Design Example of Wood Diaphragm on Reinforced CMU Shearwalls
This document is design example of Wood Diaphragm on Reinforced CMU Shearwalls. It uses a school gymnasium located in Surrey, British Columbia as the example. The plan dimensions are 20m x 30m, with a total building height of 7m. The walls are 190 mm reinforced CMU, and the roof diaphragm consists of plywood sheathing and SPF framing members. The roof plan is shown in Figure 1. The site is Seismic Class ‘C’. Wind, snow and seismic data specific to the project location are taken from the latest version of the National Building Code (2010). Roof dead load is assumed to be 0.9 kPa and the wall weight is 2.89 kPa. The weight of non-structural items including mechanical equipment has not been included in this example for simplicity.
The R-Town V6 pilot project is the first 6-storey, mixed-use, multi-unit residential building developed in Ontario that fully employs mass timber as the main structural system. The energy-efficient wood building was designed to Passive House standards and built with lower embodied carbon materials.
The decision to use Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) for the elevator cores and exit stair enclosures helped simplify the build by eliminating the challenge of integrating a noncombustible core into a wood building. It required the team to obtain approval for an alternative solution because this approach to construction currently falls outside the prescriptive requirements for 6-storey combustible construction in Ontario’s building code.
It was the development team’s vision to bring the benefits of offsite manufacturing to the midrise market in Toronto and the panelized, tallwood design developed for R-Town V6 streamlined the assembly process and successfully demonstrated proof of concept for challenging infill developments.
This modern approach to construction accelerates and improves project delivery and the versatile, repeatable design contributes to a sustainable and much-needed increase in density along urban arterial roads, creating more attractive, desirable housing in established, walkable neighbourhoods.
Four-Storey Wood School Design in British Columbia: Life Cycle Analysis Comparisons
Climate change is one of the largest threats facing the planet today. The construction industry accounts for 11% of global carbon emissions, playing a significant part in the climate crisis. To determine the best solution for future school buildings, not only does practicability, economy and constructability play a part, so does sustainability.
In order to better understand the embodied carbon emissions associated with the construction of new school buildings in British Columbia, the embodied carbon content associated with the four framing systems examples in the companion report, An Analysis of Structural System Cost Comparisons (costing study), was assessed. The purpose of this study is to allow the embodied carbon associated with these systems to become an important factor when choosing a viable scheme.
Embodied carbon is the carbon footprint of a material or product. To determine the embodied carbon of a building you must consider the quantity of greenhouse gases associated with the building. The most effective way to measure this is through Life Cycle Analysis (LCA), a study which determines the embodied carbon from cradle to grave (material extraction to building demolition). Consequently, an LCA was conducted for each of the four schemes presented in the costing study. Additionally, for wood frame Options A and B, WoodWorks online carbon calculator was used to determine the potential carbon savings associated with carbon sequestering.
Dowel Laminated Timber A new mass timber product in North America
Course Overview
Dowel‐laminated timber is a next generation mass timber product commonly used in Europe, where it is also known as brettstapel. Panels are made from softwood lumber boards stacked like the boards of NLT, friction‐fit together with hardwood beech dowels instead of nails. DLT is the only mass timber product which is 100 per cent wood – it involves no glue or nails. Unique to DLT as a mass timber product, acoustic profiles can be integrated directly into the bottom surface of a panel. DLT panels processed using CNC machinery create a high tolerance panel which can also contain pre‐integrated electrical conduit and other service runs. StructureCraft will be the first manufacturer of DLT in North America, with a new automated manufacturing line and plant beginning production in 2017. This presentation will discuss how DLT differs from other mass timber products in its use and specification. Topics will include potential applications, introduction to the design and construction process and costs.
Learning Objectives
What is Dowel Laminated Timber?
Potential applications of DLT.
Introduction to design and construction detailing.
Product availability and cost.
Course Video
https://vimeo.com/1109949607?share=copy
Speaker Bio
Lucas Epp Head of Engineering StructureCraft
Lucas Epp is a structural engineer with 10 years of experience working throughout Canada, the UK, and New Zealand. While in London he designed a range of projects with world class architects and developed an expertise in complex geometry and challenging structures. Lucas leads the engineering department at StructureCraft where he has been involved in large-scale timber structures including the 2012 Vancouver Olympics Oval and more recently as lead engineer for the T3 Minneapolis office building.
