TIME: 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Description
In 1988, MacLennan Jaunkalns Miller Architects (MJMA) was founded with its first project—the Grand River Recreation Complex in the Kitchener-Waterloo region. This inaugural project featured an innovative glulam (then referred to as “heavy timber”) arch structure for the community pool hall, marking a significant early achievement in community centre design. The success of the Grand River Recreation Complex not only established MJMA’s reputation but also provided the financial foundation and creative momentum to pursue a path of design excellence and innovation. This project laid the groundwork for the firm’s specialization in community and recreational architecture—a focus that has since evolved into a national portfolio of acclaimed work. Importantly, the use of mass timber in this initial project sparked what would become a defining element of MJMA’s design approach—igniting a long-standing enthusiasm for timber construction that continues to influence the firm's work today. This lecture will examine key lessons learned in mass timber construction over the past four decades, with an in-depth look at six case study projects: the Academic Wood Tower at the University of Toronto, the Vancouver Aquatics Centre, Langley Smith Athletic Park in Langley, BC, the JDUC Student Centre at Queen’s University, Churchill Meadows Community Centre in Mississauga, and the Neil Campbell Rowing Centre in St. Catharines. Together, these projects highlight how intensive collaboration among clients, consultants, builders, and fabricators can lead to groundbreaking outcomes—including timber towers, long-span timber structures, and innovative structural solutions. This collective process embodies what we refer to as mass timber mania.
Learning Objectives
- Understand the Structural Versatility of Mass Timber Explore how mass timber structures, from building tall towers to ridiculously long spans and mass timber structural sandwiches, can be versatile design drivers for new Canadian architecture.
- ‘The Six’ Design Strategies for Integrating Mass Timber in Civic Architecture Through case studies, gain insights into MJMA’s six design principles for working with mass timber in recreational, academic, and community spaces.
- Mass Timber ain’t easy - examine technical and regulatory lessons Whether big or small, mass timber has many challenges. Hear lessons learned, on fire, acoustic, structural, and code-related challenges encountered in varied mass timber built projects across the country.
- Mass Timber is better for you and the place you live Understand how mass timber contributes to embodied carbon reduction and broader sustainability goals through lifecycle and material optimization.
Presenters:
Tyler Walker, Principal, Architect, MJMA Architecture & Design
A Principal and Architect at MJMA Architecture & Design, Tyler has been the lead designer of the mass timber zero carbon & net zero energy Henley Rowing Centre, and the Churchill Meadows Community Centre projects. Tyler brings a thoughtful and rigorous approach to his design work, balancing functionality, simplicity and materiality. His focus within MJMA has been the advancement of innovative mass timber structures that are rooted in a community-based design approach.
Pricing:
Licensed OAA Members: $42.50 + HST
OAA Interns and Students: $32.50 + HST
Non-Members: $63.00 + HST
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