement. Any costs in excess of the fixed-price agreement are the
responsibility of the Design Builder, protecting the taxpayer from cost overruns.

Expected Benefits
Integrating design and construction, enabling effective risk transfer and
implementing a fixed-priced contract creates certainty that the project will be
delivered on time and on budget.
Benefits of using a Design-Build approach include:
Responsibility: Responsibility for cost overruns and schedule delays rest with
the private partner, not the taxpayer.
Integration: The private partner is responsible for the design and construction
of the facility, creating opportunities and incentives to optimize integration of
these functions.
Innovation: Bidders compete to propose the most creative and cost-effective
way to deliver a project and the bidder with the best proposal is awarded the
contract. The competitive nature of the process incents bidders to propose more
innovative designs than what might have been achieved if government prescribed
its own design.
Certainty: Taxpayers know they are going to get a project that is delivered on
time and on budget through a pay-for performance contract. Public Sector
Partners
Ministry of Jobs, Tourism, Innovation and Skills Training
City of Prince George

PARTNERSHIP BCS ROLE

Partnerships BC managed the competitive selection process for this
project. Partnerships BC serves its clients through the planning, delivery and
oversight of major infrastructure projects such as hospitals, roads, bridges and
accommodations projects.
WOOD INNOVATION AND DESIGN CENTRE

The Wood Innovation and Design Centre (WIDC) is a provincial

government commitment identified in three throne speeches (February and
September, 2009, and February, 2010). Located in downtown Prince George,
the WIDC is a complex and exciting project that will create an iconic, multistorey wood structure in Prince George. The WIDC will build on B.C.s
expertise and global reputation as a leader in wood construction, engineered
wood products and design.

The Wood Innovation and Design Centre (WIDC) serves as a gathering

place for researchers, academics, design professionals and others interested in
generating ideas for innovative uses of wood. The University of Northern BC
will occupy the lower three floors of the building with facilities for a proposed
Master of Engineering in Integrated Wood Design. Upper floors provide office
space for government and wood industry-related organizations. The eightstorey building (6 storey with mezzanine plus penthouse), stands 29.5m
tall for the moment, the worlds tallest modern all-timber structure, a
benchmark soon to be broken by other mass timber buildings in the works.
The Wood Innovation and Design Centre (WIDC) in downtown Prince
George, BC, was completed in October of 2014. The six-story (plus mechanical
penthouse) structure showcases British Columbias growing expertise in the
design and construction of large-scale wood buildings. The building incorporates
a structural system that uses a variety of locally manufactured solid engineered
wood products and is targeting a LEED Gold rating. The WIDC is the tallest
contemporary wood building in North America at more than 96 feet tall. The
province of British Columbia invested $25.1 million in the WIDC. The main tenant
will be the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC). Starting in 2015,
UNBC will begin offering two new graduate degree options in Engineering: a
course-based Master of Engineering in Integrated Wood Design and a thesisbased Master of Applied Science in Engineering that will allow students to pursue
research on wood and other forest products related to future wood structures.
The WIDC accommodates a 75-seat lecture theatre, classrooms that allow for
worldwide collaboration via videoconference, and a research/teaching lab that
supports the design, fabrication, and testing of wood products.
The WIDC will bring together the forest industry, UNBC and others in
related sectors under one roof to collaborate and seize new opportunities in the
industry. As such, the WIDC is a meeting place for researchers, design
professionals, product manufacturers, contractors and others to generate ideas
for innovative uses of wood. The expectation is that this collaboration will lead
to new business and market development which will have positive benefits for
the economy. The form of the building is simple and restrained, allowing the
beauty of wood to shine through. The building envelope design is a metaphor for

bark peeling away from the trunk; bark on the north side, thick and protective
from the cold and elements, thins toward the south sunlight. The structural
concept used in WIDC is a dry construction design that virtually eliminated
the use of concrete above the foundation with the exception of the mechanical
penthouse.
This concept also allows for the wood structure to be exposed as the
ceiling finish. Dry systems also help with the end-of-life story of the project.
The building can be disassembled at the end of its functional life, and the wood
products can be reused. The building utilizes a variety of wood species and
products. Wood species include Douglas fir, Western red cedar, hemlock, pine
and spruce. While traditional wood products like dimensional lumber and plywood
panels are used within the structure in various ways, the structural design and
building envelope focused on engineered wood products. These included glulam
columns and beams, cross laminated timber (CLT), parallel strand lumber (PSL),
and laminated veneer lumber (LVL), as well as Western red cedar paneling on
the exterior of the building. The primary structure is an innovative combination
of post and beam construction and built-up cross laminated timber (CLT) floor
panels. Glulam beams frame into glulam columns using proprietary aluminum
dovetail Pitzl connectors. This allows the columns to run continuously from the
foundation to the roof, eliminating all cross-grain bearing and shrinkage. The
floor system is an innovative panel system that consists of overlapping threeply upper CLT panels on five-ply or seven-ply lower CLT panels that are
connected together with HSK epoxy and metal mesh connectors to provide a
fully composite corrugated structural section.

