The new 1800 m2 Elkford Community Conference Centre includes a community hall, playschool, tourism centre and meeting rooms, and truly is the community's gathering place. The design team faced significant challenges for this undertaking – high wind, snow and seismic loads; a complex and irregular-shaped architectural concept with tall load-bearing walls; and specific goals laid out by the client.
The District of Elkford sought a solution that incorporated wood and reduced their carbon footprint, resulting in a landmark building. The design team developed an innovative solution – the ground-breaking application of Cross Laminated Timber panels and Structural Insulated Panels. Never before had these products been used together for such a building in BC. With their light weight and favourable compression and shear characteristics, the panels, in conjunction with long glulam roof beams, addressed all the structural requirements, while also addressing the District’s objectives.