Size6,900 square metres
OwnerCity of Prince George
Structural EngineerBush, Bohlman & Partners
General ContractorMaple Reinders, Inc.
Structural systemsMass timber hybridLight wood frame (LWF)Post-and-beam
Project materialsGlue-laminated timberLumberSolid-sawn heavy timber
On the exterior, a series of heavy timber pillars and trusses span the building’s expansive glazing, giving it an air of civic prominence. Inside, a double-height atrium corridor is lined with wooden columns that resemble an avenue of trees along a forest path. Light filters through the clerestory windows, casting shadows that enhance this illusion. Glue-laminated timber (glulam) columns and purlins, as well as a heavy timber roof deck, much of it sourced locally, offer added warmth to key public areas.
The design incorporates salvaged wood from the demolished building that originally occupied the site. This recycled material was used to create decorative wood panels in the entrance foyer. The two-storey facility is connected to the city’s carbon-neutral downtown renewable energy system, which distributes heat from a nearby sawmill to nearly a dozen downtown buildings. Through and through, this is a facility designed to serve and protect both citizens and the environment.
