Si x do l l ars

Winter 2015–16 — Number 72

P ubl i cat io ns M ai l agr eem ent #40063877

Roy-Lawrence Residence Wood Design Awards Glued Composites

Modern-day home reflects Meet the New connections extend the use
its natural environment 2015 winners of wood in complex applications
 c o n t e n t s Above and on the cover: Roy-Lawrence Residence, Sutton, QC
Photo Credit: Chevalier Morales Architectes

O     C     F       

Roy-Lawrence Residence 14 2015 Wood Design Award Winners 10

Modern-day home heavily influenced Wood Design & Building recognizes inspiring
by iconic Swiss architecture reflects its wood projects that have made their mark.
natural environment.

Fire Station 76 18
           Understated functionality is complemented by a dark, charred exterior.

Against the Grain 6

Bridges Videotron Centre 26
Quebec City’s multipurpose arena evokes a snowy, northern aesthetic.

Wood Chips 8 French Pavilion 30

News and events on
Part of the Expo 2015 Universal Exhibition, the pavilion was designed
wood-related subjects
as an archetypal marketplace to showcase France’s agricultural identity.

Wood Ware 46 Feature 34

Canoes
In light of the recent United Nations Climate Change Conference
and growing concern about the environment, we compare the
environmental and cost savings benefits of wood versus steel.

Technical Solutions 44
Glued connections are the latest trend in adhesive technologies,
as a stiff but ductile alternative to screwed connections.

Ideas & Applications 40

Putting the Pieces Together
Prefabrication of wood components can shorten construction
time and lower costs, when applied to the right project.
 A New Year
At Wood Design & Building magazine, we take great pride in the
fact our award-winning magazine is the only one in North America
dedicated exclusively to articles about timber architecture and
engineering. Our goal is to inspire you with creative solutions for
wood design and construction.
The emphasis on sustainable solutions has never been greater
and wood has a unique distinction as both a cost-effective and
environmentally friendly building material that, especially given new
technologies, can be used in more and more applications. In this
issue, our story on glued composites (p. 44) details how innovations
in connections technology are making the use of wood in the most
demanding of applications – wind turbines and bridges – even more
feasible.
As our publication looks toward 2016, we will continue to explore
inspired wood architecture and feature trends in wood design and
construction. Prefabrication (p. 40) is one current trend that is
transforming the world of construction, and the development of taller
wood buildings (and accompanying code changes) is redefining the
way wood is viewed as a structural material.
This issue also features winners from our very own Wood Design
Awards. From sports facilities to a fire station to an airport and a bar,
this year’s winners truly showcase a diversity of wood projects. (You’ll
have to get the 2015/2016 North American Wood Design Awards book
next fall to see all of the winners!)
We hope you will join us for another year as we feature the top
creative designs and solutions in the world of wood architecture.

Theresa Rogers
Executive Editor
trogers@dvtail.com

Wood Design & Building magazine invites you to submit your project for consideration and possible publication.
We welcome contributed projects, bylined articles and letters to the editor, as well as comments or suggestions for
improving our magazine. Please send your submissions to Theresa Rogers at trogers@dvtail.com.

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inspiration Board
PUBLISHER Etienne Lalonde
www.wooddesignandbuilding.com
Winter 2015-16, Volume 20, Issue 72

What I’ve fallen for this month... elalonde@cwc.ca

Publishing manager Sarah Hicks
shicks@wood-works.ca
COMMUNICATION MANAGER Natalie Tarini
ntarini@cwc.ca
Special ProjectS Manager Ioana lazea
ilazea@cwc.ca
Executive EDITOR Theresa Rogers
trogers@dvtail.com
Staff writerS Hermione Wilson
hwilson@dvtail.com
Kelly Townsend
ktownsend@dvtail.com
Contributors Maik Gehloff

ART DIRECTOR Sharon MacIntosh

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Against the GRAIN

Bridges
Kelly Townsend
The modern concept of a bridge is usually visualized as a functional steel or
concrete structure that enables vehicles and pedestrians to cross from point A 1
to point B. The wood bridges featured here have not only challenged that per-
ception from an architectural point of view, but from an aesthetic one as well.
The Bow River Footbridge, built in Banff, AB, one of Canada’s most iconic
tourist destinations, is considered one of the world’s longest timber foot-
bridges at 262 ft. Its 13-ft.-wide deck is constituted entirely of pre-stressed
timber panels, with two tuned mass dampers constructed underneath to
ensure a 75-year lifespan. Timber was specifically chosen as the primary
building material, not only for environmental purposes, but for a natural
aesthetic. 2
Rotterdam’s De Luchtsingel has the distinction of being the world’s first
crowd-funded public infrastructure. More than 8,000 of the wooden boards
along the 1,312-ft. pedestrian bridge bear the inscriptions of donors, which
residents can read as they make their way to the three districts connected by
the bridge.
The Henderson Waves Bridge proves that functionality and art aren’t
always opposites. The bridge has become a landmark in Singapore, with its
wave-like structure overhanging Henderson Road. Indigenous yellow balau
timber was used to create the modular decks and balustrades which were
sourced from certified sustainable timber farms. 3
The VLM Bridge in Villamoura, Portugal, redefines the idea of moving
pictures. Artist Domingos Loureiro created two images by painting on either
side of the bridge’s 180 wood boards. While the artwork is invisible from a
direct view, as drivers approach the bridge from an angle, the artwork comes
to life, as if they are the frames of a movie.
The Onepoto Pedestrian Footbridge in Auckland’s North Shore, was
inspired by local history. The timber boards along the walkway mimic the
skeleton of a whale. This is in tribute to local Maori who once fished in the
Onepoto basin that lies below the 492-ft. walkway.
The use of wood in these bridges plays a key role in connecting the often 4
divergent lines of art and functionality, and brings modern innovation to
traditional design.

1. Bow River Footbridge 3. Henderson Waves Bridge 4. VLM Bridge (2009)

(2013)
Architect: StructureCraft
Builders Inc.
Location: Banff, AB
PHOTO CREDIT: Paul Zizka
Photography
2. De Luchtsingel (2014)
Architect: ZUS
Location: Rotterdam,
Netherlands
PHOTO CREDIT: Ossip van
Duivenbode
(2008)
Architect: RSP Architects
Planners & Engineers Pte
Ltd and IJP Corporation
Location: Southern Ridges,
Singapore
PHOTO CREDIT: RSP 5. Onepoto Pedestrian
Architects Planners &
Engineers Pte Ltd and
IJP Corporation
Architect: AND-RÉ
Location: Vilamoura,
Portugal
PHOTO CREDIT:
João Soares
Footbridge (2008)
Architect: Beca Architects
Location: Auckland, New
Zealand
PHOTO CREDIT: Simon
Devitt Photographer 5

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 When Execution Matters

Innovative Glulam
&
Timber Solutions
WOODCHIPS

k N ew Student Residence to be Among

World’s Tallest Wood Buildings
The tallest wood building in Canada will soon be con-
structed at the University of British Columbia (UBC).
When completed in 2017, the $51.5-million residence will
stand at 174 ft. or 18 stories. It will consist of a mass timber
superstructure atop a concrete base. “The UBC project will
serve as a great example of the research and technology that
is involved in taking wood construction to new heights,”
says Michael Giroux, President of the Canadian Wood
Council. The project’s architect, Vancouver’s Acton Ostry
Architects, is working in collaboration with tall wood advi-
sor Architekten Hermann Kaufmann from Austria. Fast
+ Epp, another local firm, is the structural engineer. The
group is aiming for LEED Gold certification.
www.ubc.ca
www.cwc.ca

k S tudents Reproduce Traditional

Robert Glowinski and USFS Chief Tom Tidwell
k AW
 C Wood Panel Highlights Merit of Wood Construction
The American Wood Council (AWC) is shining a spotlight
on the merits of mass timber construction. AWC joined
with reThink Wood to host an “Urban Sustainability, Rural
Prosperity” panel discussion at the National Press Club
during National Forest Products Week. “It is our hope that
this discussion will lead to new insights that can be used
in designing buildings and planning communities,” AWC
President and CEO Robert Glowinski says. Panel discus-
sions included U.S. Forest Service’s efforts to promote
renewable wood products, changing perceptions of tall
wood buildings, the carbon sequestration properties of
wood products and what some cities are doing to lead the
way on tall wood buildings.
http://awc.org/nfpw
First Nations Wood Finishes
University of British Columbia (UBC) students Jun Lee and
Vinicius Lube have reproduced traditional wood finishes
used by First Nations people in B.C. With help from the
Museum of Anthropology (MOA) at UBC, Lee and Lube,
graduate students in chemical engineering and wood sci-
ence, collected a number of natural pigments that First
Nations people along the coast of the Pacific Northwest
would have used to paint totem poles or other decorative
wooden objects. These pigments included bone black, green
earth and red ochre, among others. In order for a pigment
to stain wood, Lee and Lube used salmon eggs, which had
to be chewed and spit out to create the right consistency
and color. Lube said the process and time needed to repro-
duce these finishes provides insight as to why traditional
First Nations people may have adopted commercial prod-
ucts so quickly. Lee and Lube’s detailed technical report on
how to produce the finishes will be housed in the MOA’s
archives. They hope their findings can be used by anyone
interested in reproducing the traditional finishes them-
selves, including indigenous artists.
https://youtube/7WwI91iqkG0

