Nordic Wood Structures offers CLT, glulam alternative for C$10M six-story condo project in Quebec City after concrete design proves unsuitable for site conditions; spokesman says wood structure will be one-sixth of weight, sequester 1,200 tonnes of carbon

Wendy Lisney

LOS ANGELES , June 7, 2013 (IndustryIntel) – A C$10M six-story condominium development project in the St. Roch neighborhood of Quebec City is believed to be the province's tallest residential structure built with "massive" timber, according to a report by the Daily Commercial News.

The project's leaders describe massive timber as a combination of cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels and glulam beams and columns.

Jean Campeau, a spokesman for the city's District 3, said the building allows massive wood to be featured on the ceiling and selected walls while maintaining acoustic properties. The 64,000 sq. ft. building is scheduled for completion in late June.

Nordic Wood Structures is supplying black spruce X-LAM CLT panels for the project,  manufactured by its parent Chantiers Chibougamau.  Nordic was previously involved in the construction of a four-story “all CLT” condo project in Chibougamau, Quebec. The company acted as consulting architects and structural engineers on the 53-unit District 3 project, which is being undertaken by GM Development.

Jean-Marc Dubois, northeast sales manager with Nordic Wood Structures, said the St. Roch project uses more than 1,000 m3 of CLT and 143 m3 of glulam products.

Dubois said his company became involved with the project after learning that it was in limbo because the original concrete design was unsuitable for conditions on the site. He said CLT was a good solution at one-sixth the weight of concrete, and the original footprint of the building had been maintained subject to some structural alterations.

Dubois noted that the project is effectively carbon-negative, as more than 1,200 tonnes of carbon are encapsulated in the wood components.

The primary source of this article is the Daily Commercial News, Markham, Ontario, on June 7, 2013.

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