This

creates

cavities within the

structural

section

that

can
accommodate

services above and

below

the

floor

structure. The upper

panel

cavity

covered

with

plywood

is
a

panel.

Spanning 19.68 feet

between
and

the

beam

post

frames,

the wood-only floor

system was selected
to minimize the use
of concrete and thus reduce weight. The innovative design of a corrugated CLT
floor system allowed services to be run in the alternating floor and ceiling
chases, permitting the beauty of the wood structure to remain exposed.
The lateral-load resistance is primarily provided by the elevator and stair
core walls, which consist of CLT panels connected together vertically with selftapping screws. The shear walls are anchored to the foundations using a
combination of shear brackets connected to the panels with self-tapping screws
and hold-down anchors. Wood also plays an important role in the building
envelope. For the curtain wall system, LVL is used for all mullions instead of
conventional aluminum mullions a unique and innovative use of wood that is
unprecedented at this scale. LVL also forms the structure for the entrance
canopy and ground floor feature stair. Most of the exterior cladding is made up
of charred Western red cedar siding. Charring wood is a traditional construction
practice, utilized for centuries in many parts of the world including Finland, Japan
and Switzerland. In addition to enhanced pest control and durability, it provides
alternate distinctive, contemporary finish for wood cladding.

The service chases inherent in the structural system offer extensive

flexibility for reconfiguring the space for future UNBC uses and office tenants.
Therefore, the need for secondary ceiling finishes to conceal service runs is
significantly reduced. The wood structure is exposed at the ceiling, providing a
beautiful finish that speaks to the purpose and mission of the facility. The allwood structural solution for the WIDC is repeatable and expandable to other
building types and sizes. The WIDC is a great example of collaboration and
expertise from the wood industry with contributions from sawmills and value
added wood manufacturers, wood engineers, architects and designers from all
over the province.
The province is investing $25.1 million in the WIDC. Construction started
in the spring of 2013 and the provincial government has committed to having the
WIDC open by fall of 2014.

The project will support the BC Jobs Plan and its three pillars: enabling
job creation, getting goods to market (through the marketing of BC wood
products and innovation) and opening/expanding markets (showcasing B.C.s
expertise in wood construction and design through educational programming to
be set up by the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC), such as a
Master of Engineering program specializing in wood building and innovation).
Government has multiple objectives related to the WIDC and its innovative
and complex construction is only part of the story. Other objectives include:

Enhanced capacity for wood innovation including education and training

Enhanced expertise in B.C. related to wood manufacturing, wood products,

engineering and international exports

Revitalization of downtown Prince George

As Canadas Green University, UNBC is excited to attract world leaders to

Northern British Columbia and to Prince George, a centre of Canadas forest
industry. This region is comprised of many communities that are reliant on the
forest and the forest industry; the building is a showcase of innovative uses of
wood that will lead to community sustainability and resiliency.
The educational programming that will occur inside of the building, a
proposed Master of Engineering in Integrated Wood Design* and a proposed
Master of Applied Science* that will allow students to pursue research on wood
and other forest products related to future wood structures, will attract students
who will graduate and lead the world in the construction of new wood structures
that will be both sustainable and healthy, illustrating the benefits of wood
construction to healthy ecosystems and healthy communities.

From the architect. The Wood Innovation Design Centre (WIDC) serves
as a gathering place for researchers, academics, and design professionals
generating ideas for innovative uses of wood. The lower floors of the building
provide facilities dedicated to education in Integrated Wood Design. Upper floors
provide office space for government and wood industry-related organizations.

