The University of British Columbia is set to begin construction on the tallest wood building in the world.
Construction of the new $51.5 million residence building will begin in Vancouver this fall, and is scheduled to be open to students in September 2017.
“This beautiful, new, tall wood building will serve as a living laboratory for the UBC community,” said Interim President Martha Piper. “It will advance the university’s reputation as a hub of sustainable and innovative design."
The 18-storey building will stand approximately 53 metres tall and will provide housing for 404 students in 272 studios and 33 four-bedroom united. It will also feature study and social spaces, as well as a ground-floor lounge and study space for commuter students.
“This project shows that when it comes to building with wood, B.C.’s innovation can’t be beat,” said Steve Thomson, Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations. “By taking advantage of new building technologies, we’re also expanding our markets for B.C. wood products – and supporting jobs in the forest sector.”
The new building will eclipse the current world’s tallest wooden building, which is a 32-metre apartment building in Melbourne, Australia. A 51-metre wood building is currently under construction in Norway.
The tallest wooden building in North America is the Wood Innovation and Design Centre in Prince George, which stands at 29.5 metres.
