Construction of Virtuoso, a six-storey residential development located at UBC’s Wesbrook Village, has reached completion.

Developed by Adera Development Corporation, this building is one of the first market condominium projects in North America constructed using mass timber. The construction method utilizes a mass timber floor system, essentially substituting a slab of concrete with a slab of wood, providing a stronger and more durable support system.

“They’re fundamentally changing the way residential construction is being done,” says Stephen Tolnai, VP of sales and marketing at Structurlam Products LP.

Cross Laminated Timber is a prefabricated, engineered wood panel, consisting of multiple layers, formed into structural panels providing significant benefits over other materials. The use of wood provides a sustainable alternative to traditional materials.

Designed by Rositch Hemphill Architects, Virtuoso departs from the traditional wood-frame construction typical of multi-family residential buildings by introducing CLT panels in place of the more familiar wood I-joist and plywood floors. CLT is also used for the walls of the elevator shafts, the structural roof deck and exterior balconies.

The project has achieved gold certification under UBC’s mandatory green building rating system, the Residential Environmental Assessment Program (REAP). REAP is a comprehensive rating system that ensures lower consumption of water, energy and resources, and overall environmental impact on the community.

UBC designed REAP to guide the development of all residential buildings planned for its Vancouver campus. REAP is unique among green building rating systems, since it can be applied to both low and high-rise buildings.