The eight-story building stands 97 feet tall the worlds tallest modern alltimber office building, a benchmark soon to be surpassed by other mass timber
buildings.
Conceived to showcase the potential for building mid- and high-rise
structures using engineered mass timber products, there is no concrete used
above the ground floor slab. The design incorporates a simple, dry structure
of systems-integrated CLT floor panels, Glulam columns and beams, and mass
timber walls. The buildings structural simplicity is easily replicated, a
fundamental choice made in the interest of seeing many more architects,
engineers, and private developers recognize the value of mass timber design as
alternative to steel and concrete.
This project has set many precedents in the North American building
context through the extensive engineering research and testing by the project
team to prove the safety and validity of mass timber construction techniques.
The basic structural concept for WIDC can be used for buildings up to 20 and 30
stories in height with little modification, as described in The Case for Tall Wood
(M. Green & E. Karsh, 2012). Soon, we expect that North American building
codes will soon begin to adopt Tall Wood construction as a standard, safe
practice.
Long-time

champions

of

timber

construction

and

Canadian

practice Michael green architecture will soon break ground on North Americas
tallest wooden building. Standing at 27.5 meters, the wood innovation design
center (WIDC) will exhibit wood as a sustainable building material widely
available around the globe, and aims to improve the local lumber economy while
standing as a testament to new construction possibilities. The structure will
contain a mezzanine level, classrooms, offices, and a public gallery on the ground
floor dedicated to the palpable experience of wood, lounges, and a rooftop deck.
Owned by the state, the project will also house the University of northern British
Columbias masters of engineering program in addition to private office and
public spaces.

The structure will be made almost entirely of wood, save for metal
connections and a concrete foundation. Even the elevator core, which is
traditionally made in concrete, will be made of thick timber panels whose density
and size afford the appropriate fire rating characteristics. The framing system
allows for a greater facade transparency, accepting natural light and extending
views with a low emissivity glass skin and opaque timber screens that help
control solar gain. Floor and ceiling slabs will be composed of mass timber panels
(MTP) that provide lateral stability in addition to eliminating the need for surface
finishes, and provide for many new design opportunities for future wood
constructs.

TIMBER STRUCTURE CONSTRUCTION

The building was designed to showcase the aesthetic and structural
capabilities of lumber in commercial construction. Twelve years ago, we were
waking up to the role of buildings in climate issues, MGA principal Michael
Green says. Contemporary construction is predominantly with steel and

concretematerials whose combined production tally up to 8 percent of the

worlds greenhouse gas emissions. But timber, when forested responsibly, can
reduce emissions and store carbon, which are the most effective methods to
preserve the planet, Green says. That understanding is something we use in
suburban housingbuilding with 2x4s for example, he says. But as the world
trends toward urban environments, we need taller buildings that incorporate how
we built before steel and concrete were in fashion. Green cites Japanese
temples and Egyptian tombstall timber structures that stand for millennia and
still function as public space todayas examples of low environmental impact
buildings with longevity.
As of last October, the worlds tallest wood building constructed in
modern times, using contemporary techniques, could be found on the campus of
the University of Northern British Columbia, in the city of Prince George. The
eight-story, 96-foot-tall Wood Innovation and Design Centre (WIDC),
designed by Vancouver-based Michael Green Architecture (MGA), sits on a
concrete raft slab and contains 51,000 square feet of office and educational
space. Leasable office space occupies the top three floors while the lower levels
are dedicated to the universitys proposed Master of Engineering in Integrated
Wood Design program. At ground level, a double-height, triple-glazed
curtainwall with laminated veneer lumber (LVL) mullions connects an interior
sheathed entirely in wood to the street outside.
Mass timber constructiona term that encompasses the use of
prefabricated wood components such as LVL, cross-laminated timber (CLT),
laminated strand lumber (LSL), and glue laminated timber (glulam)supported
two goals of the project. It is strong enough to support the WIDCs post-andbeam structure and lateral-load resisting system, and it supports an
exceptionally long life cycle. The buildings dry construction, which was free
of concrete and wet materials, permits the wooden components to be taken apart
and reused. Glulam beams, which vary in size based on their location, transfer
the structural loads to glulam columns, which are 14 inches by 14 inches on
the ground floor and 12 inches by 11 inches on the upper floors. This postand-beam superstructure is secured by 2-millimeter to 16-millimeter gluedin rods and stainless steel washer plates. The beam-to-column connection is
made using a proprietary, pre-engineered aluminum dove-tail connector.

