CentrePlace Manitoba was commissioned by the Province of Manitoba, with a goal of creating a temporary Olympic pavilion that represented the energy of the province and its people while reinforcing its commitment to sustainability. Designed as a dynamic, uniquely Manitoban architectural statement that transcends the “white fabric tent”, the 232 m² (2500 square foot) pavilion was initially showcased at the 2010 Vancouver Olympic and Paralympic Games as both an interactive exhibit space and as a venue for business and cultural receptions.

The design concept was initiated through a visioning session in June 2009 where Manitobans from diverse backgrounds came together to discuss what best represented the province they called home. The recurring themes drawn from this session gave the design team their starting point of creating an inviting space that drew upon the spirit and nature of the people of Manitoba. The simple contrast of wood and light became the basis for the creation of a pavilion that would become a beacon, welcoming visitors through a generous front porch and an oversized pivoting door.

The design team met client design objectives by making a number of strategic decisions to ensure that the project would showcase the province’s commitment to sustainability and provide a legacy building that would serve beyond the pavilion’s initial five-week purpose. One of the key objectives was to ensure Universal Design and Access. To achieve all these design requirements, CentrePlace Manitoba had to:

utilize Manitoba labour and regional materials

offer an interactive exhibit space showcasing Manitoba’s unique culture

be efficient in material use and energy consumption

be compact, transportable, and 100% reusable at a future site

favour passive systems over dedicated ones

The Environmental Education Centre is the architectural showcase for the Shepard Wetlands, a constructed wetland that lies within the newly designated Ralph Klein Legacy Park on the outskirts of Calgary. The Shepard Wetlands act as a management, filtration and cleaning system for the city’s storm water. The centre sits on piles within the wetland itself, appearing alternately to hover or float with the rise and fall of the water level in the retention pond. The 20,800sf (1932m2 ), two storey building includes classrooms, exhibition space, administrative and support facilities, and provides a location for interactive public education on wetlands, water issues, sustainability, and environmental ethics and values. The smaller upper floor contains the offices of Ducks Unlimited, and provides access to viewing terraces and vegetated roof areas. The majority of the structure consists of exposed concrete, glulam beams and joists that integrate structure with architecture. Long span glulam beams support heavy patio and vegetative (green) roof loads.

This case study examines two wood buildings, both with primary retail commercial occupancies, but which employ different mass timber products to achieve very different effects. Askew’s Uptown Supermarket in Salmon Arm, BC, features an expansive nail-laminated timber (NLT) roof that appears to float above the retail floor (Figure 1.1), while the Whistler Community Services Society Building in Whistler, BC, uses a robust, utilitarian exposed glued-laminated timber (glulam) and cross-laminated timber (CLT) structure as befits the building’s industrial setting (Figure 1.2).

In April 2019 John Horgan, Premier of British Columbia, announced a new directive to require municipalities and the BC government to strongly consider the use of wood in public buildings, both as a structural material and for interior finishes. The goal of this initiative is to increase demand for BC’s wood products and to assist the forest industry in dealing with the significant impacts of climate change. To date, these have included the mountain pine beetle infestation and an increase in the frequency and severity of forest fires, both of which have had widespread negative consequences for the industry across the province.

When announcing the initiative, Premier Horgan stated: “We will expect the result to maximize the potential of the existing timber supply, maintain jobs, incorporate First Nations’ interests, and address the economic, cultural, recreational and other uses of BC’s land base.” New engineered mass timber products, supported by new legislation, now make it possible for wood to be used in a wide range of projects, both urban and rural.

This case study showcases two recent projects that illustrate the value and versatility of wood, both in its response to technical challenges and in its contribution to economic and social sustainability in communities around the province.

In Vancouver, Fire Hall No. 5 (Figure 1.1) is an example of an innovative response to rising land costs and the shortage of affordable social housing; while in the Kootenay village of Radium Hot Springs, a wealth of local wood products, manufacturing capabilities and craft skills combine in a community hall and library that can truly be called a ‘100-mile building’ (Figure 1.2).