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 WOODCHIPS

k O ntario Wood k S tudy Underscores Importance of Forests and

WORKS! 2015 Forest Products in Mitigating Climate Change
Wood Design The Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC) is
Award Winners applauding an issues paper released by the Canadian Climate
Announced Forum that documents how forests and products made
Some of Ontario’s from tree fiber will play a critical role in the transition to a
leading architects, engi- low carbon economy. The study, “Contributing to Climate
neers, and project teams Change Solutions,” authored by scientist Dr. Stephen
received Wood Design Colombo, explains how forests and trees absorb carbon. “We
Awards at the 15th are delighted to see this paper confirm how our renewable
annual Wood WORKS! forests can play a role in mitigating climate change,” says
Ontario celebration in David Lindsay, former President and CEO of FPAC.
Toronto. The awards www.fpac.ca/wp-content/uploads/
program recognizes
people and organiza-
tions that are advancing
the use of wood in all
types of construction.
The group handed out
12 awards at the event;
nine went to specific
wood projects and three were given to professionals whose
contributions to the design/build community made them
stand out as wood design experts and advocates. “Wood
has significant environmental advantages over competing
materials and, in many applications, designers and devel-
opers are reporting significant time and cost savings,” says
Marianne Berube, Executive Director of the Ontario Wood
WORKS! program. Find the entire list of winners online.
http://wood-works.ca/ontario

k A ccoya Wins 2015 Innovator Award

Accoya wood, manufactured by Accsys Technologies,
recently received the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovator
Award, which recognizes leaders across industries that are
designing for upcycling and making perpetually cycled and
environmentally friendly products. Accsys Technologies’
Accoya wood is produced in a low-energy process using
only sustainable sourced timber made from the fastest-
growing species. Through the acetylation process, the part
of the wood that readily bonds with water is replaced by
acetyl groups, which are naturally occurring in wood. At
the end-of-use, Accoya can be treated in a similar way to
untreated wood and be recycled or upcycled.
www.C2CProductSymposium.org
www.accoya.com

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 Jurors

2015
Wood
Design
Awards David Keltner
Principal
Stéphan Langevin
Principal
Dean Maltz
Managing Partner
Hacker St-Gelais Montminy + Associés / Shigeru Ban Architects America
www.hackerarchitects.com Architectes www.shigerubanarchitects.com
www.stgm.net

Wood Design & ­Building magazine is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2015 Wood Design Awards. A jury panel
selected 22 winning projects, including nine international entries, from 140 submissions. With a nod to the caliber of
entries, the panel of three judges remarked on the excellence of the submissions throughout the judging process. All
projects demonstrated a commitment to architectural excellence in wood. Special awards were also granted by the Cana-
dian Wood Council as well as this year’s award sponsors, Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) and Western Red Cedar.
In partnership with the Canadian Wood Council, Wood Design & Building would like to thank everyone who
participated in the 2015 Wood Design Awards program. A special thank you is also extended to SFI, Western Red
Cedar, as well as our esteemed jurors. Congratulations to the winners!

NORTH AMERICAN CITATION CITATION

HONOR
Underhill, Matinecock, NY,
Bates Masi + Architects LLC
Stade de soccer de Montréal,
Montréal, QC, Saucier + Perrotte
architectes and Hughes Condon Marler
Architects
Guildford Aquatic Centre,
Surrey, BC, Bing Thom Architects,
Shape Architecture (Associate Architect)
MERIT
Lightbox, Point Roberts, WA,
Bohlin Cywinski Jackson
Roy-Lawrence Residence, Sutton,
QC, Chevalier Morales Architectes
Fort McMurray International
Airport, Fort McMurray, AB,
office of mcfarlane biggar architects +
designers inc.
Toronto Public Library
Scarborough Civic Centre
Branch, Toronto, ON, LGA Architectural
Partners and Phillip H. Carter architects
in joint venture
MEC Head Office, Vancouver, BC,
Proscenium Architecture + Interiors Inc.
Fire Station 76, Gresham, OR,
Hennebery Eddy Architects, Inc.
Old Main Academic Building
Addition, Thompson Rivers University,
Kamloops, BC, Diamond Schmitt
Architects, Stantec Architecture
(Associate Architect)
Whitetail Woods Regional Park
Camper Cabins, Farmington, MN,
HGA Architects and Engineers
Bar Raval, Toronto, ON, PARTISANS
Architects
Mont-Laurier Multipurpose
Performance Hall, Mont-Laurier, QC,
Les architectes FABG
International
HONOR
Puukuokka Housing Block,
Jyväskylä, Finland, OOPEAA Office for
Peripheral Architecture
Public Library of CONSTITUCIÓN,
Constitución, Chile, Sebastian Irarrazaval
Arquitectos
MERIT
World Intellectual Property
Organization Conference
Hall, Geneva, Switzerland, Behnisch
Architekten
PINCH Sweep Warp, Shuanghe Village,
Yunnan Province, China, Hong Kong
University Architecture students
Nursery in Guastalla,
Guastalla, Reggio Emilia, Italy, Mario
Cucinella Architects
Veneer House – Cogon Day School,
Barangay Cogon, Balilihan Bohol,
Philippines, Kobayashi Maki
Design Workshop
Nelson Marlborough Institute
of Technology Arts and Media
Building, Nelson City, New Zealand,
Irving Smith Jack Architects Ltd.
Dune House, Terschelling, The
Netherlands, Marc Koehler Architects
Guessing Agricultural School,
Guessing, Austria, PICHLER &
TRAUPMANN ARCHITEKTEN ZT GMBH
CANADIAN WOOD COUNCIL AWARDS
Philip J. Currie Dinosaur Museum,
Wembley, AB, Teeple Architects (Design
Architect); Architecture Tkalcic Bengert
(Architect of Record); Reich + Petch
(Museum Consultant)
MAZAMA House, Mazama, WA,
FINNE Architects
SUSTAINABLE FORESTRY
INITIATIVE – SPONSORSHIP AWARD
Quilakwa Center, Enderby, BC,
KH Design Inc.
WESTERN RED CEDAR –
SPONSORSHIP AWARD
Treehouse, Treehouse, Ottawa, ON,
Ha2 Architecture & Design

