North America's tallest wood building

Friday 13 Apr 2012

 
B.C. is moving ahead with plans to build what is expected to be the tallest wood building in North America and possibly the world, Jobs Minister Pat Bell said. The proposed 10-storey Wood Innovation and Design Centre in Prince George will become a test case for creating a value-added forest products industry around tall wood building construction methods that would differ radically from the way traditional mid-rise and even highrise buildings are constructed.

Bell said that within 30 days, the province will seek qualified firms to design and construct the building out of engineered wood beam products instead of traditional concrete and steel beams. The province has already received 34 expressions of interest. The wood building would be the tallest in B.C., “likely North America and possibly the world,” Bell said.

“I think the opportunities around non-residential tall building construction as it relates to softwood is the first really good value-added industry opportunity I’ve seen.” The Minister said. He said for the engineered wood building industry to be successful, it has to develop the technical expertise, create production capacity and change outdated building codes that don’t contemplate using wood beams instead of steel or concrete.

As a result, Bell said the province is pushing ahead with the Prince George tower as a demonstration project, which will either be given a ministerial exemption or qualify under an “alternative materials” section of the building code. In either case, the design would have to meet current engineering standards around structural, fire and safety limits, he said.

The building would be used as a teaching and research centre for developing innovative wood products. Bell wouldn’t give an estimate of the cost, but media in Prince George reported it may cost upwards of $75 million.

Source: The Vancouver Sun


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