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Daytime exterior view of partially completed Bamfield Marine Centre, with expansive windows being installed and outer wood decking being placed

Bamfield Marine Centre

Location: Bamfield, B.C.
Architect: DeHoog & Kierulf Architects
Completion: 2011
Photo courtesy of StructureCraft Builders

Size
464 square metres

Structural Engineer
Fast + Epp

Project Owner
Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre

Engineered Wood Fabricator StructureCraft Builders Inc.

Project Materials
Cross-laminated timber (CLT)
Glue-laminated timber (Glulam)
Parallel strand lumber (PSL)

Structural Systems
Hybrid / Other
Mass timber
Post + beam
Prefabricated

Scallop-shell-shaped wood roof directly reflects the purpose of the Bamfield Marine Centre

The Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre, located on the west coast of Vancouver Island, is a permanent base for marine research and teaching for the west coast of Canada. The Western Canadian Universities Marine Sciences Society established the centre in 1972, with five British Columbian and Albertan universities as its members. The centre has classrooms, lecture halls, research laboratories, computer laboratories and a reception hall overlooking Barkley Sound.

Wood’s pliability and strength worked for the design

The roof comprises 12 arched, stretched skin shells supported by parallel strand lumber chords. It resembles a scallop shell from a bird’s eye view, reflecting its purpose as a marine centre. PSL is also used as façade columns, supporting the large roof structure. The columns are spaced along the perimeter of the building and visible wood siding complements the timber roof.

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