The Wood Innovation and Design Centre (WIDC), the tallest contemporary wood building in North America, celebrated its grand opening last week.
Located in Prince George, B.C., the six-storey, 29.5-m (90-ft) project is 4821 m2 (51,000 sf) will be a meeting place for industry professionals and researchers to generate ideas for building with wood. The main tenant, University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC), will host its wood engineering and science master’s degree programs, as well as research facilities, lecture hall, and classroom space at the WIDC.
Nearly 400 cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels and glued-laminated (glulam) beams and columns were incorporated into the design. Many of the wood products were locally sourced, and the project is targeting Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification.
“WIDC represents an important milestone in the evolution of wood buildings in North America and to some extent the world,” said Construction Canada author and WIDC project team member, Eric Karsh of Equilibrium Consulting. “The project introduces new methods of working with mass timber panels and specifically cross-laminated timber. We designed the project as a repeatable solution and a tool to educate designers, building owners, code authorities, contractors, and industry in the opportunities of advanced wood products.”
For more information, check out Construction Canada’s “Constructing an All-wood Building: The Wood Design and Innovation Centre.”
