Size73 square metres
Engineered Wood Supplier / FabricatorClick Modular Homes
OwnerClick Modular Homes
Structural EngineerSuncoast Engineering
Wood SpeciesDouglas-firWestern red cedarWhite birch
Project MaterialsI-beams/I-joistsLumberParallel strand lumber (PSL)PlywoodSiding
Structural SystemsLight frameLow riseModularPrefabricated
The eight wood-frame modules used in the development of the residential complex The Gardens were initially built as two separate pieces and assembled on-site—instantly forming an attractive and affordable duplex community for Gibsons residents.
The Gardens demonstrate that wood can be used to build high-quality housing from sustainable materials more quickly and efficiently than with other building materials. The project included eight factory-built, wood-framed units (four duplexes), which provide affordably-priced housing in Gibsons. It attracted a wide range of buyers, including families, couples and singles—all people who live and work in Gibsons, which is accessible from Vancouver by ferry or boat.
The two-bedroom, one-storey homes were assembled at the manufacturer’s Port Mellon factory, 16 kilometres from the site. Skilled framers fully assembled the modular units in about four weeks; however, the framing alone only took three days for each unit. The units were transported to Gibsons in two pieces, and then connected on-site, ensuring that the building envelope was watertight almost instantly. Using wood allows units to be easily modified if the customer wants some level of customization in the future.
Homes in The Gardens were framed using all-wood construction, with each half of the home engineered as a separate structural member so it could be easily transported and lifted into place with a crane, on-site. Dimension lumber was used to frame the walls, with 2 x 6 spruce-pine-fir (SPF) studs for the exterior walls. The walls were sheathed with plywood for shear strength. Plywood was also used as the vapour barrier inside the house, with drywall directly fixed to the plywood to minimize cracking during transport and installation. A PSL engineered wood beam supported the main wall of each unit. Engineered wood I-joists and rough-cut solid Douglas-fir timbers were used to frame the roof, which was covered in plywood sheathing. Some units featured exposed birch plywood for the interior ceiling, creating warmth. Western red cedar was used for the siding and the decks.
“It is a delight to live in our beautiful community here at The Gardens. We followed our house as it moved through the factory-build process and were amazed at the speed and efficiency of the prefabricated modular wood assembly system and the quality of the home.” LAURA SMIT, RESIDENT
“It is a delight to live in our beautiful community here at The Gardens. We followed our house as it moved through the factory-build process and were amazed at the speed and efficiency of the prefabricated modular wood assembly system and the quality of the home.”
