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Exterior sunny daytime view of low rise hybrid Elkford Community Conference Centre, showing cross-laminated timber (CLT) shear wall panels, as high as 7.2 metres—the first time they had been used in a commercial application in North America

Elkford Community Conference Centre

Location: Elkford, B.C.
Architect: Douglas Sollows Architect
Completion: 2012
Photo credit: Henry Georgi

Size
1,800 square metres

Owner
District of Elkford

Structural Engineer
Associated Engineering

Engineered Wood Fabricator
Mercer Mass Timber LLC

Structural systems
Low rise
Mass timber
Panelized
Post + beam
Prefabricated

Project materials
Cross-laminated timber (CLT)
Glue-laminated timber (Glulam)
Laminated veneer lumber (LVL)

First commercial project to use tall CLT shear walls

Elkford’s community conference centre was the first commercial project in North America to make use of an engineered wood system consisting of tall yet sturdy walls, capable of withstanding significant loads.

Wood provides warm atmosphere for culture hub

The innovative building is a cultural hub for the 3,000 residents of Elkford, a focal point of programs, preschool and community events. The use of structural wood product construction conserved energy and reduced the environmental footprint of the building. It is a showcase for the efficiencies of wood innovation, including the quick on-site construction. Inside, the clear span ceilings of the banquet hall and the wood-panelled walls—using mountain pine beetle lumber—and exposed ceiling joists and posts along the corridors, create a distinctively warm and convivial atmosphere.

Structural use of CLT proves strength

A major challenge for the engineer was the tall shear walls of the building (up to 7.2 metres high), which had to withstand horizontal snow load, seismic load and a fairly high wind load. CLT panels were used to handle the job because they are not only strong and rigid, but they are lightweight compared to concrete or masonry. SIPs were used on the roof and external wall cladding due to their highly efficient insulating property. The energy-efficient SIPs were computer designed and precision cut at the factory, which was a feat considering that some of them were 22 centimetres thick. The project also used glulam and LVL beams supported on the CLT walls or perimeter columns.

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