The Confluence Building

Photos by Matthew Bolt Photography. Courtesy of naturally:wood.com

Mass timber and Passive House certification will combine for the first time in the West Kootenay region of BC through the construction of The Confluence, a multi-purpose civic space that will support local tourism, economic development and Indigenous programming.

• The project showcases recent mass timber technology with prefabricated cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels manufactured within 17 kilometres of the building site.
• The use of mass timber reduces labour costs and construction time and helps achieve Passive House certification.
• Precision-made prefabricated wood panels built with computerized numerical control (CNC) achieves both complex geometry and cost-efficiency.

An inspiring multi-purpose space to showcase civic pride

Designed by a local design team, and set to use regionally-sourced materials, The Confluence will be an inspiring multi-purpose civic space housing the Visitor Centre, Economic Development office, a satellite branch of Community Futures and Destination Castlegar. It will include office space, tourist info, gift shop, Indigenous and historical interpretive kiosks, and co-working/collaborative space along with tech-charging stations.

To achieve its complex geometric design cost-effectively and meet ambitious energy targets, the 725-square-metre, L-shaped, metal and wood-clad facility will make full use of computer numerical control (CNC) prefabricated mass timber panels—precisely cut components. Its angular massing, oblique roofline and vaulted clerestory glazing all serve as a subtle reference to the local West Kootenay Selkirk Mountain Range.

Read the full article on naturallywood.com/project/the-confluence-building/