North America's first multi-family development built with CLT

Published in The Journal of Commerce on April 27, 2017

VANCOUVER, B.C. – The University of British Columbia (UBC) campus is soon to be the home of North America’s first market multi-family development built with cross-laminated timber (CLT).

The 106-unit project, Virtuoso, is being developed and built by Adera who has constructed six other condominium projects on the campus.

Different than conventional wood frame construction, CLT panels are lifted into place and connected to steel columns making for quicker, simpler assembly, explains a release. CLT also produces a lower carbon footprint. Shrinkage, a problem with some midrise construction, is also reduced with using the high tech material. In addition, the method of construction leads to much quieter homes, the release claims.

The building is expected to be ready for occupants at the end of the year. The project is being designed by Rositch Hemphill Architects.

Virtuoso home interiors are designed by Lisa Hansen of Area 3 Designs and come in a choice of three colour palettes.

Adera is also offering its i.D By Me program, which allows buyers to customize their homes and upgrade the fixtures.

The UBC campus is no stranger to innovative wood structures.

Last year it completed the tallest wood building in the world, the Brock Commons student residence at 18 storeys. It was built four months ahead of schedule.

The structure was completed less than 70 days after the prefabricated components were first delivered on site. The building has a concrete podium and two concrete cores, with 17 storeys of CLT floors supported on glue-laminated wood columns. The cladding for the facade is made with 70 per cent wood fibre.