Here to Stay: Educational Projects in Mass Timber

Here to Stay: Educational Projects in Mass Timber

This webinar is part of the RAIC 2024 Conference on Architecture, now available to stream!

Topics: Innovation in Materials, Technology and Construction

Length: 1 hour | What's Included: Video, Quiz, and Certificate of Completion 

While mass timber construction has potential to provide a sustainable and cost-effective alternative for educational projects, the building code does not allow combustible construction for assembly occupancy buildings higher than two storeys. This session explores the regulatory challenges involved in alternative compliance solutions for such projects. The session will also explore practical approaches to long-span wood structures and building systems distribution appropriate for educational projects, which embrace future flexibility and adaptability as a core design   principle. Two examples will be highlighted. First, Little Flower Academy in Vancouver is a 3-storey school project, seeking a modest alternative solution for one additional storey. Second, by contrast, George Brown College's Limberlost Place in Toronto is a 10-storey academic building, with highly aspirational sustainability goals, a project that pushes the envelope by testing the viability of high-building construction in mass timber.

By the completion of this session, participants will be able to:

• Value the applicability of mass timber construction to schools and post-secondary academic projects
• Identify the regulatory challenges in approval of multi-story assembly occupancy projects in combustible (exposed mass timber) construction
• Discuss the design principle of future flexibility and adaptability in educational facility functional planning
• Implement viable approaches to long-span structural design and building systems distribution in mass timber educational projects

Subject Matter Expert:

Milos Begovic
Architect AIBC MRAIC
Associate Principal, Acton Ostry Architects Inc.

Milos is an Associate Principal at Acton Ostry Architects, with professional registration in BC. He is a member of the RAIC. Milos specializes in the educational sector, with a focus on and passion for functional programming, facility planning, sustainability, and the coordination of complex and innovative building systems. 

Milos has extensive experience leading design coordination on large and complex institutional projects, including Sheridan College Hazel McCallion Campus Phase 2, Vancouver College and Little Flower Academy. On George Brown College’s Limberlost Place, he was the senior architect focused on the design and coordination of the high-performing prefabricated facade.

Acton Ostry Architects is a leading Canadian practice recognized for the design of eloquent community, public institutional and mixed-use residential buildings. Located in Vancouver, the practice has received over 100 design awards, including the inaugural International Prize for Wood Architecture in 2018 for the groundbreaking Brock Commons Tallwood House.