This article was recently published in Inno Magazine (no. 15, fall-winter 2012). To read it online: www.innomagazine.com
KLH Element, a subsidiary of AGF Group, was created following a commercial deal with the Austrian company KLH Massivholz, a pioneer of the cross-laminated timber system, which has designed and manufactured projects in Europe for more than 15 years. KLH Element is now taking on the challenge of introducing this structural system to eastern North America.
KLH Element wanted to push the limits of the KLH construction system with a project that would serve as a unique showcase for the product. The renovation of AGF Group’s head office in Longueuil, designed by architects Daoust Lestage, was the perfect opportunity: this remarkable architectural adventure has turned out to be a resounding success! The new office building boasts more than 570 m³ of cross-laminated timber structure. Its slabs and structural walls, all of them exposed, add a warm, stylish touch to this decidedly industrial work environment.
In the 15 years since the product was invented, it has proven its merits in Europe, and its popularity continues to grow. At AGF, we believe that cross-laminated timber construction will also find a market in Quebec. Wood influences all three aspects of sustainable development: environment, economy and society. In addition, wood is deeply rooted in the hearts of Quebeckers It is a, natural, renewable product and a real carbon sink, which will help revitalize the forestry industry.
Simplicity
Cross-laminated timber panels are simply giant plywood panels consisting of layered planks that have been glued at 90-degree angles. The panels are then custom-cut in the plant and used for floor slabs, roofs, structural walls, balconies, overhangs, railings, stair treads and stringers. The imagination of design professionals is the only limit on the product’s versatility.
Cross-laminated timber panels can be used to create buildings with prefab slabs and structural walls that are distinctive for their ease of assembly and so-called “dry” construction, an advantage in our four-season climate. In addition, all kinds of other subsystems can easily be nailed to the panel. It’s a breeze to design and erect on site.
Quality
In Europe, cross-laminated timber panels have been dubbed “the new concrete.” The assembly of the layers gives the wood panels unequalled strength and dimensional stability. A house built with cross-laminated timber does not “shift.” Moreover, the precision of the cuts made in the plant prevents the problems of settling that can happen with a typical three- or four-storey wood-frame building. The compartmentalization provides superior acoustic insulation and fire resistance, and creates an airtight envelope that delivers exceptional energy performance. Because of its insulating qualities, wood eliminates the hard-to-manage heat channels that occur with steel and concrete architecture. In our climate, wood surfaces are simply more comfortable.
Added value
The glues used are formaldehyde-free and the wood comes from sustainably managed forests. When left unfinished, wood is a natural regulator of humidity. Air quality is thus optimized and responds to the desire for a healthy environment for our children, in schools, hospitals and clinics.
The appeal of concrete and its architectural language has spanned many decades. Today, for less than the cost of concrete, we can enjoy the same generous openings and fine, sleek lines with cross-laminated timber construction.
Wood has been modernized, but it is still central to our traditions and our cultural identity.
Photos: Marc Cramer
