The first application in North America using Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) panels for tall shear walls has recently been completed for the District of Elkford, BC. The 1800 m~2 Elkford Community Centre will be a focal point; facilities will include a community hall, playschool, tourism centre and meeting rooms. The community centre is a one-storey structure, with a maximum building height of approximately 7.2 m. For the Community Centre, located in a seismic and high wind region, CLT panels were chosen for the load-bearing walls and shear walls. The alternative option to achieve the shear capacities required over the height of the wall would have been concrete or reinforced masonry. Construction experience and research in Europe has shown that CLT panels can span great lengths and has a better strength to weight ratio than reinforced concrete and masonry. The choice of material also fits within the District's aim to reduce carbon footprint and promote sustainability and utilize innovative products. Along with the inherent sustainable nature of the use of timber, CLT panels are fabricated in the shop and delivered to site ready for erection. The ease of assembly allows for a shorter construction schedule. This project has combined the use of CLT with Structural Insulated Panels and Heavy Timber Beams all of which ensure that the construction job-site waste is minimized and material resources are utilized more efficiently. This paper presents some of the design and construction considerations made and encountered during the completion of one of the first projects to be completed in Canada with CLT.
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