Four-, 6-, and 9-inch-thick CLT panels comprise the walls, stair, and
elevator core. Three-, 5-, and 7-ply CLT panels make up the custom,
staggered design in the floor and ceiling that hides and shelters all building
services, and is fortified by two layers of 13-millimeter plywood and semi-rigid
fiberglass board insulation. Carpet and -inch needle-punched polypropylene
fiber underlayment provide additional sound insulation on floor planes, while
wood slats, fiberglass batt insulation, and acoustic ceiling hangers help insulate
ceilings.
Structural and Brisco Wood Preserversboth located less than 500 miles
southeast of Prince Georgesupplied the mass timber products, which were
made of British Columbian spruce pine fir. We always work with local
manufacturers to elevate the game for high-tech solutions, Green says.

Currently, the citys building codes restrict lumber construction to lightweight

framing for residential construction up to six stories, and nonresidential buildings
up to four stories. The province granted an exemption to the WIDC project. This
was crucial to the projects realization, Green says. Innovation in other
industries doesnt wait the way construction does, he says. Advances in
software dont wait, and climate change and environmental issues cant wait
either.

OBJECTIVE OF THE STRUCTURE

The WIDC will promote expertise in advanced building systems,
engineered wood products, interior wood design and applications, and other
value-added wood products. It has been designed by Michael Green
Architecture and is being built by PCL West Coast Constructors at the corner of
5th Avenue and George Street. The building will feature a variety of unique
construction techniques to create a new model for wood construction that can be
replicated in a variety of applications.

The Wood Innovation and Design Centre project has several objectives:
Develop capacity for building large, non-residential and multi-use buildings
utilizing wood

and

innovative

wood

products;

Bring together builders, architects, designers and engineers to advance the

commercialization of innovative wood products, technologies and building
processes;
Strengthen B.C.s expertise and global reputation as leaders in wood-based
construction

Contribute

and
to

design
the

and

revitalization

engineered
of

downtown

wood
Prince

products;
George;

Build an iconic building, incorporating innovative wood products (e.g., crosslaminated

timber)

and

design

Foster collaboration between post-secondary institutions, industry and

governments
Our goal is to deliver inviting buildings that are a pleasure to work, live,
learn, or play in. We contribute to community through excellence in design and
innovation.
Each project we do has a unique story. We hope each captures the spirit
of its client and community and enhances the wonder of living. A beautiful
building falls short if it doesnt also speak to us with meaning; if it doesnt
connect with a story; and if it doesnt contribute to a positive experience.
We believe that good buildings are good neighbors. That may mean they
are modest and quiet, or it may mean they need to take a bold stance. As a good
neighbor they must understand how they influence others and how the size of
their footprint impacts ecosystems and climate change as a whole.
We have become internationally known for our leadership and expertise in
building with advanced wood products and technologies, and we love to use these
materials where appropriate; that said, we strive to choose systems and finishes
for each project based on our clients needs.
From our experience we recognize that value and budgets go beyond the
construction site and should be considered in respect to the overall operating
costs. As designers, we are attentive to issues such as energy performance,
durability and overall maintenance; all issues that affect the true cost of building.

Through diversity we find wonder. From the diversity of our projects,

clients and staff we gather knowledge from one type of project and hand it to the
next, avoiding cookie cutter solutions. Our skylines should be diverse but
complementary.
We also believe in
possibility. We thrive in
the

optimism

that

all

projects, big and small,

high-end or very modest,
can be exceptional if we do
what we do best: dream
big and walk with our
clients on an inventive and
ambitious path.
As

facility

conceived to showcase the

potential for building midrise

and

high-rise

structures

using

engineered mass timber

products,

there

concrete

used

is
in

no
the

building above the ground

floor

slab, with

the

exception of mechanical
penthouse.

The

design

incorporates a simple, dry structure of systems-integrated CLT floor

panels,

Glulam

columns

and

beams,

and

mass

timber

walls.

This

simplicity translates into repeatability of the system. Instead of focusing solely

on a showpiece structure, we created a building that can be easily replicated.
This was a fundamental choice, made in the interest of seeing many more
architects, engineers, and private developers recognize the value of mass timber
design as alternative to steel and concrete. This is the best way to ensure that
the BC wood economy grows: Through repeatable meaningful innovation.

