Month: July 2016

Construction on UBC dorm continues

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Back in June, we wrote about construction beginning on University of British Columbia’s new timber dormitory. Pictures of the construction process have just been made available and the frame is quickly taking shape.

Brock Commons 2
(Construction is underway on July 18th for the new 18 story dormitory at UBC. Photo credit: Acton Ostry Architects Inc. & University of British Columbia)

Brock Commons
(More than half of the floors have started to become assembled. Photo credit: Acton Ostry Architects Inc. & University of British Columbia)

Canadian Architect reports that a new floor is being built every 3 days and is expected to increase. The dormitory is made out of a combination of glue laminated timber (glulam) and cross laminated timber (CLT). The building is scheduled to be complete by Spring 2017.

Plans for tallest hybrid timber structure in the world revealed

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Preliminary plans were recently revealed for the tallest hybrid timber structure in the world, Architectural Digest announced. Japanese architect Shigeru Ban and Vancouver developer PortLiving have teamed up to build a residential building thought to break current records.

shigeru-bans-first-canadian-project-tallest-hybrid-timber-structure-world-01
(Design rendering of the planned Terrace House. Photo credit: PortLiving)

Details for the project are still under wraps, but it is believed the skyscraper will be the tallest hybrid timber structure in the world once complete.  The building, currently known as Terrace House, will be located in an area of Vancouver called Coal Harbor.  Nick Mafi reports that the upper portion of the structure will be a combination of a timber frame supported by a concrete and steel core.

Vancouver is not a stranger to building with mass timber. Construction at University of British Columbia’s campus is underway for an 18 story tall dormitory.