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