The 18-storey Brock Commons student residence at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver is now the world’s tallest wood building. Photo UBC
Completed four months ahead of schedule, the 18-storey Brock Commons student residence at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver is now the world’s tallest wood building.
Vancouver’s Acton Ostry Architects designed the building in collaboration with structural engineer Fast + Epp. Other key firms involved with the project are: GHL Consultants Ltd. as fire science and building code consultants; RDH Building Science; Stantec for mechanical, electrical and sustainability; and EnerSys Analytics for energy modeling. The tall wood advisor is Architekten Hermann Kaufmann of Austria, while Structurlam in Penticton, BC provided the prefabricated wood components. UBC Properties Trust is managing the project.
“This remarkable building, the first of its kind in the world, is another shining example of Canadian ingenuity and innovation, an apt demonstration of how Canada’s forest industry is finding new opportunities through technology and innovation – opening up a world of possibilities for our forest and construction industries,” said Jim Carr, Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources in a media release issued by UBC.
It is the first mass wood, steel and concrete hybrid project taller than 14 storeys in the world. The building has a concrete podium and two concrete cores, with 17 storeys of cross-laminated-timber floors supported on glue-laminated wood columns. The cladding for the facade is made with 70 per cent wood fibre.
With the structure and cladding now complete, the focus is now on interior elements, with completion expected in early May 2017. The building is expected to welcome more than 400 students in September 2017.
According to the release, the residence is expected to cost approximately $51.5 million. The building is targeting LEED Gold certification.
