Glue-laminated timber (glulam), lumber, millwork, nail-laminated timber (nlt), and paneling, are all featured in this exterior daytime image of the Ts’kw’aylaxw Cultural and Community Health Centre which highlights the mass timber, passive house/high performance construction of this building

Ts’kw’aylaxw Cultural and Community Health Centre

Location: Lilooet, B.C.
Completion: 2018
Photo credit: Ema Peter, courtesy of Unison Architecture Ltd.

Size
1,800 square metres

Structural Engineer
Equilibrium Consulting Inc.

Construction Manager
Mierau Contractors Ltd.

Structural systems
Light frame
Low rise
Mass timber
Panelized
Passive House / High performance
Post + beam
Prefabricated

Project materials
Glue-laminated timber (Glulam)
Lumber
Millwork
Nail-laminated timber (NLT)
Panelling
Plywood

Species
Western red cedar
Douglas-fir
Birch

Wood is featured throughout the Centre

A variety of wood species—including aspen, birch, cedar and hemlock—are featured throughout the Ts’kw’aylaxw Cultural and Community Health Centre, a multi-purpose facility that serves the community as a gathering place and health centre.

The Ts’kw’aylaxw Cultural and Community Health Centre is a multi-purpose facility, serving the Ts’kw’aylaxw First Nation (external link) as a community and health centre and gathering place. Passive house design and prefabrication were chosen as solutions to regional building operation and serviceability issues of high hydro bills and mould.

The building envelope’s design significantly reduces the electricity required to operate the community hub. The superstructure was built off-site in a factory in a controlled environment while the secondary components including framing, finishing and concrete work were done on-site with support from the local skilled workforce.

Maximal wood inclusion was requested as the First Nation sought to use sustainable materials which would align with their design principles.

Wood use that aligns with the Nations’ design values

Wood’s presence is extensive throughout the three storeys of the cultural and community health centre. The first floor is comprised of Douglas-fir glue-laminated timber (glulam) columns and prefabricated light wood frame panels. Featured on the second floor are glulam beams, nail-laminated timber (NLT) decking and wood fibre acoustic panels. Birch veneer plywood and acoustic panels are part of the middle floor’s multi-purpose space. An aspen feature wall is on the third floor in the Elders’ cylinder gathering space. The three levels are connected by a circulation atrium with hemlock panelling and a glulam gird supporting a veneer curtainwall. A peeled western red cedar colonnade and soffits, as well as solid birch entrance doors are visible from the exterior of the centre.

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