Month: August 2016

Final wood panel installed on Brock Commons

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It seems like just last week we were writing about construction beginning on a new dormitory and now it’s finishing up. The world’s tallest wood building installed the last wood panel last week, wrapping up this stage of construction in an impressive 66 days. After this milestone, focus will turn to completing the interior and preparing the building for the 404 University of British Columbia students that will soon call the dormitory home. Construction is expected to be fully completed in 2017.

Brock Commons 5
(The last wood panels being installed on Brock Commons. Photo credit: Unknown)

Acton Ostry Architects, the firm that designed Brock Commons, posted on Twitter a time lapse of the construction process. REMI Network details the project, saying the building is made up of 1302 glulam columns and 464 CLT panels.

Construction on Brock Commons wouldn’t be possible without a team of experts. The engineered wood products were provided by Structurlam and made from locally harvested trees. The structural engineering firm, Fast + Epp, used the nature of wood to produce the 18 story building. Paul Fast, founder of Fast + Epp, said of Brock Commons, “We pushed ourselves relentlessly over months of work with the design team and the CLT manufacturer to simplify the structure — think LEGO. The building blends the simplicity and modularity of LEGO with the concrete-like strength of cross laminated timber to help ensure structural efficiency which in the past has been one of the major barriers to building tall with wood. Our solutions effectively address that concern.”

As if being the tallest wood building isn’t enough, Brock Commons also comes with a great view.

To read more about Brock Commons, check out our other blog posts, “Construction on UBC’s new wood dormitory begins” and “Construction on UBC dorm continues.”

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Forest to Frame

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Oregon Forest Resources Institute (OFRI) produced a new video called “Forest to Frame.” It focuses on how people in the future will need more buildings as the global population rises, the building technologies that use wood, and the important role forests play.

“The choices we make about the materials used as we develop the built environment have long-term effects on our society and the environment,” OFRI says in the video’s description. “Choose wood. It’s beautiful, strong, versatile and renewable.”

Watch the video below or visit their website WhyBuildWithWood.org to learn more about the benefits of mass wood timber construction.

Amsterdam’s plans for a ‘Haute Couture’ building

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Amsterdam has plans in the future for a new  residential tower made from wood. Arch Daily reports that the tower will be 73 meters (240 feet) tall and will become The Netherland’s tallest timber framed building.

HAUT 1
(Design rendering of HAUT, Amsterdam’s newest tall timber building. Photo credit: Team V Architectuur)

The project is called HAUT, short for “Haute Couture,” and will located next to the Amstel River. HAUT will be designed by Team V Architectuur with Lingotto, Nicole Maarsen and ARUP.

The building will be made up of 55 apartment units within the 21-story building. The interiors are currently designed with exposed wood and large windows overlooking the river and city.

HAUT 5
(Photo credit: Team V Architectuur)

HAUT 3
(Photo credit: Team V Architectuur)

The sustainability of building with wood is also apparent in HAUT. Arch Daily says that over three million kilos of carbon dioxide will be stored in the cross-laminated pieces once completed. Energy-generating facades and wastewater purification systems are also planned to reach a BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method)  Outstanding rating.

HAUT 2
(Photo credit: Team V Architectuur)

HAUT 4
(Photo credit: Team V Architectuur)