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Underhill
Bates Masi + Architects LLC
Drawing on the history of the community in which it
is located, an early Quaker settlement, this suburban
retreat in Matinecock, New York, was designed around
the principles of simplicity, humility and inner focus. The
house is broken into a series of modest gabled structures,
each one focused inward on its own garden courtyard
instead of outward to the surrounding neighbors. Every
interior space is connected to the exterior on two sides.
The layering of spaces from exterior to interior to court-
yard collapses the boundaries between them. From select
vantage points, one may see across multiple spaces and
courtyards to framed views beyond. Each volume has a
sculpted roof that funnels light and air into the center
of the structure. The oak floor and weathered oak ceil-
ing boards both radiate outward from the center. The
floor and ceiling boards are custom cut in width and
mitered to trace continuously and concentrically around
the courtyard. The building’s inverse form is carved out
of the earth to create a lower courtyard at the basement
level. Planted retaining walls slope down to let light and
air into the lower level. Similarly, a sloped, depressed area
forms a destination in the landscape where a grove of
trees grows, creating a contemplative spot much like the
interior courtyards. The shingle coursing and pitched
roofs reference the early Quaker settlement buildings in
the area.
2015 Honor Awards
North American
Stade de soccer
de Montréal
Saucier + Perrotte architectes and
Hughes Condon Marler Architects
Montréal’s new soccer stadium stands on the site of
the former Miron quarry and that of a future ecologi-
cal park. The building emerges from the park’s artificial
topography as a layer of mineral stratum that recalls
the geological nature of the site, articulated by a con-
tinuous roof which cantilevers over the entry plaza and
folds down over the interior soccer field. It extends to the
ground to become the spectator seating for the outdoor
field. To ensure the unity of the soccer center over dif-
ferent programs, the stratum appears as a single gesture
with a laminated wood structure supporting the roof. The
roof’s crossing beams form a seemingly arbitrary lattice
suspended over the entire site. A series of crystals emerge
from the augmented landscape to provide daylight and
views for the administrative and public spaces housed
behind. They project out from the landscape toward the
street to receive abundant natural light. A large crystal
which contains the main lobby emerges from the berm’s
southeast end, signalling the entrance. Despite the broad
scope of the project’s program, the series of structural
louvers that compose the facade succeeds in retaining a
human scale and preserving the natural context for the
nearby residents.
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Guildford
Aquatic Centre
Bing Thom Architects,
Shape Architecture
(Associate Architect)
The Guildford Aquatic Centre
project, which added a FINA-
certified lap pool and leisure pool
facilities to the existing recreation
center, is a refreshed and ame-
nity-filled community hub in the
growing city of Surrey, BC. A key
design element of the new center is
a prefabricated wood truss system
that fully integrates with the light-
ing and mechanical systems. As
the prime architectural feature in
the natatorium, the wood truss
system provides an economical
and unique solution to the struc-
tural and operational requirements
of the facility. The 22 repeating,
V-shaped wood trusses were pre-
fabricated and installed with the
services in place. This allowed for
rapid on-site assembly with no scaf-
folding. The design team decided
to use wood trusses for their many
benefits, among them corrosion
resistance, ease of maintenance,
and the fact that wood is renewable
and sequesters carbon. The nata-
torium is illuminated by indirect
lighting from the wooden trusses,
so the interior wall treatments were
carefully selected to provide spe-
cific tint and gloss levels in order
to achieve the desired reflectivity.
The continuous ribbon of skylights
allows beams of sunlight to streak
across the walls, shifting through-
out the day and enhancing the
animation of the natatorium.
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INTERNATIONAL
Puukuokka
Housing Block
OOPEAA Office for
Peripheral Architecture
The energy-efficient and ecological trio of
multi-story wood-framed apartment build-
ings of the Puukuokka Housing Block are the
first of their kind in Finland. In Puukuokka,
the goal was to create a building that combined
the privacy of a single-family dwelling with the
semi-public character of shared spaces. The
project also served as a pilot case to develop
and test a CLT-based system of volumetric modules. Architects were challenged
to make the best possible use of the technical and aesthetic qualities of CLT to
create a wooden building in large scale with a distinct architectonic expression.
The use of CLT made it possible to create a spacious and energy-efficient hallway
and atrium with a lot of light. The facade elements that were prepared separately
and brought to site ready for assembly were made entirely of wood. Spruce treated
with a coat of dark paint was used in the facades facing the street, and untreated
larch was used for the interior courtyard. The use of prefabricated modules made
it possible to cut the on-site construction time to six months and to reduce the
exposure to weather conditions.
Public Library of Constitución
Sebastian Irarrazaval Arquitectos
The Public Library of Constitución
is one part of a public-private
initiative to rebuild the city of
Constitución, Chile, following the
devastation of an earthquake and
tsunami in 2010. Constitución is a
small town situated in the very core
of the most active wood industry in
the country, which made it easy to
source not only high-quality wood
but also extremely gifted carpen-
ters for the project. The library is
organized into three zones (chil-
dren, young and adult readers) on
two levels and is covered by three wood naves that filter and balance the light.
The main level overlooks the millenary trees of the civic square (the only historic
landmark left virtually untouched by the earthquake) and can be accessed from
street level either by a ramp or a staircase that can be also used as a kind of small
auditorium for storytelling. Furniture creates different corners for reading within
the building and orients the view toward the trees of the square. The luminosity of
the spaces was enhanced by coating the wood with a watery white varnish. The few
colors that can be seen inside were chosen to mimic the colors of the trees during
the different seasons. The facade, with its three monumental windows, benches
and canopies, provides an inviting entrance to the building.
 Reclaimed Douglas Fir

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 Roy-Lawrence Residence
Residence carries on tradition of Swiss architecture
Sutton, QC
The estate upon which the Roy-Lawrence Residence
sits is steeped in the architectural heritage of the
original owners, Swiss immigrants to Canada in the
1930s. Considering that the modern-day structure is
surrounded by iconic Swiss chalets and other build-
ings of a similar nature, the use of wood was a crucial
element of the project. It ensures the building carries
on the character of its surroundings and fits in with
the natural context of the eastern township of Quebec
where it resides.
The strong architectural concept of this house and
the material use of wood were key in convincing the
14                    ‒ winter 2 0 1 5 - 1 6
city planners to review and approve the construction
of this project in the natural setting of Sutton.
The iconic Swiss chalet, imbued with nostalgia for a lost
way of life, was the starting point for the conceptual
development of the residence. Aiming to reinterpret
in a contemporary manner the traditional composi-
tion of these chalets, the final result can be read as a
composition of three distinct formal elements stacked
on top of each other: a solid concrete base anchored to
the rocky ground, a long and low wood frame allow-
ing panoramic views, and a prominent and protective
wood roof which projects itself over the mountain.
                   ‒ winter 2 0 1 5 - 1 6 15
 1 3 6 8

9
4 5
2 7

1. hall 4. living room 7. office

2. master bedroom 5. dining room 8. bedroom
3. courtyard 6. kitchen 9. veranda

floor plan

natural lighting, dominant winds and panoramic views

to the southwest. On the northeast side, a long wooden
wall follows the path and leads visitors to the main
entrance which has been recessed toward the middle of
the residence, creating a compression effect at the entry
point. Like a bite taken in the layout, the glazed interior
courtyard creates transversal transparency and gives
the owners the opportunity to fully experience contact
with the mountain. This connection between built
space and exterior space contributes to the spatial qual-
ity of the main living area by integrating within the
house a fragment of the mountain.

AR C HITE C T
Chevalier Morales Architectes
Montreal, QC

S TR U C T U RAL ENGINEER
Structure Pierre Gosselin
Montreal, QC

GENERAL C O NTRA C T O R
The impressive wood roof is a strong statement and
Self-construction/client
magnifies the view above the valley. Traditional wood
trusses form the structure. The depth of the roof is PH O T O GRAPH Y
used to span the six-meter-long cantilever, and per- Chevalier Morales Architectes
mits different ceiling heights, varied interior spaces Montreal, QC
and an interior courtyard. The rough cut pine clad-
ding is stained with a semi-transparent coating. Here,
the mountain and surrounding nature influenced the P r o j e c t Fac t s
choice of colors and textures, intrinsically linking the
residence to its local environment and landscape. Building Size
2,432.64 sq.ft.
The interior layouts were organized according to
very simple principles. Informed by the structure’s geo- Completion Date
graphic orientation, the layouts are a response to Winter 2014

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 THOUGHTFULLY ENGINEERED DETAILS
CAREFULLY CRAFTED STRUCTURES
REALIZED ARCHITECTURAL VISION

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18                    ‒ winter 2 0 1 5 - 1 6
Fire Station 76
Shou Sugi Ban creates striking black exterior

