Category Archives: Wood, Paper & Green Building

New updates to the B.C. Building and Plumbing Code came in to effect on Dec. 12, 2019, and the B.C. Government says this will support innovative construction methods to help build more affordable homes faster, while enhancing building standards for energy efficiency and safety for British Columbians. …One of the changes to the building code enables local governments to allow 12-storey tall wood buildings, up from the previous limit of six storeys. Thirteen communities have signed on to be early adopters of tall wood buildings using mass timber technology. “Increasing and finding new uses of British Columbia forestry products means we are creating beautiful energy efficient homes, while supporting jobs and local economies,” said George Heyman, Minister of Environment. …Additionally, new regulations for secondary suites will require fire separations between residences to improve safety for everyone in the homes.

A 17-storey, mixed-use wood tower with the new home of QMUNITY and 139 units of social housing will help bookend downtown Vancouver’s Davie Village at its eastern boundary. …Non-profit housing developer New Commons Development and ZGF Architects have submitted a rezoning application to redevelop 1190 Burrard Street …Such hybrid mass timber buildings — including the 2017-built, 174-ft-tall, 18-storey UBC Brock Commons Tallwood Student Residence — typically have prefabricated materials, such as cross-laminated timber floors supported on glue-laminated wood columns. These buildings receive further structural resilience from a concrete core, which also encases the elevator shafts and emergency staircases from fire. Additionally, this will be a high-performance green building pursuing Passive House certification. …using a hybrid mass timber structural system … the construction timeline will be considerably shorter than a conventional tower structure built out of concrete and steel. The building could reach completion as early as late 2021, given the efficiencies with wood construction

B.C. forest products are a predominant structural and finishing material for a wide range of transit infrastructure throughout the province. Architect Peter Busby oversaw the Brentwood Town Centre Station in Burnaby, which he points to as an example of wood’s durability. The iconic SkyTrain station was the first in a series of innovative transit station designs. The station on Metro Vancouver’s Millennium Line has stood the test of time. “It’s now 17 years old, and the glulam and nail-laminated wood ceiling is in perfect condition,” he said. “The steel has been repainted three times. So when somebody says wood won’t last, we take them out there and say, ‘Well, it lasts a lot longer than painted steel.’” 

A proposed condo tower unveiled by the Penticton Lakeside Resort back in 2018 is not going to be built any time soon, but the hotel’s parent company has big plans for its Kelowna property. …Lakeside general manager David Prystay, “The market is not right for Penticton right now.” …His attention has turned to a proposed 12-storey, 83-hotel-room tower planned for the Ramada by Wyndham Kelowna Hotel and Conference Centre. He said it was a “no-brainer” to go with mass timber for the Ramada expansion after seeing how successful it has been in Penticton. …“People are willing to pay a little more to experience this style of room and this style of construction. It does cost a little more than regular construction, so the price is passed on to the consumer, but we’ve never had anybody balk at the numbers, which are not bad at all.” 

Another 12-storey tower is planned for the skyline of Kelowna. This one is set to be built as an additional tower to the Ramada Hotel on Harvey Avenue. The hotel plans to build the 12-storey wood tower on the south-east corner lot of the property, creating an 80-room addition to the Ramada. If approved by the City of Kelowna, construction on the new addition could begin as early as the summer, with a completion date between 2021 to 2022. David Prystay, manger of operations at the Ramada Hotel, said the mass timber construction is very unique. “This will be the first (tower) of this size and quality built anywhere. It’s going to be a stunning building heading both north and south on Harvey,” said Prystay. In September, The City of Kelowna signed on to become early adopters to bring mass timber technology for the construction of new buildings that may rise as high as 12-storeys tall.

Kelowna soon could be home to a wood-frame highrise. “I’ve spoken to two developers who are interested in tall wood,” said City of Kelowna director of development services Mo Bayat. “One of the developers has started design work on a 12-storey wood building and intends to get an application in to the city with an eye to construction start in the fall of 2020. …Bayat was at the recent WoodWorksBC conference in Kelowna. …The theme of the conference was mass timber and how it allows wood-frame buildings to rise beyond the previous constraint of four storeys. For the past few years, the B.C. Building Code has provided for wood-frame buildings to extend to five and six floors. …For the first time, the National Building Code next year will allow up to 12 storeys in wood.

Passive house technology is relatively new in Canada, but the design language is gaining acceptance at the City of Vancouver and more projects being built in the West Coast city. The largest one completed in Canada is a six-storey wood-frame, 85-unit market rental building with retail at grade. Called The Heights, the apartment building on the East Hastings corridor is important for more than just being a building that is 90 per cent more energy efficient than conventional buildings. …The building’s architect, Kennedy said the key to passive house design is a highly insulated building envelope. In the case of The Heights, the walls are comprised of a 2×6” wood exterior structural wall with insulated cavity next to a 2×4” rigid insulation barrier and a 2×4” interior-side insulated wall for mechanical/electrical needs. The energy rating is R-35.

Cory John and Priscilla Mueller

Saik’uz First Nation are opening 10 new homes to fill the void for housing in the community. Eight of the ten homes were opened Thursday, and Priscilla Mueller, chief of the First Nation community said the new homes have alleviated a lot of stress. The remaining two, will be opened for members before Christmas this year. Apart from the 10 individual homes, Saik’uz also built three two-bedroom triplexes this year. “We have a lot of single people here. Additionally, we have a lack of housing for elderly members too. So to have these 10 homes, is just such a huge thing for the community,” said Mueller. The new residences have been built by Alair Homes, and through a partnership with Sinclar Group Forest Products Ltd. “In the future, we are looking for major industry to partner with us and I think they are waking up and realizing that they need to partner with First Nation communities,” Saik’uz chief said.

COLWOOD, BC — A proposed affordable housing development that would be the tallest mass timber building on Vancouver Island will be the centre of conversation at an open house on Tuesday. The Greater Victoria Housing Society has applied for redevelopment to essentially double the size of the Colwood Lodge to 100 affordable housing rental units, with 15 storeys replacing its current four. …The building will aim to produce zero carbon emissions and be built to be at least 20 per cent more energy efficient, according to the developer. …The tower will be made with prefabricated mass timber panels instead of concrete and conventional wood construction. “The base material is sourced from sustainably managed B.C. forests and is factory-fabricated,” said Sukh Johal of the Canadian Wood Council. “…therefore, [it can] be installed quicker and quieter compared to conventional framing practices.”