Constructing homes to meet today’s building standards set by the province and municipalities across BC requires an integrated approach of highly skilled trades, including builders, designers, architects, energy advisors and more. When shopping for a new home, it is important to be aware of the changing industry standards and advancements in building science found behind award-winning designs.
Virtuoso, a six-storey, mass timber hybrid building complete with nine townhomes and 97 apartments by HAVAN member Adera Development, is situated in the world-renowned Wesbrook Village at UBC. Steps from Pacific Spirit Regional Park, with access to 764 hectares of seaside and temperate rainforest, Virtuoso was built with nature enthusiasts in mind.
Access to the outdoors is an essential ingredient to Adera developments, with private rooftop lanais for every penthouse, and wrap-around balconies for lower levels designed to extend living spaces outdoors. A shared courtyard, complete with tranquil waterfall features and stunning pergola, offers ample access to enjoy nature.
The project’s architecture embodies a mastery of the modern form with stunning West Coast Modern design. Richly coloured accents offset a sophisticated palette of natural materials such as cedar and brick, interplayed with Hardie Panels.
Virtuoso is the first private, residential multi-family building in Canada to be constructed using cross-laminated timber. Cross-laminated timber, or CLT as it is commonly known, is setting a new industry standard for wood construction, as it matches the strength and durability of concrete and steel at a fraction of the weight. It is also a carbon sequestering material that uses wood exclusively from sustainably managed forests. CLT also has a high strength-to-weight ratio, along with exhibiting advantages for structural, fire, thermal and acoustic performance.
Meeting the goals of UBC to build a sustainable community, Virtuoso is Residential Environmental Assessment Program (REAP) Gold Certified.
Compared to standard residential buildings, REAP ensures lower consumption of water, energy and resources, and higher-quality indoor environments and construction practices. REAP building standards also reduce the environmental impact on both the building site and the community. Aligning with the BC Building Code’s Energy Step Code, REAP also includes electric vehicle charging requirements and building commissioning requirements. Given the technical nature of this building, highly skilled trades were required for construction assembly, ensuring a quality product outcome.
Check out Virtuoso and other industry-leading projects at OvationAwards.ca
