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Distant exterior snowy daytime view of Key-oh Lodge, showing 'Key-oh Lodge' wooden sign in foreground and modular wood constructed 42-room, two-storey boutique lodge in distance

Key-oh Lodge

Location: Burns Lake, B.C.
Architect: Boni Maddison Architects
Completion: 2017
Photo credit: Carla Lewis

Size
2,181 square metres

Owner
Ts’il Kaz Koh First Nation

Structural Engineer
CanStruct Engineering Group

Construction Manager
Fort Modular former Metric Modular

Wood Suppliers
Louisiana Pacific
Western Archrib
Weyerhaeuser (TJI)

Structural systems
Modular
Prefabricated

Project materials
Laminated strand lumber (LSL)
Laminated veneer lumber (LVL)
Lumber
Solid-sawn heavy timber
Trusses

Cultural heritage reflected in the boutique lodge

Choosing modular wood construction for this 42-room, two-storey boutique lodge allowed the Ts’il Kaz Koh First Nation to compress the project timeline and open the lodge in time for the busy spring tourist season.

Tight timeline to open for the tourist season

Burns Lake is a close-knit community with a rich Indigenous heritage. It is also a convenient stopover for the more than 4,000 drivers who travel through town each day, between Prince George and northern communities. The wood-framed Key-oh Lodge is owned and operated by the Ts’il Kaz Koh First Nation and provides accommodation for travelers as well as tourism employment for band members. The high occupancy rate since it opened is a testament to its success.

It was crucial for the Nation to have the 42-room lodge running in time for the busy spring tourist season. They met the challenges by building 30 prefabricated wood-framed modules at an off-site construction facility at the same time site prep started. It took just seven months from production to occupancy, and overall construction including sitework was completed in just over a year.

Sustainability key for community

Wood features prominently in the structure. Guests enter this 42-room, two-storey structure through a soaring lobby with a heavy-timber-framed vestibule and canopy. Beautiful wood carvings welcome visitors into the entry; the carvings represent the community’s main families. The spacious lobby also serves as a cultural discovery space, with historical artifacts and community art pieces on display.

Sustainability was top of mind for both the Nation and the design team. Prefabrication offered increased air tightness against the harsh winters, improving energy efficiency of the building and keeping operating costs low. Wood was also harvested from the nearby forest.

“Construction of the Key-oh Lodge brought many benefits to the Burns Lake community. Wood was harvested from our forests and milled by our local sawmill. The beautiful timber-framed lobby gives us a place to showcase the work of many local artists, and the use of wood throughout the project reinforces our commitment to sustainability”.

CHIEF DAN GEORGE, TS’IL KAZ KOH FIRST NATION
Distant exterior snowy daytime view of Key-oh Lodge, showing seamless use of 30 wood-frame modules, prefabricated off-site, which enabled a quick construction timeline
Photo credit: Carla Lewis

Case study: Wood in hospitality and tourism

This case study demonstrates how design, functionality and aesthetics of a structure are vital components to success in the competitive hospitality industry.

Read the case study
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