Size1,810 square metres
OwnerCity of Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation
Structural EngineerFast + Epp
Construction ManagerLedcor Group
Wood SupplierStructureCraft
Structural systemsHybrid / WoodLight frameLow risePanelizedPost + beamPrefabricated
Project materialsGlue-laminated timber (Glulam)LumberMillworkPlywood
SpeciesDouglas-fir
The petal of a native British Columbian orchid is the inspiration for the VanDusen Botanical Garden Visitor Centre’s curvaceous, undulating timber roof floating over rammed-earth-and-concrete walls.
The complex, nearly all-wood geometry of this visually artistic building was made possible through advancements in 3D modelling technology. Located in a 55-acre conservatory in the heart of Vancouver, the building functions as a community-oriented centre for the botanical garden; it has a café, library, volunteer facilities, garden shop, offices and classroom space for meetings, workshops, lectures and private functions.
The whimsical, prefabricated wood roof is constructed of more than 70 unique trapezoid-shaped panels that include a finished ceiling and neatly tucked away mechanical and electrical systems. Each panel is composed of double-curved glue-laminated timber (glulam) edge beams, dimension lumber roof joists, and a Douglas-fir plywood–slat exposed ceiling that gives an organic, ribbed appearance to the underside of the roof. This was made possible through precise off-site prefabrication using computer numerical cutting (CNC) technology. The ceiling’s curves are reflected in finishings including the exterior wood walls, interior sliding doors, the front of the reception desk and, in the lobby, a thirty–metre-long curved bench made from milled reclaimed timbers that appears seamless and suspended.
Once inside, the eye is naturally drawn to a glazed oculus that leaves the atrium awash in the warm glow of wood and natural light. This striking design gesture assists with natural ventilation by operating as a solar chimney and aluminium heat sink—it converts sunlight into convection energy, stimulating air movement throughout the space. A green roof is installed atop the building; one of the petals is a rainwater catch basin and another holds a solar hot-water tube array. The dramatic yet delicate design breathes new life into the nearly forty-five-year-old botanical garden.
