Prince George centre opens as towering presence in all-wood construction sector

At 29.5 metres, the Wood Innovation and Design Centre in Prince George isnt that tall in conventional building terms officially six floors, but topping out at a height of about eight storeys.

As a wooden structure, however, the centre is anything but conventional. It is a towering example of all-wood construction, which, for better or worse, now stands as the provinces poster building and ambassador for promoting the use of innovative techniques and products for constructing tall structures made out of B.C. wood.

Its kind of a perfect showcase, said Guido Wimmers, the newly hired University of Northern B.C. professor who heads a unique wood design program that will be taught out of the building.

It is bragging a little bit in terms of showing off the material. Everything is transparent and you can actually see how it was built.

That means showing off the cross-laminated timbers and panels, made by Pentictons Structurlam Products Ltd., the envelope-pushing designs of visionary architect Michael Green and structural building techniques that will allow wood builders to reach for the sky in terms of height.

Built by the province at a cost of $25 million, WIDC opened last month as a more modest manifestation of grandiose promises of former premier Gordon Campbells dating back to 2009, which once envisioned a $161-million, 10-storey block-long highrise that would be the focal point for educational programs housing 420 students.

Wimmers program, the master of integrated wood design in UNBCs engineering department, will take perhaps 10 students in its first group next year, growing to between 30 and 45 students in courses that will occupy three floors of the WIDC building.

The program, however, will be leading edge and graduates will be in demand in the growing field of sustainable design where wood is prized for its carbon-sequestering properties. And WIDC is still the tallest contemporary all-wood building in North America.

It stands as an example of the possibilities (for using) wood in British Columbia, said Shirley Bond, Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training, and MLA for the Prince George constituency that is WIDCs home.

Yes, its not as big as wed have assumed at the beginning, but the building is substantive, it is visually impressive in our community and the program UNBC is offering is going to make a difference in terms of working with wood in B.C. Bond added.

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Prince George centre opens as towering presence in all-wood construction sector