WIDC is about celebrating wood as one of the most beautiful and

sustainable materials for building here in BC and around the globe. MGA have
been champions of this message for quite some time and have been able to
connect to a very global conversation of possibility. Our goal is to use the WIDC
design as a stepping-stone for further innovation and scale that will continue to
grow the wood story and industry.
The design celebrates the beauty of wood, and shows the potential to
increase the use of wood in mid-rise and high-rise structures. We hope that the
WIDC project will help advance and revitalize the Prince George Community, the
BC forest economy, and the global conversation of the future of wood
architecture.
WIDC was designed as both a functional center, but also as a showcase of
the durability and design potential of timber. The bottom floor and foundation
are made from reinforced concrete, but the remainder of the building is clad only
with timber planks and engineered mass timber products. The dry structure
system meshes CLT floor panels, Glulam columns and beams and mass timber
walls, creating a benchmark for mid and high rise buildings made entirely of
wood. Together, these wood systems provide the needed structural support for
the center.
After much research and testing with timber structural components and
design, the building was constructed to showcase the best of the best. The
architects created a simple and easily reproducible design in WIDCs structural
plan, in hopes of inspiring other projects to follow suit in sustainable timber
designs, with ornamentation being customizable from project to project. The
basic plan can be adapted to accommodate new timber buildings ranging from
twenty to thirty stories.
Inside, timber is the ornamental feature, with open, airy spaces that show
off natural wood grain and color of the timber slats used. The resulting building
is warm and welcoming, as well as structurally sound.
Building outside of the existing codes became an opportunity to educate
and

collaborate.

Green

partnered

with

contractor PCL

Constructors

Westcoast early on, and worked closely with MGAs lumber suppliers. Since

the building coreincluding the exit stairsare constructed from CLT, fire and
smoke separation engineering was physically tested and demonstrated for city
officials. MGAs modular design for the WIDC can be used in buildings up to 30
stories. The firm is currently working with a U.S. developer on future timber
towers.
We wanted to encourage building code officials, developers, and contractors
to get excited about this, Green says. We wanted to show the world how
building [with lumber] will work in the future. With just a 16-month design/build
process, I almost cant believe we pulled it off.
REACTION
Handsome building, well executed. Sixteen months in design is very optimistic.
What seismic zone is it designed for...? Did the smoke testing result in any usable
UL systems or ratings...? In my practice jurisdiction, it would take 16 months
just do get the code officials to make up their minds, thus adding to the
development time and expense, such as A/E fees, to the extent it would be an
untenable

project.

I think the stars must have been in alignment for Michael Green to pull this off,
kudos to him...
Not sure this is either the first or the highest entirely wood framed building.
Architect Michael Plunkett built what was termed the "plywood skyscraper" in
Anchorage Alaska back in 1983. 8 levels, 6 elevator stops, classified per code
as a 4 "story" building, as big of a stretch of the building codes as was possible.
Significant because it is also in one of the strongest earthquake zones around.
The office/condo building even received a write-up in a Japanese Magazine.
Being in an earthquake in that building was certainly an experience that I won't
forget. Even large trucks on the street besides the building would make the
building shake.
Great for the community! I live in Prince George and it is awesome that there is
a project to be proud of here. Northern BC is lacking in terms of environmental
action, so this is a great nod to the laminated wood building industry. The
community should stand behind a laminated wood industry. It could be a great

strength in this community, where a deteriorating forest industry could transition

into a much more mature and sustainable industry like this one.

Quick Facts:

The WIDC is a complex and exciting project that will create an iconic,
multi-storey wood structure in Prince George. Construction is expected
to be completed in the fall of 2014.

The building will grow B.C.'s expertise and global reputation as a leader in
wood construction, engineered wood products and design.

The Province is investing $25.1 million in the WIDC, creating 250 new
jobs during the life of the project. Although all subcontracts have not been
set at this stage, it is expected that about half of the subcontracts will be
directly from the Prince George marketplace.

At 29.25 metres high, it incorporates a structural system that uses wood

products manufactured and engineered in B.C. The 4,600-square-metre
building will stand almost as tall as B.C. forests and is made up of 1,846
cubic metres of wood.

The building will house research facilities and classroom space for the
University of Northern BC's new master degree programs in wood
engineering and science, and office space for industry organizations. As
such, the WIDC will be a meeting place for researchers, design
professionals, product manufacturers, contractors and others to generate
ideas for innovative uses of wood.

The most complex levels (first and mezzanine) are nearing installation
completion (expected Nov. 20), and this includes the first three levels of
the building core. The core is installed in two separate three-storey
sections.

