Business in Vancouver
Buyers, builders and designers are embracing new technologies and materials that make homes easier on Mother Nature – and the pocketbook.
Intelligent Design at UBC
Long known for a commitment to environmental stewardship, Adera hones the cutting edge of green design with its newest University of British Columbia residence. Located in Wesbrook Village, the six-storey Virtuoso will be B.C.’s first multi-family development to use cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels rather than stick-frame or concrete construction.
CLT’s pre-fabricated, six-inch-thick panels are said to be more stable than dimensional lumber, since they won’t shrink or warp. Each panel is custom-sized before delivery to eliminate waste. Even more impressive, perhaps, is the sustainable production factor. Penticton-based Structurlam Products, which supplies Adera’s CLT, uses beetle-wood pine that would otherwise rot over time. Stephen Tolmai, vice-president of sales and marketing, estimates there are still another four to five years’ supply of the damaged pine available, after which the company will source fast-growing trees.
See the full article with 4 more of BC’s Greenest Homes here.