Gresham, OR

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 siding and treated with a Japanese technique called
Shou Sugi Ban, a treatment that transforms the wood
by charring its surface. The effect is striking and it pro-
tects the wood from moisture, decay and insects. The
material and treatment presents the dualities of fire to
create a structure suffused with meaning.
Functionally, the design solution divides the facility
into two complementary masses: a vaulted apparatus
bay featuring exposed glulam arches, skinned with
a light-colored metal exterior, and conventionally
framed living quarters featuring wood siding on both
the interior and the exterior, blending the inside and
outside through material continuity. The long, linear
form of the living quarters faces the Cascade Moun-
tains and warm Western red cedar-clad porches carve
into the living quarters’ structure, sheltering these
gathering spaces from weather.
The cedar continues to the building interior, sur-
rounding the primary gathering space of the living
quarters. Large skylights fill the fire crew’s living and
working spaces with natural light. The apparatus bay
faces the road, presenting the most recognizable fea-
ture of a fire station, the engines, to the public. The
exposed wood structure extends over the fire engines
like the vaulted ceiling of a cathedral with regularly
spaced glulam Tudor arches and exposed Douglas fir
tongue and groove roof decking.
The station reflects the context of its community in
both massing and materials, providing a legacy for the
fire district. The result is a station that embraces fire
and uses it as a feature of beauty and protection.
The functional simplicity of Multnomah County’s Fire
Station 76 fits right in with the practical agricultural
buildings that dominate this rural community. Indeed,
the fire station comprises little more than a dwelling
with an oversized garage. The understated aesthetic
is echoed in the building materials and provided the
inspiration for the building concept.
Fire Station 76 is comprised of two buildings: an
apparatus bay and living quarters. The apparatus bay
houses the emergency response vehicles and work
spaces that include a shop, washing machines and
storage, and an Emergency Medical Services (EMS)
room. The living quarters house the crew and provide
a day room, kitchen, fitness room, showers, lockers, and
bunk rooms. An area for public reception that includes
the station office, conference room, and district admin-
istrative office space is located at the front entry to the
living quarters.
Fire, the primary focus of the station, influenced
the treatment of materials. The building is clad in
dark, charred, reclaimed Douglas fir timber from an
old barn. The reclaimed barn boards were milled into

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 10 7
6
6

9
10
1 5 2

8 1. apparatus bay
2. day room
3
3. bunks
4 3 4. fitness
3 5. lockers
O W NER
6. office
3 Multnomah County Rural Fire Protection District #10
10 7. conference
8. shop
AR C HITE C T
9. ems
Hennebery Eddy Architects, Inc.
10. patio Portland, OR

floor plan
S TR U C T U RAL ENGINEER
Nishkian Dean
Portland, OR

GENERAL C O NTRA C T O R
Bremik Construction, Inc.
Portland, OR

PH O T O GRAPH Y
Josh Partee
3 Portland, OR

1
2

4
1. apparatus bay P r o j e c t Fac t s
2. living quarters
3. front apron Building Size
4. back apron 10,120 sq.ft.
Completion Date
May 2015
Height of Exposed Glulam Arches
site plan
27 feet

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 Manufactures of Glue-Laminated Arches, Beams,
Pavilions, Posts, Bridges, Heavy Timber Trusses

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 Wood takes centre ice in
Québec City’s new hockey arena.

VIDÉOTRON CENTRE, QUÉBEC CITY

POPULOUS | ABCP ARCHITECTURE
© Photos : Stephane Groleau

NATURALLY PERFECT WOOD PROTECTION

Inspired by drifting snow, the white aluminum oval of the

new Vidéotron Centre arena is paired with massive engineered wooden trusses that
evoke the city’s rich hockey heritage. Harsh arctic weather and hot, humid summers
meant choosing the right wood coating was critical – inside and out, all wood
surfaces were protected during and after construction with Sansin Enviro Stains.
With the growing movement towards using wood in large structures, Sansin is the
first choice in environmentally-friendly performance wood coatings.

1-877-SANSIN-1 sansin.com
 Videotron
Centre
Wood allows an elegantly curved
exterior, giving peripheral
concourses a unique feel

Quebec City, QC

The idea of building a multipurpose arena for Quebec

City emerged in 2009 with the creation of “J’ai ma place”,
a group seeking to rekindle public interest in bringing
a professional hockey team back to the city. In 2012, an
integrated architect/engineer/build team was officially
tasked with designing the project.
The arena, which stands on the site of a former horse
racing track, boasts a main structure that clearly marks
the building’s function from multiple viewpoints around
the city. Its immaculate white skin and openings evoke
snow and more broadly, the city’s northern character.
The accumulations of snow, the cold, and the frigid
wind that shape and carve the landscape during winter
became the subtle visual leitmotif and conceptual guide-
line for the city’s newest sports and cultural venue.
The Videotron Centre is a hybrid steel/glulam wood
structure. Wood plays an important role not only in the
center’s sustainability, but also in its structural perfor-
mance and beauty. Wood was chosen to support the
envelope of the main structure in order to elegantly
embrace the curve of the exterior space and give the
peripheral concourses a unique feel. Running from the
main concourse to the low roof, over a total height of
more than 25 m (82 ft.), the wood structure has only
one intermediate support point. The composite glulam
arches, spaced 5 m (16.4 ft.) apart, make up the 92 facets
of the arena oval. Black spruce in 25 x 25 mm (0.98 in.)
sections was selected for its local availability and struc-
tural characteristics, which made it possible to minimize
the dimensions of the imposing arches.

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 10
9 9

8 7
4
1 6 6
5 5
2
3

1. lobby 6. corporate suites

2. budweiser club 7. suites
3. home club dressing room 8. loft
4. north atrium 9. upper concourse level
5. main concourse level 10. media space

cross section

The expansive entrance hall opens onto a plaza, Owner

giving the commanding building a pedestrian-friendly City of Quebec
Quebec, QC
feel. The hall features a long, patterned-glass wall that
acts as a sunshield, minimizing solar gain in summer. Architects
The structure supports this impressive facade which ABCP Architecture
measures more than 93 m (305.1 ft.) long and 11 m Quebec, QC
(36 ft.) high, and is suspended dramatically 4 m (13.1 GLCRM Architects
ft.) above the ground. At night, the wall is lit to enhance Quebec, QC
the arena’s urban presence. The large plaza opposite the Populous
hall is sure to become a favorite spot for viewing hockey Kansas City, MO
games outside on the giant built-in screen.
S t r uc t u r a l E n g i n e e r
The need for proper protection of the wood to
maintain durability and aesthetics was important. SNC-Lavalin
Montreal, QC
At the Quebec City site, for example, environmental
conditions can be daunting, with long periods of cold G e n e r a l C o n t r a c to r
from the Arctic. High-performance, water-borne, Pomerleau
environmentally friendly wood finishes were used, Quebec, QC

some prior to construction. The finishes were selected

P h oto g r a p h y
to complement the coloration of the wood and were
Stéphane Groleau
recommended by Cecobois, a regional program of the Quebec, QC
Québec Forest Industry Council.
The arena and is seeking LEED Silver certification —
a rare qualification for a building of this type and size.
It’s the biggest public investment in the city’s history.
The developers’ trust in a wood design demonstrates
foresight and stands as a world-class example for build-
ing structures of all sizes, shapes and functions.

P r o j e c t Fac t s
Opened
Sept. 1, 2015
Budget
$400 million USD
Size
689,000 sq.ft.

28                    ‒ win t e r 2 0 1 5 - 1 6
 Naturally Durable Wood
Solutions Since 1971

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For Naturally Durable Hardwood CSI Master Specification Language, visit us at

ironwoods.com or call 1-888-932-9663
 French Expo 2015, the Universal Exhibition, was hosted last
year in Milan, Italy, from May 1 to October 31. More
than 140 participating countries mounted exhibits

Pavilion
that celebrated the theme, “Feeding the planet, energy
for life.” Many of the world’s most acclaimed archi-
tects were commissioned to design the pavilions. The
avant-garde pavilions celebrated form and function in
buildings intended to embody the essence, technical
expertise, and innovative spirit of the countries they
Unexpected organic contours represent.
moulded from glulam The French Pavilion’s architects began by talk-
ing with agriculture experts and sociologists, which
led to an understanding of France’s food identity as
Milan, Italy a product of both its amazing geological and genea-

30                    ‒ win t e r 2 0 1 5 - 1 6
logical diversity. The architect galvanized the idea of
a covered market as a crossroads where all foods meet
and decided to produce an archetypal market: free-
standing spaces sheltered under one huge roof.
To lure visitors in, the architects engineered a full-
immersion approach to the stagecraft. The building
invites people from the outside to embark on a jour-
ney inside. Once past the pavilion’s doors, visitors
are plunged into the upside-down world of the hilly
countryside.
Tree-like pillars support the living roof that frames
the spaces, functional areas and pathways. The ground
floor houses the market, exhibit booths and partner
zones. Unlike conventional covered markets where
products are displayed in stalls, this pavilion features
a variety of themed stations set into the chambers cre-
ated by the structure. These “vaults of plenty” serve
up a menu of offerings like regional specialities, deli-
cacy tastings, scientific and biotechnological research,
agro-ecology, new agri-food technologies, genetic dis-
coveries, life chemistry and beneficial flora. The next
floor hosts offices and VIP rooms. The top floor is a
restaurant.
The glue-laminated structure is made completely
of wood grown in France: the interior in spruce and
the exterior in larch. Every building element – from
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 The French Pavilion adopted a low-tech approach,
so the entire building can be taken apart and put back
together. With its cross-ventilation and the central
clerestory designed to remove heat, the market is natu-
rally ventilated and cool, making it a low-energy
consumption building.

