Exterior sunny view of three-storey low rise mass timber constructed Pacific Autism Family Centre showing warm exterior of Douglas-Fir and Western Red Cedar

Pacific Autism Family Centre

Location: Richmond, B.C.
Completion: 2016
Photo credit: Derek Lepper Photography

Size
5,600 square metres

Structural Engineer
Fast + Epp

Engineered Wood Fabricator
Western Archrib

Structural systems
Hybrid / Wood
Light frame
Low rise
Mass timber
Post + beam
Prefabricated

Project materials
Glue-laminated timber (Glulam)
I-beams/I-joists
Laminated veneer lumber (LVL)
Lumber
Nail-laminated timber (NLT)
Panelling
Plywood
Siding

Species
Douglas-fir
Western red cedar

Open, welcoming design conveys sense of empathy

The expansive, open-concept Pacific Autism Family Centre uses a welcoming design, including the warmth of wood, to communicate calm and empathy.

The three-storey, 5,600-square-metre building is located on Sea Island, close to Vancouver International Airport and flanked on either side by existing commercial buildings. The program for the facility includes a Knowledge Centre, Information Centre, Lifespan Centre and Training Centre, which together provide resource, education and recreation facilities for clients of all ages, as well as administrative and research space for the staff who support them.

Facility showcases a variety of locally sourced wood products

As visitors enter the three-story building, its stately appearance gives way to a bright, spacious, and at times playful interior, punctuated by pops of primary colours and warm, exposed wood. As the first facility of its kind in Canada, the centre brings together state-of-the-art services for autism research, clinical practice and family support.

On this project, the choice of wood met all the design criteria, offering a cost-effective structural solution with long spans that could accommodate future reconfiguration should the needs of autism research and treatment change.

The building’s exterior is clad in a combination of metal panels and smooth-faced western red cedar, its unique stained finish giving it a deep red and robust aesthetic. Douglas-fir glulam columns and beams support either prefabricated NLT or wood I-joist floors, while laminated veneer lumber (LVL) beams are also used where additional strength is required. The undersides of the NLT panels are left exposed in common areas, while the linear wood ceilings and acoustic panels are used throughout the interior.

The facility’s overall welcoming design conveys a sense of empathy for its occupants, along with the organization’s commitment that no child will be turned away. Inside the main lobby, a whimsical mobile of paper airplanes hangs within a transparent central oculus. The building’s public spaces and waiting areas are generously sized to prevent feelings of claustrophobia or confinement, and interiors are simply detailed to encourage a calm environment. Transparency is used strategically: exterior views to the surrounding landscape assist with orientation, and interior views between adjacent spaces promote intuitive wayfinding.

“We wanted to use wood and its inherent warmth and beauty to reinforce the welcoming atmosphere we were trying to create for people and families living with Autism. In addition, we are firm believers that wood, if properly managed, is a natural, renewable product for the long term.”

LARRY ADAMS – PRINCIPAL, NSDA ARCHITECTS

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