Fraserwood Project:

Vancouver International Airport (YVR)

Richmond, BC

Manufacturing round and tapered components in a shop accustomed to straight and square.

The Pier D expansion at the Vancouver International Aiport is YVR’s largest terminal expansion since 1996. As part of the expansion, a glassed-in island forest sits open to the elements from above. This atrium is surrounded by its own structural forest of trees fabricated of turned and tapered glue laminated timbers. The massive trunks reach towards the ceiling before reaching cast steel nodes that connect to the branches that support the roof.

This project named FraserWood a Silver Award Winner for VRCA’s 2021 Awards of Excellence for Manufacturers and Suppliers. 
VRCA Awards of Excellence 2021 Silver Winner for Manufacturers and Suppliers
Explore how FraserWood executed this project below 
Architect

Kasian Architecture

Engineering of Record

Bush, Bohlman & Partners

Engineer of Connections

Bush, Bohlman & Partners

general contractor

PCL Constructors Westcoast Inc.

customer

Whitemud Ironworks

location

YVR Airport, Vancouver, BC

Estimated Completion

2021

fraserwood’s role

Supply Tapered and Turned Glulams, Precision CNC Fabrication, Installation of Steel Connections, 3 coats of Shop Applied Finish

Turned and tapered glulam poles

Glulam columns were turned and sanded to a consistent size and taper.

  Turned Poles Services
CNC fabricated glulam posts prior to turning
CNC fabricated glulam posts prior to turning
Douglas Fir glulam post being turned

CNC Fabrication

CNC machines designed for straight and square members had to adapt in order to fabricate joinery on round and tapered components.

CNC fabricated turned and tapered glulam
CNC fabricated turned and tapered glulam
End joinery on douglas fir glulam ready for steel installation

Installing Steel

Cast Connex connections were used for post bases and for wood to wood connections. Connections at the top and bottom of the columns used epoxied rods to secure the steel in place. A custom apparatus was created to accommodate making the connection between the 2000lb steel and the column.

Installing steel in CNC fabricated custom glulam
Installing steel in CNC fabricated custom glulam
Installing Cast Connex steel into CNC fabricated glulam

Material handling of round components

Consideration for the handling of not just round, but also tapered columns, was a necessity. Cradles were created for moving both individual pieces as well as for packaging for transport.

CNC fabricated glulam posts ready for stain
Cradles for CNC fabricated round glulam components
CNC fabricated glulam posts ready for stain
YVR Pier D Expansion during construction
YVR Pier D Expansion completed seating area
YVR Pier D Expansion completed atrium
YVR Pier D Expansion completed

FraserWood’s team of CAD specialists will work with you to deliver practical solutions to complex project challenges.