BC Passive House Factory is an all-wood construction ‘demonstration’ project. The client mandated that the design and construction of their new facility must exemplify their investment in prefabricated wood design that is energy-efficient, healthy, and sustainable.
The main structure of the building is Douglas fir glulam post and beam, with solid wood (SPF), cross-laminated timber panel walls, all manufactured in British Columba. Using this prefabricated format, the building’s super structure went up in only eight days.
360-degree clerestory windows provide natural daylight and views to the surrounding mountains in the shop space. The effect of the day lighting and exposed wood finishes within the workspace is a warm, comfortable, and inspiring space to work in. The main motivation for the project's design came from the inspiration that the industrial, everyday buildings that make up a vast amount of our built environment can be as important, and well considered, as our more public ‘architectural’ buildings.
Structural engineer: Equilibrium Consulting
Photos: Ema Peter Photography