On October 31st, the Wood Innovation and Design Centre (WIDC)—a 96-foot-tall, 51,000 square foot structure built almost entirely out of engineered wood components—opened in Prince George, British Columbia. The six-story building houses the University of Northern British Columbia’s wood engineering program, as well as other tenants, and is intended as a showcase for the region’s expertise in timber construction. According to its architect, Vancouver-based Michael Green, the WIDC is the world’s tallest contemporary wooden building. Although two recently completed timber residential buildings—one in London and another in Melbourne—are slightly taller, in the case of both the U.K. and Australian projects, the timber structure sits on a concrete podium. The WIDC is built on top of concrete raft slab and has no podium.
World's Tallest Contemporary Wood Building Opens in Canada
World’s Tallest Contemporary Wood Building Opens in Canada
The building is clad in cedar that has been charred to reduce flame spread.
Photo © naturally:wood
World’s Tallest Contemporary Wood Building Opens in Canada
The timber post-and-beam structure is visible throughout the WIDC, including the double-story foyer.
Photo © naturally:wood
World’s Tallest Contemporary Wood Building Opens in Canada
The window mullions are made of an engineered wood product called laminated veneer lumber.
Photo © naturally:wood
World’s Tallest Contemporary Wood Building Opens in Canada
Even the building’s core, its primary lateral-load resisting system, is wood. The core consists of cross-laminated timber panels.
Photo © naturally:wood