The first typical level (Level 2) is anticipated to begin on Nov. 21 and run
to the end of November, followed by the installation of the Level 2 curtainwall columns and structural wall panels.

Base structure completion is anticipated before year-end.

The building envelope design is a metaphor for the natural outer layer of a
northern tree. Thick bark and moss on the north side provides needed protection
from the cold and elements, but the bark thins on the opposite side, allowing for
greater exposure to the sun. Thus as the exterior gracefully transforms from
the opaqueness of the north sides charred cladding and fewer windows to the
south sides glassy transparency, the design optimizes sun exposure and
insulation, tuning the buildings energy performance to its orientation and the
northern climate. The south sides maximum transparency provides passive
solar heat gain in cooler months, which in summer is moderated with interior
wood blinds. On the east and west faades, the laminated veneer lumber mullions
support the glazing of the curtain wall and buffer the low angle of the rising and
setting sun. The structural concept is that of dry construction using
custom prefabricated structural wood componentswhich virtually eliminates
the use of concrete above the foundation, with the exception of the floor in the
mechanical penthouse. This concept also allows for the wood to be elegantly and
purposefully exposed as the finish throughout the building. Dry construction is
key to the buildings sustainability story because the prefabricated components
can be easily disassembled at the end of the buildings functional life, thus repurposing the wood is straightforward and practicable compared to conventional
construction. The Wood Innovation & Design Centre is constructed of wood
products sourced and engineered within British Columbia, making the building a
showcase for the provinces leading expertise in designing and constructing
large-scale wood buildings.

Several wood species that were used in the construction including

Douglas-fir, western red cedar, hemlock, pine, and spruce were all sourced
from British Columbias sustainable forests. While traditional wood products
like dimensional lumber and plywood panels were employed in various ways, the

structural design and building envelope focused on engineered wood products

glulam, cross laminated timber (CLT), parallel strand lumber (PSL), and
laminated veneer lumber (LVL), all of which were produced in British Columbia.
Because the Centres mass timber construction type is unique to North
America in a commercial building, proving out innovative concepts and
approaches consumed much of the design process. In addition to the desire to
expose the wood, the aspects of acoustics, integration of services, and fire
resistance required considerable design adaptation. Many of the concepts were
extrapolated from British Columbias numerous years of accumulated wood
engineering and design knowledge, but extensive research and testing also took
place. As most of the components were prefabricated with very low dimensional
tolerances, close collaboration between the suppliers, installers and consultants
became an important aspect of the preconstruction process. Detailed shop
drawing reviews of 3D structural models involving all parties ensured high
accuracy in construction and minimized on-site modification.
The primary structure consists of an innovative combination of post andbeam construction and built-up CLT floor panels. Glulam beams frame into
glulam columns, both of which were chosen for their known structural
performance. Proprietary aluminum, dovetail connectors allow the columns to
run continuously from the concrete foundation to the roof, eliminating crossgrain bearing and shrinkage.
In another atypical architectural application of wood LVL due to its
dryness, forms the mullions in the envelopes curtain wall system, instead of
conventionally used aluminum. The unique properties of LVL also lend
themselves beautifully to form the structure of the entrance canopy and the
ground-floor feature staircase. Much of the buildings exterior features a
rather unusual and striking type of claddinga combination of naturally
weathered and charred western red cedar siding. Although relatively new to
North America, the intentional charring of wood is a traditional and practical
construction technique that has been utilized for centuries in Finland, Japan, and
Switzerland. Charring changes the molecular structure of the wood through
thermal conditioning of its surface, thus making it more resistant to flame and
pests. The somewhat shiny finish is durable and low maintenance, and its

