Jun
07

2017

Update on new StructureCraft Abbotsford Shop

By Justin Brown,
Structural Engineer, EIT


Construction is progressing well out in Abbotsford! Since our one week erection we have been working on numerous details in order to hit our next construction milestones for the new StructureCraft timber 50,000sqft facility.

  • The roof diaphragm is now finished
  • The insulation and roofing membrane is almost complete
  • Skylights installed
  • Shop office framed and drywalled (see pics below).
  • The bracket systems for the in-shop cranes are also installed.
  • The erection of the main office structure will be commencing next.

See below for a detailed overview

Demountable Timber Building

A major milestone in the construction of the shop will be the installation and commissioning of the overhead cranes. The crane brackets were mounted to the columns prior to erection, and part of the crane connection at the wall locations was preinstalled such that a few bolts would be the nominal on-site installation work to install the wall brackets.

We have also recently completed the construction of the shop office. This two storey structure consists of typical stud wall framing, glulam beams, and an exposed NLT roof. This structure will serve as the main offices for shop personnel, the carpenter’s lunch room, and the museum of past project samples.


The roofing membrane is almost complete - an important milestone.

In order to remove the wall panel bracing, we had to properly engage the diaphragm by ensring the walls were sufficiently connected to the roof panels. There were unique details for the North/South and East/West walls that accomplished this. Our prefabricated approach to the design of this building provided sufficient lapping of panels and their skin such that the North and South walls were detailed as per layout drawings during construction. The gable ends of the building required further on-site connection work after placement.

Now that the outside wall shores have been removed, we can see the facility’s size from a different perspective. Our team is looking forward to utilizing the 324’x120’ space to produce larger, taller, and even more complex signature structures.


The crane brackets are also being installed on the walls. Part of the crane connection was pre-installed on to the walls prior to erection, and now the bracket that the crane rail will sit on is being connected.


Now that the outside wall shores have been removed, we can see the facility’s size from a different perspective. Our team is looking forward to utilizing the 324’x120’ space to produce larger, taller, and even more complex signature structures.

South Bay

Right now, we are preparing for the installation of the office structure. The 10,000 sqft structure consists of glulam post and beam construction with acoustic NLT floor and roof panels. The walls, glulam columns and beams, and acoustic NLT floors have all been prefabricated off-site. The office erection is scheduled to start early June.

Visit the project page for more details.