Located in Edmonton, Alberta, the Mosaic Centre for Conscious Community and Commerce was designed to be the province’s first “net-zero energy” commercial building and demonstrate the feasibility of low-energy-use buildings in cold climates. The owners challenged the design team to deliver a net-zero energy building capable of gaining certification by the Living Building Institute and LEED® Platinum. In addition, feasibility analysis favoured wood construction to meet all building science challenges and also provide an enhanced interior work environment. Construction started in mid-March 2014 and was completed in the fall of 2015 — three months ahead of schedule and on budget. The 2,790 m2 (30,000 ft.2) building is located in the emerging southwest Edmonton community of Summerside.

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).