The tallest contemporary all wood building in North America is under construction in downtown Prince George, B.C.
The Wood Innovation and Design Centre will feature inventive use of wood solutions to solve every-day design and construction challenges, while demonstrating the beauty and diversity of value-added BC wood products, says the University of Northern British Columbia website. “The construction system being used is repeatable and expandable to other building types and sizes.”
“As Canada’s Green University, UNBC is excited to attract world leaders to Northern British Columbia and to Prince George, a centre of Canada’s forest industry. This region is comprised of many communities that are reliant on the forest and the forest industry; the building is a showcase of innovative uses of wood that will lead to community sustainability and resiliency. At the same time, the educational programming that will occur inside of the building, a proposed Master of Engineering in Integrated Wood Design* and a proposed Master of Applied Science* that will allow students to pursue research on wood and other forest products related to future wood structures, will attract students who will graduate and lead the world in the construction of new wood structures that will be both sustainable and healthy, illustrating the benefits of wood construction to healthy ecosystems and healthy communities.”
The site includes a live webcam showing the construction in progress. See also this Partnerships BC government site reference.
Architect: Michael Greeen
Structural Engineer: Equilibrium
Contractor: PCL Constructors Westcoast Inc. (PCL)
