University of British Columbia Completes Earth Sciences Building

The University of British Columbia has completed the $75 million Earth Sciences Building in Vancouver. Designed by Perkins + Will, the 157,000-sf facility comprises two five-story wings connected by a spacious atrium and provides teaching and research labs, classrooms, lecture halls, seminar rooms, and a museum. The 35,000-sf laboratory wing includes labs for biology, chemistry, geochemistry, and ocean sciences. Construction began on the facility in mid-2010. The Earth Sciences Building features structural systems made of panelized wood, including glulam columns and beams, and floors of laminated strand lumber. The structural engineer for the project was Equilibrium Consulting and the laboratory design consultant was Maples Argo Architects.