Client
FranceAgriMer

Architects
XTU Architects
Paris, France

Atelien Architecture
Milan, Italy

S t r uc t u r a l E n g i n e e r
Grontmij
De Bilt, The Netherlands

P h oto g r a p h y
Andrea Bosio
Genova, Italy

the main and supporting structures and ceiling to the

floorboards and facades – is made of interlocking pieces
that form a single unified edifice that simultaneously
outlines the exterior casing and the interior expanse.
The carpenters used a high-precision digitally con-
trolled robot to cut out every angle of the framework.
The main structure is made of lattice girders and
pillars, spaced at 4.5 m (14.7 ft.), braced by a supporting
framework slotted in every 1.5 m (4.9 ft.). The result is a
P r o j e c t Fac t s
series of highly uniform right-angle cubicles. The proj- Completion
ect is groundbreaking because the orthogonal frame is April 2015
notched into uneven shapes called “frees” that create Building surface area
the stunning vault-like effect. The complex geometry of 38,018 sq.ft.
the French Pavilion’s framework creates a roller coaster
Cost
of curves that demonstrates wood’s ability to mould $15.2 million USD
into unexpected organic contours. Beyond its dramatic
- 750 different curved pieces
form, this marquee is a showcase for French innovation
in wood architecture using invisible fastening systems - 1,139 straight pieces
patented by Résix. - 172 surface pieces

32                    ‒ win t e r 2 0 1 5 - 1 6
we know wood
Wood is the natural choice for building today. For over 100 years Unalam has been an
innovative leader in wood manufacturing. Customers have the advantage of our glulam
design, engineering, and manufacturing expertise. Our approach to projects, whether a
bridge, custom home, elegant performance space, or sports arena is to work with you to
find a solution that is not just functional, but fantastic!

Call us today and learn why glulam is the natural choice for you.

18 Clifton St., P.O. Box K, Unadilla, NY 13849 | 607.369.9341

unalam.com | twitter.com/unalam | facebook.com/glulam
FEATURE
Big Box Retail:
Wood Saves Nearly $1 Million
Cost and environmental studies compare wood to steel
While many U.S. apartments are wood-
frame, wood structures are far less common
in stores and restaurants – even though
wood construction is permitted by code
in numerous applications – and the use of
wood in the sub-category known as ‘big
box’ retail is infrequent at best. To evaluate
the opportunity, WoodWorks commis-
sioned two studies, one cost comparison
and one life cycle assessment (LCA), on
the same big box project designed in steel
vs. wood. This article excerpt summarizes
the results of those studies and highlights
opportunities for greater wood use in this
segment of the construction market. To
read the full case study, visit http://www.
woodworks.org/wp-content/uploads/Big-
34                    ‒ win t e r 2 0 1 5 - 1 6
Box-Retail-Wood-vs-Steel-Oct-2015.pdf.
Among developers, architects and
engineers, cost tends to be cited as the
number one reason to specify wood as a
structural material. For multi-unit resi-
dential buildings, for example, design
teams often report that wood-frame con-
struction allows them to achieve greater
density at less cost, while meeting perfor-
mance goals and allowing more budget for
amenities. More recently, environmental
considerations such as wood’s relatively
light carbon footprint have been getting
a greater share of the attention, with some
governments going so far as to call for the
use of wood as a low-carbon alternative to
other materials.
In addition to the study highlights, this
excerpt discusses options for achieving
the design requirements of big box stores.
These requirements include:
• L arge, open f loor plan with tall
ceilings
• Minimal structure
• Interior space flexibility
• Adaptability – i.e., the ability to adapt
to future needs through redesign
Although these requirements are often
met with systems that include structural
steel columns, open web joists and joist
girders, and steel roof decking, they can
also be achieved with wood framing –
likely at less cost and with less impact on
the environment.
 Askew’s Foods Uptown Store
Photo Credit: Derek Lepper Photography

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FEATURE
This Whole Foods Market in Atlanta, GA, uses metal-plated glulam trusses, tongue and
groove decking, and glulam beams and columns. Photo Credit: S. Lockyear
Project Scope
Having received the drawings for a one-
story, 54,800-sq.ft. steel-frame big box
retail store in California (reference build-
ing), WoodWorks commissioned Parker
Structural Engineering to design a com-
parable building using wood materials
(proposed building). Both buildings are
designed according to the 2010 C ­ alifornia
Building Code which is based on the
­International Building Code model code.
The two designs share the same geom-
etry, structural layout, and column grid,
including:
• Rectilinear building footprint
• Sloping roof deck on joists supported
by a system of beams and perimeter
load bearing walls ±23'-8" in height
• System of columns which support the
beams, spaced at 30' – 45' by 30' – 64'
• Spread footings supporting the col-
umns and strip footings supporting
the perimeter walls
• A 400-sq.ft. equipment platform,
slab-on-grade construction and no
basement level
36                    ‒ win t e r 2 0 1 5 - 1 6
The buildings have the same gross floor
area, floor plan and layout, functions,
location, orientation and operating energy
performance. For the LCA study, equiva-
lent energy performance was established
by proxy in lieu of performing an energy
simulation for each building design. This
was done by maintaining the same win-
dow-to-wall ratio and by designing the
proposed building envelope to be ther-
mally equivalent to the reference building
envelope.
WoodWorks then provided both sets of
drawings to two firms. SSA Quantity Sur-
veyors was asked to undertake a detailed
cost comparison of the reference and pro-
posed structures. Coldstream Consulting,
a firm specializing in LCA of buildings,
was asked to undertake a cradle-to-grave
analysis of the material effects of structure,
envelope and interior partition assemblies.
Sixty years was selected for the service life
because this timeframe is commonly used
in North American LCA studies and is the
minimum requirement for the LEED v.4
whole building LCA credit.
Cost Comparison:
Wood vs. Steel
According to the comparison, the reference
steel building design was estimated to cost
$4,488,597, while the proposed wood build-
ing design was estimated to cost $3,499,971,
resulting in a total cost savings of $988,626
for the wood design. The total building cost
difference is equal to a 22% savings or $18
per sq.ft. savings for the wood building.
Hard costs associated with each build-
ing were limited primarily to structure and
envelope. Stairs and elevators, interior fin-
ishes, fittings and equipment, electrical and
mechanical were noted but not assigned
values.
The largest cost savings were associated
with the structure and roof insulation. The
structure category included items such as
roof framing (beams, trusses and decking)
and vertical framing (columns and wall
framing). A large number of items includ-
ing the slab-on grade foundation, roofing,
wall finishes, and exterior windows and
doors were identical for both buildings and
are included in the Other category.

