The second storey of the open office space provides views into a canopy of trees at the rear of the site. Exposed mass timber columns, beams and ceilings contribute to the warmth of the space.PROJECT Cunard Street Live/Work/Grow, Halifax, Nova ScotiaARCHITECT FBM Architecture Interior Design PlanningPHOTOS Doublespace Photography, unless otherwise notedModern mass timber has made inroads throughout Canada, including, most recently, the Atlantic provinces. At the vanguard of this movement is a recently completed project led by Susan Fitzgerald, principal at Halifax firm Fowler Bauld & Mitchell (FBM).FBM had long wanted to do a project using mass timber, but clients were hesitant to be among the first in the region to construct a multi-storey building from the material. So, FBM bravely decided to become its own client. In 2019, the firm was operating from a typical 1970s office tower downtown. A new mass timber workplace would accommodate their growing staff, at the same time demystifying and de-risking this construction method in the region. FBM committed, with Woodworks Atlantic, to documenting the process and costs as a test case.The lot is sandwiched between an older multi-unit building and a daily meals and shelter charity.Dream big, but researchAs local modern mass timber examples were, at the time, few and far between, all involved knew there would be a steep learning curve. Fitzgerald sums it up: We didnt know any of this before, so, we really had to go through it ourselves. The design teamwhich also included structural engineer Gilles Comeau, and Fitzgeralds husband, Brainard, in the lead for contractor Aitcheson Fitzgerald Buildersfirst refined the program and concept in animated, sometimes intense, discussions. With the support of Ontario supplier Timber Systems, they toured a certified sustainable forest, the production mill, and several completed projects to absorb first-hand both the challenges and rewards of mass timber. As Comeau learned, any engineering calculations are impacted by the dimensions of product available, the species used, and how the members are glued, nailed or bolted together.The mass timber infill building includes a multi-level office space, topped by a half-dozen residential units.Office, residence and gardenThe new building began with a three-storey office program. Given the tight housing situation in Halifax, seven residential units were integrated into the program on the fourth and fifth floors. Tenants and staff share the elevator and stairwells, fostering a diverse and congenial micro-community. This extends outside to the roof, too, conceived as an outdoor oasis for both the staff and residents. Vegetables and flowers are thoughtfully arranged in raised beds and nurtured by a professional gardener. Fitzgerald points out that some people, who never brought lunches to work downtown, do nowoutside, on the roof. In addition to the outdoor space being a visual respite from computer screens for the staff, it is also a valuable amenity for the residential tenants. A panoramic view of the blue Halifax Harbour to the east and comfortable outdoor furniture facilitate conversation.The offices lower-level kitchen and staff dining area opens onto a sunken patio.Site logisticsThe site itself is a 15-by-30-metre lot sandwiched between Souls Harbour Rescue Mission, a daily meals and shelter charity, and a older multi-unit apartment building. The FBM office takes up the entire width, but pulls back from the rear boundary to permit a sunken patio which, besides being accessed from the staff kitchen, allows ample light into the lower level. An overhang at the street articulates the glass faade, and sometimes even provides shelter for patrons of Souls Harbour as they line up for lunch. As contractor Brainard Fitzgerald notes, the construction was slowed by the Covid pandemics arrival shortly after construction began, disrupting suppliers and personnel, and making costs unpredictable. The construction process was also complicated by building with zero-side yard setbacks, and little room at the front or back of the site. There was not a conventional lay-down area for materials: concrete formwork for the core circulation areas had to be disassembled and stored off-site, only to be brought back for each of the five levels. But he was pleasantly surprised by how robust and resilient the mass timber components were when assembled on siteprotection from mold, moisture and damage were manageable, and did not add significantly to the budget.Because of very limited exposure at the sides, most natural light is harvested from the front north-facing and rear south-facing elevations. Full-height glazing provides abundant light to the three office floors, while bright interior walls and blond wood ceilings enhance the effect. Southern glare and heat gain are mitigated by blinds. The service and circulation functions are located along the two sides, keeping the plumbing, power and IT runs short and practical. Each conduit, light fixture and sprinkler location was detailed precisely to eliminate visual clutter on the walls and exposed glulam ceilings. With this keen attention to placement, the electrical and mechanical trades were alerted at the outset that the project was not business-as-usual. They responded with a hearty can do! attitude which elicited a heightened sense of pride in the work. The outcome is a work environment which is welcoming, light-filled, tidy and, indeed, inspirational to the firms designers. A rooftop garden is an amenity for residential tenants, as well as providing a verdant refuge for staff at FBMs offices. Photo by Matt ReynoldsScreenshotVersatile workspaceDuring Schematic and Design Development stages, FBM employees had the opportunity for input, as they would be the eventual users. As a result, the workplace offers a diversity of options, with closed and open breakout rooms on each floor, and sit-stand desks throughout. The kitchens long table, sunken patio, and rooftop all provide informal spaces for dialogue and collegial brainstorming.A decision was made early on to forego any parking places for staff and tenants, leaving only one spot for garbage pick-up, and one for visitors. Many of the residents walk or cycle to work, and there are multiple city transit stops nearby. FBM architect Greg Fry says: The office has bike storage, a staff shower, and a plethora of great coffee shops in the neighbourhood. The new generation of talent demands an exceptional workplace experience, and the new FBM office helps us exceed those expectations. Post-pandemic, several employees work from home, but the office is so inviting that it remains the preferred hub of activity for the firm.The new office is a mass timber showcase visible from the street and also a showroom demonstrating its capability. Since occupancy, both new and former clients have been truly impressed by the value-add of capital-A architecture on display in this bright, well-appointed atelier. The high-quality construction provides proof-of-concept for the viability of mass timber in Atlantic Canada, and points to possibilities for mixed-use, residential, and infill applications.Lessons learnedSpeed of construction is one of the clear advantages of mass timber, but this was negatively affected by the concrete elevator shaft and fire exit stairwells. As each floor went up, the concrete formwork, rebar placement and careful maneuvering so close to the neighbouring buildings delayed the other trades. The thick glulam floors were topped with concrete to meet fire-separation requirements, but Fitzgerald has since researched thinner solutions.The final cost analysis showed that, for this project, mass timber compares well with concrete construction, and is more economical than a similar steel structure. With a new mass timber factory coming to the region in 2026, the team is hopeful that this construction method will gain momentum in Atlantic Canada. Presently, Fitzgerald is researching the use of mass timber in building affordable housing with the Dalhousie School of Architecture. Betting on mass timber, it appears, will be a winning proposition (knock on wood!).T. E. Smith-Lamothe is an architect-artist whose firm, Architech, Ltd., is located in Halifax.CLIENT Craig Davidson | ARCHITECT TEAM Susan Fitzgerald, Alicia McDowell, Danny Goodz, Ben Griffiths, Peter Kolodziej, Amber Kilborn, Stavros Kondeas, Rita Wang | STRUCTURAL Campbell Comeau Engineering | MECHANICAL/ELECTRICAL CBCL Limited | CONTRACTOR Aitchison Fitzgerald Builders | GEOTECHNICAL/ENVIRONMENTAL Stantec | CIVIL Servant Dunbrack McKenzie & MacDonald Ltd.| AREA 1,770 M2 | BUDGET Withheld | COMPLETION February 2024As appeared in theFebruary 2025issue of Canadian Architect magazine The post Knocking on Wood: Cunard Street Live/Work/Grow, Halifax, Nova Scotia appeared first on Canadian Architect.