WOOD CONSTRUCTION B.C.'s Wood Innovation and Design Centre demonstrates potential for tall wood structures around the world Canadian Design and Construction Report Special Feature British Columbia’s Wood Inno- vation and Design Centre (WIDC) opened in October on time and on budget. The six-storey, 29.5 m. (roughly 90 ft.) high building is one of North America’s tallest contem- porary wood buildings. The project in Prince George started as a collaborative effort be- tween 13 B.C. companies includ- ing wood sourcing and value-added wood products providers. It is expected to be a catalyst for future tall wood con- struction across Canada and around the globe. The building has been designed to use the maximum amount of wood possible, including a cedar exterior. One hundred per cent of the primary structure, above the foundation, will be comprised of wood. Locally-sourced douglas fir, cedar, pine and spruce will be used in the engineered wood products including glulam columns and beams, cross-laminated timber and laminated veneer lumber, all manufactured in B.C. “Given that this is such an inno- vative project, there were a lot of new elements that had never been done before, so we had to be cre- 38 – Winter 2015 — The Canadian Design and Construction Report