Structure cost savings associated with
the wood design totaled approximately
$425,000. Ranked from highest to lowest,
savings were concentrated in roof framing
beams, roof decking, roof framing col-
umns, primary roof framing such as trusses
and joists and wall framing.
It is interesting to note that the wood roof
option required a direct-applied ceiling due
to the use of batt insulation (as opposed to
rigid insulation on top of the decking for
the steel option), which consisted of one
layer of 5/8" gypsum and resilient chan-
nels. While this added about $80,000 to the
overall cost, the structure cost savings was
still approximately $425,000.
Savings associated with roof insula-
tion represented the largest single element
savings (over $400,000), due to the cost
difference between rigid insulation (steel
design) and batt insulation (wood design).
The rigid insulation was 4½" XPS (extruded
polystyrene) and the batt insulation was
5½" fiberglass. Each insulation option pro-
vided a roof insulation R-value of 22. The
depth of wood roof and wall framing asso-
ciated with big box stores, due to roof spans
and wall heights, is typically more than
adequate to house batt insulation, even
in colder climates where more insulation
may be required. Where more insulation
is required, the increased cost of insulation
would still be offset by significant savings
associated with the wood structure as well
as increased energy efficiency.
Due to the lower hard costs associated
with the wood design, additional savings
of $162,706 were achieved in contractor’s
general requirements and contingencies.
Environmental Performance:
Wood vs. Steel
Life cycle assessment is an internation-
ally recognized method for measuring
the environmental impacts of materials,
assemblies or buildings over their entire
lives – from extraction or harvest of raw
materials through manufacturing, trans-
portation, installation, use, maintenance
and disposal or recycling. It allows design
professionals to compare different build-
ing designs based on their environmental
impacts and make informed choices about
COST
Nearly $1 million savings
(22%), primarily:
• Structure cost savings – $425,000
• Roof insulation savings – $400,000
ENVIRONMENT
Better than steel in 5 out
of 6 impact categories:
• Global warming potential
• Acidification Potential
• Eutrophication potential
• Smog potential
• Non-renewable energy use
the materials they use.
Increasingly, LCA is being used instead
of a prescriptive approach to material
selection, which assumes that certain
prescribed practices (such as specify-
ing products with recycled content) are
better for the environment regardless of
the product’s manufacturing process or
disposal. This shift is reflected in all of
the major green building rating systems,
codes and standards, including LEED v.4,
Green Globes, the International Green
Construction Code, California Green Build-
ing Standards Code and ASHRAE 189.1.
LCA studies consistently show that
wood outperforms other materials across
a range of environmental performance
indicators including embodied energy, air
and water pollution, and carbon footprint.
Scope of Life Cycle Assessment
The LCA described in this paper was
conducted in conformance with the
Committee for European Standardiza-
tion (CEN) standard EN 15978, which
stipulates an LCA-based calculation
and reporting method for whole build-
ings or building parts. While European
                   ‒ win t e r 2 0 1 5 - 1 6
FEATURE
in scope, many EN 15978 provisions are
becoming the standard manner by which
whole-building LCA work is conducted
worldwide.
For sake of clarity and conciseness, of
the 17 indicators applicable to this study,
the LCA comparison of the steel and wood
buildings focused on the following six
required for the LEED v.4 whole-building
LCA credit:
1. Global warming potential
2. Ozone depletion potential
3. Acidification potential
4. Eutrophication potential
5. Smog potential
6. Non-renewable energy use
Whole-building LCA typically draws
on environmental product declarations
(EPDs) and/or life cycle inventory (LCI)
environmental data sources. The wood
industry has been at the forefront of this
trend and EPDs are available for many
wood products (www.awc.org). How-
ever, this assessment did not use EPDs
as a source of data since 1) EPDs are not
widely available for competing building
products, and 2) there is, so far, a lack of
consistency between EPDs in different
product categories.
The assessment drew on the following
three LCI data sources:
• The Athena LCI Database (http://www.
athenasmi.org/our-software-data/
lca-databases/)
• T he US LCI Database (http://www.
nrel.gov/lci/)
• The Ecoinvent LCI Database (http://
www.ecoinvent.ch/)
This study considered the following ele-
ments: foundations, slab-on-grade, floor
construction, roof construction, exterior
walls, exterior windows, exterior doors
and roof coverings. This group of elements
broadly includes structure, envelope and
interior partition materials, which corre-
sponds to the current modeling capacity of
the Athena Impact Estimator LCA software
and is compliant with the requirements of
the LEED v.4 whole-building LCA credit.
Notable assessment omissions include:
• Non-structural fasteners, clips, etc.
• Surface treatments (e.g., weather-
proofing, fire retardant coatings)
37
FEATURE

• Adhesives and sealants

• Soffit, drain covers, vents, roof hatches, etc.
• Temporary works used during construction and demoli-
tion/deconstruction phases (e.g., shoring, formwork)
• Freezer and cooler box, including walls and doors
• Soil treatments

LCA Results
The proposed wood building uses less mass of materials than
the reference steel building and performs better against five of
the six environmental indicators.
In addition to manufacturing processes, transportation and
other factors, the amount of materials used in a building has an
impact on its LCA results. The total mass of materials used by
the steel and wood designs are 6,924 and 5,923 metric tonnes,
respectively, resulting in a 14% reduction for the proposed
wood building. Relative to the steel building, the wood build-
ing uses 66% less steel, 26% less concrete, 1,125% more wood
and 36% more gypsum. Differences between Fossil Fuel Derived
and Other products can be primarily attributed to the choice of
roof insulation – i.e., extruded polystyrene vs. fiberglass batt. Highlights from the LCA Report
Impacts of the proposed wood building are lower than those
of the steel building for all indicators except ozone depletion
potential, where the proposed building results were 5% higher.
Raw Materials through Demolition/Disposal:
• Global warming potential: wood building saves 642 tonnes
of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e)
• Non-renewable energy use: wood building saves 9,116 giga-
joules (GJ)
• Raw material supply and manufacturing: wood building
has an average of 30% less impact across all indicators
• End of life transport: wood building has 11% less impact
across all indicators

Conclusion
Although big box retail buildings are typically framed with
structural steel, masonry and concrete, significant cost savings
and environmental impact reductions can be realized through
the use of wood framing. As this paper illustrates, wood was
able to meet the same performance criteria as steel for a 54,800-
sq.ft. big box store in California while saving nearly $1 million,
using 14% less total mass of materials, and performing better
overall and in five out of six LCA environmental impact catego-
ries. For these reasons, designers are encouraged to consider
wood framing as an alternative to traditional building materials
for big box stores and retail building projects.

Reprinted with permission. WoodWorks – The Wood Products Council is available

to provide project assistance at no cost related to the use of wood in retail
buildings – or any non-residential or multi-family building in the U.S. Email the
project assistance help desk at help@woodworks.org or visit the WoodWorks
website to contact a regional member of WoodWorks’ technical staff: www.
woodworks.org/project-assistance.

38                    ‒ winter 2 0 1 5 - 1 6
 WOOD you like to connect?
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IDEAS&applications

N-Habit Belltown
photo credit: Lifestring Photography

Putting the Pieces Together

On the right projects, prefabrication and modular
construction can increase speed and lower cost

