Exterior daytime view of the six-storey King Edward Villa, a mixed use budling constructed using prefabricated wood construction along with hybrid / wood and light frame systems

King Edward Villa

Location: Vancouver, B.C.
Architect: GBL Architects
Completion: 2017
Photo credit: Derek Lepper Photography

Size
5,405 square metres

Owner
Richard Wong

Structural Engineer
Bryson Markulin Zickmantel

Engineered Wood Fabricator
Mitsui Homes

Structural systems
Hybrid / Wood
Light frame
Mid rise
Panelized
Post + beam
Prefabricated

Project materials
Lumber
Parallel strand lumber (PSL)
Plywood

Off-site prefabrication accommodated construction on one of Vancouver’s busiest arterials

This six-storey mixed-use residential project is located on a major commercial thoroughfare in East Vancouver and offers 77 rental units with easy access to transit and nearby shopping. The building’s structure is composed of one level of underground parking, one storey of retail space in concrete construction and five storeys of rental apartments, prefabricated in light-frame wood construction.

Prefab-timber design takes in a tight squeeze

Prefabricated wood construction meant easier access to this exceptionally tight site, with minimal setbacks from the street, a narrow laneway and a small rear yard for storage and staging. All the light-frame wood components, including floor, wall and roof panels, were prefabricated off-site as ready-to-assemble panels. Components were delivered on a just-in-time basis, minimizing site storage and road closures.

Build-by-number approach saves time and money

Using 3-D technology, each element was given a unique code corresponding to a specific location in the building. The 3-D model’s accuracy meant that wall elements had their stud spacing precisely aligned from one floor to the next. This kit-like precision meant wall studs on successive floors were exactly aligned, and electrical, mechanical and plumbing services rapidly installed—a nimble approach uniquely suited to wood construction. This saved time and an estimated 15 to 20 per cent in costs compared with a conventional concrete building, according to the project’s construction manager.

Mid-rise 2.0 innovative approaches to mid-rise wood frame construction – A case study

King Edward Villa is profiled in this case study by WoodWorks BC that discusses how the opportunity has arisen for developers and design teams to explore new forms of wood construction, including hybrid mass timber/light wood frame construction.

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