Canadian Project
Québec
Mont-Laurier Library
Decarbonizing by Extending Lifespan
© CHEVALIER MORALES ARCHITECTES
VALÉRIE LEVÉE
JOURNALIST FOR SCIENCE AND ARCHITECTURE
The buildings analyzed by GESTIMAT follow one another and point to a trend: The embodied carbon of wood structures is lower than that of concrete and steel structures. Building with wood therefore represents a key strategy when reducing a building’s carbon footprint. Even when building with wood, however, the building’s embodied carbon can be further reduced by optimizing resources and extending the structure’s lifespan. This was the strategy developed for the Mont-Laurier Library, a strategy based on a particularly innovative architectural and structural design.
Every beam resembles the other at the library’s construction site. Each beam is eight feet long and made of glued-laminated timber; they are assembled to form square modules with 4-foot sides which, in turn, provide the basic unit when creating the ceiling grid. The result is a self-supporting framework that holds itself up through the keystone effect. The entire building is designed using a 4-foot-by-4-foot module, which minimizes waste. Even the decking, made of 4-foot-by-8-foot plywood sheets, optimizes the resource.
As expected, wooden beams reduce the structure’s embodied carbon and, indeed, the GESTIMAT analysis revealed a 23% reduction in GHG emissions compared to a reinforced concrete and steel structure.
An Adaptable, Deconstructable Building
The key advantage of this design is that it provides flexibility, allowing the building to adapt its spaces as it evolves. Since the loads are distributed evenly throughout the entire structure, the columns can be moved to reconfigure the library, or even convert the building for other uses. The 4-foot-square module is suitable for offices, classrooms, and bedrooms. This flexibility extends the building’s lifespan and dilutes the carbon emissions associated with the structure’s construction over a longer period of time.
Even at the end of the building’s lifespan, it can be repurposed into another building designed with the same concept. “Everything can be disassembled, and the compact 4-foot dimensions make the beams easy to handle,” says Stephan Chevalier. “It’s like a Meccano set. It’s much easier than dismantling a building made of large wooden beams.”
Since the mechanical systems are routed through a raised section of the floor rather than through the ceiling, the beams remain intact, with no drilling, which also facilitates repurposing. It is the modules themselves, complete with their lighting and soundproofing systems, that can be dismantled and installed at another construction site.
With this architectural and structural concept, the programmed deconstruction of the building and the reuse of its materials are no longer theoretical; they have become a reality.
Figure 1 GHG Emission Comparison for the Completed Project Structure (1) and the Reference Scenario (2)
« ALL WOOD STRUCTURES PERFORM WELL IN TERMS OF CARBON. WHAT WE PROPOSE IS AN APPROACH BASED ON PROGRAMMED DECONSTRUCTION WITH A VIEW TO REUSING THE SAME MATERIALS. »
STEPHAN CHEVALIER CHEVALIER MORALES
VIEW OF THE MONT-LAURIER LIBRARY HALL
© CHEVALIER MORALES ARCHITECTES
Canadian Project
British Columbia
PNE Amphitheatre
(Freedom Mobile Arch):
Among the Largest Wood Roofs Ever Built
© IMAGE BY MIR.
LAWRENCE CREAGHAN
EDITOR
With its 105-metre clear span, the Freedom Mobile Arch will be equipped with one of the largest wooden roofs ever built. The amphitheatre’s design features 60 arches arranged in a series of six-barrel vaults intersecting at diagonal planes to provide weather protection and improved sound performance while framing perfect views of the majestic mountains Vancouver is famous for.
Over 2,000 m³ of solid wood will be used for the polygonal arched roof, reducing embodied carbon emissions by 40% compared to a steel structure reference scenario. With the exceptional carbon-sequestering capacity of glue-laminated arches and cross-laminated timber decking, the project will set a new standard for sustainable design and construction in Vancouver.
Revery Architecture’s Freedom Mobile Arch project will showcase solid wood in a precedent-setting vaulted roof, leveraging its unique acoustic potential and biophilic character to deliver an unforgettable experience for up to 10,000 individuals at a time. Fully compliant with Zero Carbon Building standards and LEED Gold certification, the amphitheatre will be completed in time to host the FIFA Fan Festival at the 2026 World Cup.
Vancouver-based Revery is an internationally renowned architecture, interior design, and planning firm. It is committed to upholding the Building Beyond Buildings philosophy, espousing a passion for environments that align architecture with broader community initiatives while creating inspiring and authentic spaces that promote human interaction, engage the senses more fully, and enhance quality of life.
Cecobois (CB) sat down with Revery Architecture’s head of design, Venelin Kokalov (VK), to gain a better understanding of the project.
CB: The call for the amphitheatre project made no mention of arches. Yet Revery had the audacity to propose one !
VK: Yes. Revery was indeed bold enough to propose an arch made of solid wood. For us, the arch did not represent a formal gesture but an attempt to create a structure that embodies both strength and lightness–an elegant span that touches the ground at only three points and lifts the entire roof like a canopy over the park.