Exploring the Feasibility of Point-Supported Mass Timber for Tallwood Construction
Course Overview
This session examines the growing potential of point-supported mass timber systems in tall building construction, contrasting them with traditional timber framing and conventional steel and concrete approaches. It highlights regulator advancements, the role of mass timber in addressing mid-density housing needs, and the structural fundamentals of gravity and lateral systems. Through cost and schedule comparisons, design principles like bi-axial bending and punching shear, and insights from ongoing Canadian codification efforts, the presentation offers a comprehensive overview supported by real-world projects such as VAHA Burrard and BCIT Tall Timber.
Learning Objectives
Evaluate the opportunities and constraints for point-supported mass timber when compared to traditional timber framing schemes.
Analyze the schedule and cost benefits of point-supported mass timber systems versus steel and concrete in tall construction projects.
Explore state-of-the-art design methodologies and ongoing efforts towards codification in Canada.
Course Video
https://vimeo.com/1132245390
Speakers Bio
Carla Dickof, P.Eng., M.A.Sc. Associate Principal | Director of Research & Development Fast+Epp
Carla Dickof is the Associate Principal & Director of Research and Development at Fast + Epp, where she leads the Testing Team at Fast + Epp’s R&D hub, Concept Lab, and uses the data gleaned from research programs to regularly contribute to academic journals and conferences.
Carla completed her Master’s degree studies at the University of British Columbia, where her thesis research focused on hybrid systems, specifically those combining steel and mass timber (CLT).
Her experience as an engineer spans commercial, recreational, educational, and residential projects – and, since joining Fast + Epp in 2012, Carla has gained a robust fluency in all major building materials, including concrete, steel, light-framed wood, heavy timber, and mass timber. Her understanding of building physics and materials brings invaluable insights to her projects.
Alejandro Coronado, P.Eng. Technical Advisor WoodWorks BC
Alejandro Coronado is a Technical Advisor with a multidisciplinary background spanning contracting, supply, and consulting engineering. With both a Diploma and a Bachelor’s Degree in Structural Engineering from BCIT, Alejandro began his career in single-family residential design and steadily advanced to contribute to landmark projects such as the Centre Block Base Isolation at Parliament Hill, the UBC Museum of Anthropology Great Hall Renewal, the Royal BC Museum PARC Campus, and a mass timber campus in Silicon Valley. Initially drawn to mass timber for its expressive architectural potential, Alejandro quickly recognized its broader value in addressing today’s social and environmental challenges. Through many years of hands-on experience, Alejandro has become a champion for sustainable construction and simple yet effective structural solutions.
A building that is a good choice for the environment can often address broader social needs and offer higher economic value. People prefer to live, work, study and play in a well-designed and visually appealing building – and this is more likely to extend its life and make it a better investment. It also sends a signal that the building owner is environmentally responsible and cares about the well-being of occupants.
Individuals in the design and construction community are increasingly choosing materials, design techniques and construction procedures that improve a structure’s ability to withstand and recover from extreme events such as intense rain, snow and wind, hurricanes, earthquakes and wildfire. In addition, buildings are increasingly designed to be more adaptable in order to accommodate future occupancies and user needs. As a result, specifying robust materials and design details, and constructing flexible and easily repairable buildings are becoming important design criteria.
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Innovative Strategies for Light-Frame Mid-Rise Buildings in High-Seismic Regions
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Engineers, architects, building code officials, builders, developers, students and professors all turn to Introduction to Wood Building Technology – the most current guide...
Wood Highway Bridges demonstrates how wood bridges can be designed to be assembled rapidly, resist deterioration caused by de-icing chemicals, and utilize stress-laminating...
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Wood Piles provides clear and concise coverage of a topic that is often considered obscure However, wood piling has been used around the world to support heavy loads for...
Eating and drinking are social activities best enjoyed in a warm, relaxing and comfortable atmosphere. These activities have had a long association with wood, which has...
Calgary’s aspirations to become a world-class city are supported by its recent investments in infrastructure and architecture, including the $192-million Shane Homes YMCA...
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WoodWorks is once again partnering with BUILDEX Vancouver in 2027 to deliver WoodWorks at BUILDEX — a dedicated program that brings together wood design innovation...