40                    ‒ winter 2 0 1 5 - 1 6

For a growing number of contractors and
developers, it’s the answer to a million-
dollar question: how to build faster, safer
and better – and do it for less.
Although the choice to use on-site
wood framing versus some level of pre-
fabrication depends on many factors,
prefabricated and modular construction
can offer a number of benefits, including
faster construction, improved material
efficiency and worker safety, enhanced
quality assurance, and reduced material,
labor and interest costs.
Options range from prefabricated com-
ponents and panelized assemblies to full
modular units. In the U.S., for example, all
can be used for a wide variety of applica-
tions, including Type III or V structures up
to five stories for education, commercial,
multi-family, healthcare and other occu-
pancies under the International Building
Code (IBC). Prefabricated and modular
designs can accommodate architectural
aesthetics such as building offsets, angled
walls, balconies, pitched roofs, and more.
In fact, in a well-designed structure, it can
be impossible to tell that any level of pre-
fabrication was used at all.
Wood is well-suited for prefabricated
and modular construction because it is
lightweight and easily transported, strong,
straightforward to engineer, energy effi-
cient, durable and cost-effective.
Benefits of Prefabrication
Prefabrication can offer a variety of
benefits, especially when it comes to
prefabricated systems and modular
construction.
Speed – Prefabrication may allow simul-
taneous instead of linear construction,
which shortens on-site erection time. As
foundation work is being done on site,
fabricators and manufacturers can be
building prefabricated components, pan-
elized systems or modules at the same
time, speeding construction. This can also
lessen the impact of weather disruptions
because workers have a protected work
environment for fabrication, which helps
ensure on-time delivery of components to
the jobsite.
Once on site, erection is also faster both
with panelized and modular systems.
According to Harold Marek, Director
of Modular Design for Clayton Building
Solutions, contractors can set anywhere
from eight to 12 modules a day. Using
typical 16-ft. x 60-ft. modules, this can
translate into 12,000 sq.ft. of completed
structure daily.
Added Value/Lower Cost – Many factors
can lead to lower cost. Prefabricated com-
ponents, systems and modular units are
assembled under controlled conditions
using materials which are often ordered
from the supplier cut to exact lengths.
This results in more efficient material
utilization. Consistent conditions may
also help improve labor productivity.
Fabricators and manufacturers often pre-
buy materials, which can lead to more
predictable profits for developers and
contractors. Speed of construction leads
to earlier completion and faster occu-
pancy, resulting in quicker revenue and
less interest paid on construction loans.
Quality Assurance – The controlled fab-
rication and manufacturing environment
is easy to monitor and inspect; depending
on the level of prefabrication, multiple
inspections may take place through-
out the process to ensure a high quality
assembly. Because components and sys-
tems are built in a climate-controlled
environment, there is less weather-related
damage to materials and fewer potential
moisture issues. Prefabrication facilities
use tables and jigs for walls, ceilings and
floor systems, which helps ensure consis-
tent results.
Reduced Risk/Improved Safety – For
panelized and modular construction,
the chance of injuries on the jobsite is
reduced because assembly takes place on
the ground in a familiar, monitored envi-
ronment without hazards caused by bad
weather. There is also less risk to mate-
rials at the jobsite because prefabricated
components, systems and modules are
typically delivered and installed within
a day or two.
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IDEAS&applications
Environmental Benefits – Because com-
ponents and systems are prefabricated,
on-site waste is reduced. Less than five
percent scrap is typical for modular con-
struction, which means less material going
to landfills. Prefabrication also results in
less site disturbance and thus lower envi-
ronmental impact at the jobsite, while
tighter tolerances may create fewer gaps
between assemblies, resulting in improved
energy efficiency.
Building Codes and Inspection
All prefabricated building materials
– regardless of whether they are compo-
nents, assemblies or modular structures
– must be designed to current IBC require-
ments applicable at the jobsite location.
Inspection requirements, on the other
hand, depend on the type of component.
Wallace Building Products specializes
in prefabricated wall, floor and roof sys-
tems. “We build open-wall construction,
so there’s no inspection process in our
facility,” said Doug Hounsell, Wallace’s
Sales Manager. “All the inspections and
certifications are done on site by the engi-
neer and building inspector during their
walk-through, just like they would for a
traditionally-framed job.”
Inspections for modular construction
are different. “Each modular manufac-
turing facility uses third-party inspectors
that work for the state,” explained Howard
Koenig, CEO of Zeta Design+Build.
“When we ship modules to a jobsite, our
modular units must meet local ordi-
nances, so building inspectors from the
local jurisdiction make sure that anything
delivered on site meets the code require-
ments of that city or county.”
Third-party inspectors do their work
from the Zeta Design+Build factory,
inspecting modules as they move down
the assembly line. “When a module is
approved, it gets an insignia fixed on the
exterior,” said Taeko Takagi, Zeta’s Vice
President of Product Development. “The
module is then closed up so local inspec-
tors don’t have to worry about what’s
behind the walls; they’re only looking at
the connections made on site. It’s really
quite easy.”
41
IDEAS&applications
“Like other modular manufacturers, we
also have our own quality control program
where we inspect everything as it is being
built,” added Clayton Building Solutions’
Marek. “For some projects, the owner will
also have an inspector in the plant as the
individual components are built. The key
to success is to have the local authorities
or inspectors available; we invite them to
our facility to show them the assembly
line before we go into production. We
also meet with the fire inspectors before
we begin assembly, to make sure that the
completed module will meet all their
requirements before we begin.”
Panelized Construction
Panelized construction, where prefabri-
cated building components are assembled
into larger panels before being shipped
to a building site, is efficient, fast and
cost-effective.
When wall, floor and roof components
are pre-assembled in a climate-controlled
environment, builders and developers can
save time and money with improved speed
and ensured quality. Fabrication capabili-
ties vary, but firms that target commercial
construction can typically fabricate wall
panels up to 60 feet long (or more) and
up to 16 feet tall that include window
and door openings and sheathing on the
exterior face. Roof and floor systems can
also be panelized in similar-sized sec-
tions using dimension lumber, trusses or
I-joists. Panels are sheathed to allow for
staggered installation of wood structural
panels between sections on site.
Quality is a key benefit of panelized
construction. “Our factory guys are not
factory workers,” said Wallace’s Houn-
sell. “They’re framers who frame inside.
We frame everything and nail it all with
a nail gun on tables; it’s all hand-done.”
Since fabricators often buy material on
contract and can produce components and
systems year-round, this can help them
reduce the impact of price fluctuations
during the year. “Panelizing simplifies the
construction process,” Hounsell added.
“Contractors come to us because we give
them a fixed price contract for an erected
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package. We provide the trucking, lumber,
field labor, hangers and other hardware –
all for a fixed price.
“The multi-family market is very strong
right now. Developers want to shorten
the timeframe between when they begin
construction and when the project is com-
plete, because that’s when their cash flow
turns positive. Panelized construction
helps them do that.”
Modular Construction
Most agree that the modular construction
industry is and will continue to grow, in
large part because owners and developers
want their projects completed quickly and
cost-effectively.
Companies fabricate complete modules
with finished exteriors and interiors, and
complete mechanical/electrical/plumbing
systems installed. Modules can arrive at
the jobsite up to 95 per cent complete.
Built in a controlled environment by
skilled workers, modules are inspected
multiple times by independent inspectors
and approved before being transported to
the jobsite. Once there, they are lifted into
place by crane and then all modules and
MEP systems are connected together. A
qualified general contractor then finishes
the exterior of the building and turns
over a completed project. Once erected,
modern modular buildings are essentially
indistinguishable from typical site-built
structures.
Modular construction is different from
manufactured housing or mobile homes
because modules are always installed on
a foundation, slab or podium, and are
under the jurisdiction of the local building
department (IBC instead of HUD/Housing
and Urban Development) for permits and
inspection.
Projects can also be built using a hybrid
of modular and traditional or panelized
construction, since not every design is
suited to just one method. For example,
a student or senior housing project may
consist of a central space flanked on either
side by rooms. The architect may want to
feature long spans and exposed framing
members in the central area, which is better
suited to traditional framing, whereas the
other areas may be built using modular
construction, which is most cost-effective
when the module design can be repeated.
Challenges, Opportunities
Opportunities for both panelized and
modular construction are growing as archi-
tects, general contractors and developers
become more familiar with their benefits.
But with growth comes both challenge and
opportunity.
Historically, modular construction was
used when the structure was a simple box,
but current construction capabilities allow
more creative designs. “Our industry will
continue to grow and improve as we work
together to build attractive modular struc-
tures,” said Marek. “But these can be more
complicated to build. We will also be chal-
lenged by the fact that we need to have all
the answers up front before modules go into
production; that’s one of the biggest chal-
lenges for modular manufacturers.”
Modular construction is also opening
doors to projects that weren’t previously
possible. “A lot of developers who never
even thought about modular construction
are now considering it because of speed,”
said Koenig. “We are also seeing a lot of
interest in modular because some think
this type of construction holds the key for
below-market-rate and affordable housing.”
Marek added, “Some people think that
the main benefit of what we do is that it’s
less expensive. That’s not always true. But
it is more efficient. You certainly will save
time with modular construction, and the
process will result in a very high quality
building.”
Excerpt reprinted with permission. WoodWorks –
The Wood Products Council is available to provide
project assistance at no cost related to the use of
wood in retail buildings – or any non-residential or
multi-family building in the U.S. Email the project
assistance help desk at help@woodworks.org or visit
the WoodWorks website to contact a regional member
of WoodWorks’ technical staff: www.woodworks.org/
project-assistance. To read the full case study, visit:
www.woodworks.org/wp-content/uploads/prefab-
modular_case_study.pdf
 CANADIAN TIMBERFRAMES LIMITED
Producing North America’s Premier Custom Timber Frame Structures.
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Canadiantimberframes.com/projects/hilltopretreat
TechnicalSolutions

