A four-storey commercial and industrial space built on top of an existing two-storey historic structure shows how lightweight prefabricated mass timber systems can cut carbon, speed up construction, boost density, and give new life to heritage buildings.
- This four-storey addition will set a benchmark for exposed mass timber hybrid use in historic industrial buildings.
- Prefabricated cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels and post-and-beam timber construction will speed up timelines, reduce waste, and minimize noise and disruptions to the busy industrial area.
- The project’s adaptive re-use of the existing foundation and structure reduces the use of emissions-intensive materials.
Boosting commercial density while preserving historic roots
This four-storey, hybrid mass timber addition to an existing two-storey plus parkade heritage building in Vancouver’s I-4 Historic Industrial District will provide 5,732 square metres of commercial office and industrial space. The 365 Railway project will preserve the historic character and make the most of an existing structure in lieu of demolition. As a building material, mass timber fits well with the neighbourhood’s emerging transformation to a more creative, enterprising industrial district. This adaptive re-use will set a benchmark for exposed mass timber hybrid structures and showcase mass timber’s potential in light industrial zones.
Efficient and faster construction with prefabricated timber systems
365 Railway’s newly built structure will feature glue-laminated timber (glulam) columns and beams, cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels with a concrete topping, and steel for seismic bracing.
Given mass timber’s lighter weight, the project accommodates an addition of four storeys on top of the existing two-storey structure, rather than only three floors if built using concrete. The extra floor is made possible due to the mass timber structure’s reduced weight. Additionally, Vancouver’s Zoning and Development By-Law permits an additional 18 centimetres for each mass timber floor, enabling the incorporation of a rooftop amenity space.
A prefabricated approach to building components such as columns, beams, and floor slabs will ensure minimal disruption to the existing building, reduce waste, speed up construction, and make it easier to build on a narrow site in a densely populated neighbourhood.
The design team will make use of building information modelling (BIM) to foster collaboration across disciplines, including design, connection detailing, sequencing and constructability planning.
Reusing and extending the life of an existing building while adding a low-carbon addition
Targeting LEED Gold certification, this project extends the lifespan of existing historic buildings, while reducing demolition waste. Combined with incorporating regionally sourced timber, embodied carbon is significantly reduced, while adding to the community’s overall sense of identity.
The Mass Timber Demonstration Program (MTDP) provides funding for incremental costs in the design and construction of buildings that showcase emerging or new mass timber and mass timber hybrid building systems and construction processes. The program supports jobs and employment recovery in the design, engineering, construction, and product manufacturing sector. BC industry will benefit from lessons learned, results, and research findings that can help support future mass timber projects in the province. Learn more.
