An innovative building that’s the first of its kind
The University of Northern British Columbia’s Wood Innovation Research Laboratory is the first Passive House certified industrial and higher education building in North America. This is a particularly impressive feat due to the cold climate in Prince George, high spaces, and unique building usage as a high-tech wood lab with computer numerical control (CNC) machines and experimental equipment. The facility features a wood structure inspired by passive design principles and wood innovation.
Oriented to benefit from passive solar heating, the laboratory’s design also complements surrounding building forms and urban landscape. The south side of the building accesses the sun and views, harvesting heat, and natural light for the office and seminar spaces within. External devices shade windows to reduce unwanted solar gain and also draw in air for the building, providing higher air quality than the north and east with their road and laneway.
Designed to meet Passive House standards, the building has added value from its thermal performance and provision of healthy amounts of outdoor air for ventilation. The incorporation floor joists within wall panels and use of rock wool as insulation not only contributed to sustainability factors but also structural resilience. This was put to the test when the laboratory effectively withstood a natural gas explosion at a nearby building in 2023 (as can be seen in this video), and the facility's modular prefabricated wall panels could be easily removed and replaced during the remediation stage.
Students have a beautiful and resilient modern facility to research new uses for wood, creating new jobs and markets in the forestry industry and helping British Columbia secure a more sustainable future.
At a Glance
- Offices
- Partners
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- IDL Projects (Design Build)
- Awards
- World Architecture News (WAN) Awards, Silver Award, Sustainable Buildings, 2019
- ACEC British Columbia Awards of Engineering Excellence, Award of Merit, Buildings, 2019
- Canadian Wood Council, Wood Works! BC Wood Design Awards, Environmental Performance Award, 2019
Daniel Nguyen, Intern Architect
Design should always enhance the human experience.
Ken Schinkel, Design Technologist
Versatility, flexibility, and adaptability are benefits to our clients in more remote areas.
Mark Travis, Principal
Success is in relationships and understanding client needs; in making uniquely tailored environments, with every detail well thought out.
Derreck Travis, Associate, Architect, AIBC
I focus on designing creative, purposeful, and energy-efficient spaces that harmonize with the environment.
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