Greater Vancouver Real Estate Direct Presents Other Property Developments
Here are some other exciting new project developments in the Greater Vancouver real estate market including Cloverdale, Tsawwassen and the UDI Annual Awards for building excellence. In addition, this section features some other resort style developments in Victoria and the master planned Century Park Edmonton community.

Building on Shaky Ground?
Senior engineers are concerned about a new government promise to allow construction of five and six storey wood frame buildings in the Lower Mainland. In an interview with 24 hours, UBC earthquake engineering research facility director, Carlos Ventura, says he’s not aware of any international guidelines for making wooden buildings on that height earthquake resistant. “It’s possible,” he added. “But we haven’t seen any technical documentation that will help engineers have some peace of mind or not be so concerned.” “We’re certainly not saying it can’t be done,” said Structural Engineers Association of B.C. interim president David Davey. “I’m certainly now aware of any place where it is done. So we’re breaking new ground.” But are B.C. condo buyers going to be comfortable breaking such ground? “This is our concern too,” Davey replied. “Because engineers are required to provide assurances that he building is safe. And so we have to be sure that the construction problems have been addressed.” Davey and Ventura said there wasn’t much consultation with engineers prior to the government announcing its plan to amend the B.C. Building Code. Indeed, according to Ventura, “it came out of the blue.”

So Davey is recommending the government do a “proper study on the effects of increasing the height of wood frame buildings. And we feel there should be some time for education to ensure all the practitioners and users of the products are confident to increase building heights.” Coincidentally, the government quietly announced Tuesday, it was looking for a consultant to, in part, identify the seismic risks associated with such wood frame buildings. The housing and social development ministry didn’t say why it hadn’t commissioned this work earlier. But, in an email to 24 hours, the ministry stated, “The safety of wood frame buildings in situations such as an earthquake will be a fundamental consideration in making changes to wood frame construction.” “This type of building technology is already in use elsewhere in the world, including Seattle and Portland. The province knows it can be done, and the work now involves finding ways to apply the technology safely here in B.C.” The government rolled out its plan to allow five and six storey wood frame buildings March 12. That announcement followed a forest industry presentation on February 15 in Prince George urging the government to promote B.C. wood products by making the building code “wood-centric.”

Wood-Frame Buildings Subject to Controversy Abroad – 24 Hrs
In march the provincial government announced it would be amending the B.C. Building Code to allow for the construction of five and six storey wood frame buildings. But buildings of the same type are the subject of much controversy across the Atlantic. Last month, the U.K.’s Building magazine noted on May 17th, “a six storey building in Edinburgh became the seventh largest multi-storey timber-frame structure in two years to be destroyed by fire.” One such fire in Colindale promted the country’s Fire Protection Association to question whether “timber construction should be used for high-rise buildings.” Some have gone further. For example, London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority vice-chair Brian Coleman has called for an end to the construction of such buildings because of the risks to construction workers and occupiers; and in Building Design magazine, British Precast chief executive Martin Clarke – who represents concrete manufacturers – called for “a halt to multi-storey buildings in timber frame.” So what does the Campbell administration – which has promised to allows the construction of five and six storey construction buildings – think of those concerns? In an email sent to 24 hours, the housing an social development ministry state, “Ultimately the aim of the British Columbia Building Code is well built buildings that are safe for their occupants. The province will move forward in a way that balances the economic and environmental benefits of wood construction with any safety concerns.” The government previously announced it would be hiring a consultant to identify the risks associated with timber frame buildings, including fire and earthquakes. Last week 24 hours reported senior engineers in B.C. are concerned about the absence of guidelines for the construction of five and six storey earthquake safe wood frame buildings in B.C. By Sean H for 24 hours.