The event was celebrated on site, where workers gathered to witness the last cross laminated timber panel being hoisted into place, thus marking completion of the roof construction.  Workers were invited to sign the final panel, commemorating their involvement and contributions to the project.

The use of mass timber products for the building structure aligns with British Columbia’s Wood First Act, which requires the use of wood as a primary construction material for provincially funded buildings. Additionally, the mass timber used at PARC Campus supports B.C.’s Mass Timber Action Plan[1], promoting the province’s forestry sector and the use of low-carbon building materials for more sustainable construction. 

All mass timber products installed were produced by Kalesnikoff, a B.C.-based company. The trees used in the building materials were harvested in the Kootenays, processed into dimensional lumber at Kalesnikoff’s sawmill, and then fabricated into beams, columns and wall and roof panels at their mass timber plant near Castlegar before being shipped to the site.

Using mass timber products as a primary construction material helped to expedite construction of this building, which is over 15,200 m² in area – that’s more than two regulated soccer pitches! In fact, the mass timber structure was erected in just eight months, starting in April when the first columns and wall panels were installed.[2]

Hoisting the final mass timber panel into place provided the opportunity to reflect on the immense progress that unfolded at PARC Campus in 2024. As we look to 2025, the construction efforts may be less visible as the contractors focus on fitting out the interior spaces: framing the laboratories, installing the heating and cooling systems, pulling cables for power and data, finishing the floors, and installing the thousands of cabinets and shelves that will ultimately house the provincial archives and collections.

But the outside is far from finished. In 2025, exciting developments will include the completion of the building’s exterior, including the landscaping features, and unveiling of commissioned artworks. The year ahead promises continued transformation to the PARC Campus as the project advances towards completion.