Glued Composites
Stiffer, yet more ductile and more predictable in failure than
screws, glued composites are further extending the use of wood

Maik Gehloff

concrete
As the world’s oldest building material,
wood has been used in various forms concrete HBV– shear-connector
for millennia. From solid sawn timber
and lumber to modern engineered wood
products like LVL, glulam and OSB, wood
reinforcement
products have evolved over time and the
concrete bearing HBV– shear-connector timber
connections used to combine these mate- timber
rials in structures must keep pace. HBV– shear-connector

The design of connections in a timber

structure has the single biggest influence Wrapped-around concrete, with front end shear connector.
on the performance of that structure. Detail provided courtesy of Leander Bathon, University of Applied Sciences Wiesbaden.
Traditional connections, such as mor-
tise and tenon or bolted connections, are
rather inefficient and, more often than concrete
not, govern the timber sizes in order to
allow sufficient end and edge distances concrete
and to accommodate the fastener spacing
required to transfer the loads. It comes
as no surprise then that a considerable
amount of research has been focused on
timber
connections and connection systems. reinforcement HBV– shear-connector

Among the more modern developments wall

in connections technology are self-tap-
ping wood screws and systems that use
self-tapping wood screws. Systems and
connections based on self-tapping wood
screws have found wide acceptance in
the industry today and are present in
almost all larger wood structures.
Now, however, with ongoing improve-
ments in adhesive technologies, the latest
trend is toward glued connections. Glued
connections have some advantages over
screwed connections, in stiffness, but
also in shape. Connections using screws
generally rely on the principle of individ-
ual struts forming a system to transfer
loads. These individual struts require
some attention when trying to create
connections that can be loaded around
HBV– shear-connector
timber
Extended concrete, with top side shear connector.
Detail provided courtesy of Leander Bathon, University of Applied Sciences Wiesbaden.
a corner, for example, as can be the case
for some support conditions. Glued con-
nections allow utilization of plate-like
elements that by their shape alone allow
such support conditions.
The technology has been used in vari-
ous high-profile projects, including the
Earth and Ocean Sciences Building at
the University of British Columbia in
Vancouver where there are wood-con-
crete-composite floors and glued steel
mesh for the stunning staircase. Another
example is the Wood Innovation and
Design Centre (WIDC) in Prince George,
BC, where the staggered floor panels are
connected using glued in steel mesh.
Glued connections, as previously
mentioned, are very stiff but also duc-
tile. Using a glued in steel mesh provides
yielding in the connection. The stiffness
of glued connections makes them very
interesting for limiting deflection and

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optimizing member sizing. Great exam-
ples are wood-concrete-composite floor
systems where the overall floor thick-
ness can be optimized. These composites
can also be created using glued in rods,
self-tapping wood screws or mechanical
interlocking systems like dados cut into
the wood. These different systems vary
in their performance and stiffness and
can be adjusted by changing the number
of fasteners used to create the composite
action between the wood and concrete.
Another advantage of a wood-con-
crete-composite is that in almost all
cases, the concrete is at the top of the
composite and covers the wood, pro-
tecting it from the elements. In this
configuration, with the concrete as the
top layer, wood-concrete-composites are
a viable option for bridges. Tradition-
ally, a wooden bridge was covered with
a roof to protect the wood deck from
the elements and increase the longev-
ity of the bridge. With larger demands
on bridges in terms of capacity, wooden
bridges have been replaced by reinforced
concrete bridges, which are themselves
composites, using steel in tension and
concrete in compression. The steel is cast
in concrete to protect it from corrosion,
essentially forming a protective “roof ”
over the material, like the roofs built
over traditional wood bridges. Combin-
ing that with all other benefits of the
wood-concrete composites, large wood
bridges are now more feasible.
With the increased capacity and effi-
ciency of wood-concrete composites,
whether screwed or glued, new challenges
have arisen. One of these challenges is
providing the necessary bearing to sup-
port such composites. The nature of the
composite uses the wood in tension and
since the wood is almost always located
at the bottom of the composite, the com-
pression force perpendicular to the wood
grain becomes the limiting factor for
bearing support. Research on reinforcing
wood in compression perpendicular to
the grain has shown that such reinforce-
ment is possible and feasible, but limited
by the geometry of the support condi-
tion and the wood cross section. Another
potential challenge for the bearing sup-
port of wood-concrete composite bridges
would be wood to concrete contact near
the end-grain which can pose a risk to
the longevity of the structure due to the
decay of the wood in the support area.
Research at the University of Applied
Sciences in Wiesbaden, Germany, has
taken a closer look at the particular
issue of increasing the bearing capacity
of wood-concrete composites, for both
residential/commercial construction,
as well as for bridges. The research has
shown that using glued in steel mesh
as the shear connector (HBV) for com-
posite action dramatically increases the
bearing capacity. That increase in bearing
capacity is achieved by stopping the wood
element short of the support and instead
bearing on the concrete. This provides a
greater compressive strength than wood
perpendicular to the grain and resolves
the potential issue of wood decay in the
support area. The bearing on the concrete
portion of the wood-concrete-composite
can be achieved in two different ways,
depending on the particular need. One
option is wrapping the concrete around
and another is to simply extend it to create
a bearing surface (Figures 1 and 2). The
shear transfer either at the front end for
the wrapped around option as well as
the top for the extended option are also
shown in the figures.
Glued in connectors, whether used in
wood-concrete-composites or in wood-
to-wood connections, have been used
in Canada and in Europe. In Europe
they have been used the construction of
wind towers, an application which shows
their ability to handle even the tough-
est conditions like the dynamic loads
present on wind turbine towers. Figures
3 and 4 show application examples of
glued wood-concrete-composites where
an increase in bearing strength was
required and achieved. Figure 3 depicts
the bearing condition of a wood-concrete
composite on a concrete wall. Figure
4 illustrates the bearing condition of a
fully pre-fabricated wood bridge where
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TechnicalSolutions
Wood-concrete-composite bearing on concrete wall
in residential construction. Image provided courtesy
of Leander Bathon, University of Applied Sciences
Wiesbaden.
Wood-concrete-composite bridge bearing on concrete
support. Image provided courtesy of Leander Bathon,
University of Applied Sciences Wiesbaden.
there is increased bearing capacity but
also increased protection of the wood.
The wood is not in contact with the
concrete support and the concrete deck
forms a protective “roof ” for the beams.
In summary, it can be said that the use
of glued wood-concrete-composites
increases the number of opportunities to
use wood and wood composites into
areas that were, until now, out of reach
with screwed or form-fitting shear con-
nectors. Not only are glued composites
far stiffer, they are also more ductile and
more predictable in failure than their
screwed counterparts and thus an excel-
lent solution for more complex and
demanding applications.
Maik Gehloff is the founder and owner of Gehloff
Consulting Inc. as well as a Senior Lab Instructor
at the University of Northern British Columbia’s
Masters of Engineering in Integrated Wood
Design program. Maik Gehloff holds a Dipl.-Ing.
(FH) degree in Wood Science and Technology
specializing in timber engineering from the
University for Applied Sciences in Eberswalde,
Germany, as well as a MASc in Timber Engineering
from University of British Columbia (UBC) in
Vancouver. He is a member of the Timber Framers
Guild of North America as well as the Timber
Frame Engineering Council. He can be reached at
maik.gehloff@unbc.ca.
45
 W A R E

Canoes, Light
and Whales
Brenden North is a Canadian
artist who creates sculptures
out of wooden canoes and light.
When an accident shattered the
right side of North’s skull, it
was reconstructed with
titanium. The artist’s very
personal theme, Bone and
Armor, resonates throughout his
work, where one side of the
piece shows the ribs/bone,
while the other side is
concealed. Old canoes are the
perfect vessel for this artistry.
Each unwanted canoe has a
story to tell, and North gives it
another life and purpose. The
pieces are deconstructed
according to a design
influenced by whale skeletons,
and light is used to bounce
shadows through the structure
to tell a story. The finished
pieces combine nature, art and
functional design in an organic
and interesting way.
www.brendennorth.com

46                    ‒ win t e r 2 0 1 5 - 1 6
SMARTER. From the ground up.
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buildings throughout North America. Our craftsmanship and off-site
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elegance and value.

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