With a height of 29.5 metres, the Wood Innovation and Design Centre (WIDC) is the tallest contemporary wood building in North America. Located in the city of Prince George in northern British Columbia, the WIDC was conceived as a showcase for local wood products and as a demonstration of the province’s growing expertise in the design and construction of large wood buildings.
The building has eight levels (six storeys, plus a ground floor mezzanine and a rooftop mechanical penthouse). The lower levels will accommodate faculty and students enrolled in the new Master of Engineering in Integrated Wood Design (MEng), to be launched by the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC) in January 2016 and the new Centre for Design Innovation and Entrepreneurship to be launched by Emily Carr University of Art and Design in fall 2016. Academic facilities include a research/teaching lab that will support the design, fabrication and testing of wood products; a 75-seat lecture theatre; classrooms; a student lounge; gathering and meeting areas; and a learning resource centre. The upper floors will provide office space for public and private sector organizations associated with the wood industry.
Over the long term, the WIDC will advance wood education and innovation in the province, enhance expertise in wood manufacturing, product development and engineering – all of which will help to expand opportunities for international exports of products and services. In addition, its striking presence in the heart of the city will assist in the revitalization of downtown Prince George.
This case study describes the most important innovations that were implemented to meet design and safety criteria in what is a new class of buildings for British Columbia. These innovations included:
A set of site-specific regulations to ensure life safety and structural integrity;
The use of vertical cross-laminated timber (CLT) elements (including mechanical, elevator and stair shafts) to provide lateral stability to the structure;
The use of double layer CLT floors to meet structural requirements and contribute to acoustic isolation and efficient services distribution;
The use of superimposed (end grain-to-end grain bearing) columns to control shrinkage over the height of the building; and,
The use of high strength proprietary connectors to speed construction and improve structural performance.