boldness showcases an alternative, contemporary aesthetic for the cladding of

buildings.
The floor design comprises a completely innovative panel system. 3-ply
upper CLT panels are overlapped with 5-ply or 7-ply lower CLT panels,
creating a corrugated structural section. At each overlap, the CLT panels are
joined using a proprietary HSK steel mesh and epoxy connection. The cavities
created within the structural section between the staggered timber slabs
effectively accommodate the running of services both below the floor and above
the ceiling as well as improved ceiling heights.
The practical acoustic-insulated subfloor system is loose-laid over the
chases with cut-out panels to provide access to these floor trenches. Lighting
and fire-suppression systems are run in the ceiling recesses, simply but
cleverly concealed with a removable wood slat finish. The high-quality acoustic
performance of the floor assembly is further enhanced by a noise-barrier
system lining the underside of the top CLT panel within the ceiling chase. The
service chases inherent in the structural system offer flexibility for
reconfiguring the space for current and future tenants.
The wood structure is exposed at the ceiling, providing a beautiful finish
that speaks to the purpose and mission of the facility, which is to be a centre of
excellence for the research and design of engineered wood. This wood-only
solution for the Wood Innovation & Design Centres floors eliminates the use
of concrete in this part of the assembly, and thus minimizes the weight of the
floor system and the building overall. The all-wood elevator core, being
significantly lighter than a concrete core, also contributed to reduced building
weight. Lateral-load resistance is provided primarily by the elevator and stair
core walls, which consist of CLT panels connected together vertically with selftapping screws. The shear walls are anchored to the foundations using shear
brackets and hold-down anchors fastened to the timber panels using a
combination self-tapping screws and the proprietary HSK connection system
from Germany.
You need to have a fully collaborated design where all the people
involved have looked at the potential conflict areas and have made sure that

everything is going to go together smoothly. If you do that, the benefits are huge,
both in the quality of the building and the cost. - John boys, owner Nicola
legworks ltd.
The
Centres

second

floor

incurs

significant transfers
of load due to the
ground

floor

housing

large

laboratory,

theatre/lecture hall,
and public spaces.
Tall wood buildings
do not incur much
differential
shrinkage or creep,
therefore

was

preferred choice for

the transfer beams
because it is very dry and stiff, and has good shear capacity. Fire resistance is
provided through a fully engineered approach, rather than the more common
encapsulation method. The very thick columns and beams and the large crosssections allow for a degree of inherent fire resistance, because large-timber
elements char at a slow and predictable rate. The char layer that would occur on
a large member would serve to insulate its relatively cool core, so that it can
continue to carry the structural load required to achieve a 1-hour fireresistance rating. For the Wood Innovation & Design Centre, the fire-stopping
performance at the service penetrations and construction joints was tested in a
laboratory to the CAN/ULC-S115 test standard.
WITH GROWING PRESSURE TO REDUCE THE CARBON FOOTPRINT
of the built environment, building designers are increasingly being called upon to
balance functionality and cost objectives with reduced environmental impact.
Wooda renewable resourcegoes a long way to achieve that balance. Trees

are among the best carbon storage agents on earth. This means that using wood
to build, renovate, and operate structures is a good environmental choice,
because most of a trees stored carbon continues to be sequestered within the
wood products. Even after the Wood Innovation & Design Centre reaches the
end of its function as a building, the carbon can remain sequestered; the
Centres restrained and practical architecture and the use of prefabricated
components allow for easy dismantling, ensuring the wood can be effectively
re-purposed or recycled. Research has shown that the embodied energy of a
wood building is less than of concrete or steel buildings.
A recent life cycle Assessment (LCA) study showed that the
environmental performance of the Wood Innovation & Design Centre, compared
to a similar baseline concrete building, was reduced by 10% or more in six of
seven reported categories, see Figure 01. This LCA also indicated that a multistorey office building constructed with mass timber systems and LVL curtain
walls have an overall lower environmental impact than similar buildings
constructed of reinforced concrete structural systems with aluminum curtain
wall structures.

EDUCATION

THE FIRST FLOOR OF THE BUILDING HOLDS A 75-SEAT LECTURE

THEATRE,

classrooms

that

allow

for

worldwide

collaboration

via

videoconferencing, and a research/teaching lab that supports the design,

fabrication, and testing of wood products. The University of Northern British
Columbia (UNBC), one of the buildings main tenants, is offering two new
graduate degrees that will provide students with focused opportunities to study
wood products engineering and conduct research: a course-based Master of
Engineering in Integrated Wood Design, and a thesis-based Master of Applied
Science in Engineering that involves research on wood and other forest products
related to future wood structures. The Centre will also be home to the Emily Car
Centre for Design Innovation and Entrepreneurship which will focus on art and
design-based educational programs, applied research activities, as well as
partnerships focused on design innovation and secondary manufacturing with
wood and wood-based products.

Considering that timber is

such an important resource
for B.C. and Canada, I think it
is important that we have
facilities teaching timber
engineering in a much
focused way.
Eric Karsh, Principal,
Equilibrium Consulting Inc.