CB: Were there aesthetic reasons behind the size of the solid wood roof, or was the intention to demonstrate what solid wood can do? Both perhaps?
VK: Both. The scale of the roof came from the experience we wanted to create–an open, uplifting space that feels light and connected to nature–but it also became an opportunity to show what solid wood can achieve. The 105-metre clear span is more than an engineering feat; it’s a statement of possibility. It proves that wood can be world-class, sustainable, and poetic at the same time.
CB: When the great architect Louis Kahn asked a brick what it wants, it answered: “I like an arch.” How would solid wood respond if Kahn asked it the same question?
VK: If Kahn asked solid wood what it wanted, I think it would say: “I want to breathe, and to belong.” That’s exactly what it does in the Freedom Mobile Arch. The wood rises gracefully into an arch that feels alive, rooted in the landscape, but open to the sky. It brings warmth, lightness, and a sense of connection to nature and people.
CB: What has been the most surprising thing you discovered during the Freedom Mobile Arch project so far?
VK: One of the most surprising discoveries was the roof’s ability to minimize noise for the surrounding neighbourhoods. What began as a structural and architectural feature–a large wooden canopy–turned into a powerful acoustic tool. The density and form of the roof help contain and reflect sound back to the users, without letting it spill into nearby homes. It was a great example of how design, performance, and community sensitivity come together naturally.
CB: A final thought?
VK: I believe the Freedom Mobile Arch will stand as one of Vancouver’s true cultural landmarks–a place where art, nature, and community converge. With its innovative wooden roof and sustainable design, it embodies Vancouver’s climate leadership while honouring its Indigenous heritage. Above all, I want to leave behind a legacy of pride–a venue that reflects the city’s values, one that will belong to its people for generations to come.
mass timber will be used for the polygonal arched roof, which will reduce
embodied carbon emissions compared to a reference scenario using a steel structure.
PROJECT SITE
© FAST + EPP
PROJECT SITE
© FAST + EPP
International Project France
Wood
The WOOD Project in Grenoble: Decarbonizing Beyond the Building
© RENAUD ARAUD
VALÉRIE LEVÉE
JOURNALIST FOR SCIENCE AND ARCHITECTURE
The outline of the WOOD blends into the surrounding mountains, yet it’s impossible to miss. With its massive outdoor staircase and forest of glue-laminated timber, this office building, clad entirely in wood, is sure to impress.
The WOOD project spans seven floors, contains over 6,000 m2 of office space, and is divided into two sections. The triangular-shaped west wing, with its staircase and terraces, provides access to the roof, while the cubic southeast wing is supported by a “forest” crossed by a pedestrian bridge.
Intent on reducing embedded carbon, the designers made the most of wood. “French environmental regulations provide a carbon indicator that involves carbon emission reductions per built square metre,” says Jean-Luc Sandoz, CEO of CBS-CBT and general contractor for the project. “This encourages the use of biobased materials and paves the way for structural wood and natural insulation.”
Wooden Structure and Envelope
The structure consists of glue-laminated spruce posts and beams; even the envelope uses a light frame system made of 60x200 mm saw timber. The walls are prefabricated with dimensions of 3.8x11 m. The floors consist of a mixture of glued-laminated timber and concrete. A 9-centimetre-thick concrete slab is poured and bolted to the wooden joists. The two materials work together: The concrete under compression and the wood under tension. Above it, an access floor allows utilities to pass through.
While the west wing rests on the ground and stands on its own, the southeast block is supported by a “forest” formed by four cylindrical Douglas fir posts divided into branches to resemble trees. Each of these trees absorbs gravitational forces and can support up to 40 tons. The lateral loads are transferred to a concrete core wall at the interface between the west and southeast blocks.
Putting Second Cut Slabs to Good Use
The WOOD project also stands out for its exterior cladding, made from planks cut from a single log. The sides of the planks have rounded edges and are installed to overlap. “We installed the first layer of planks: One plank, one opening, one plank, one opening,” says Jean-Luc Sandoz. “We then installed the second layer to cover the gaps.” The “forest” ceiling features another forest of festoons depicting miniature inverted wooden spruce trees.
Decarbonizing All the Way
A total of 1,200 m3 of wood was used, or 2,000 tons of CO2 emissions avoided. However, the WOOD project’s embodied carbon reduction strategy is not limited to the volume of wood involved; it also seeks to extend the lifespan of the building and the wood material. The choice of a post-and-beam construction system offers the flexibility to adapt the building’s layout for a variety of uses. Most importantly, everything is bolted together and can be disassembled. CBS-CBT developed a tool–the Sylvatest–that can calculate the mechanical strength of wooden components based on ultrasonic measurements. If the WOOD project is ever dismantled, the documented strength of these “second-hand” posts and beams will help identify new and adapted uses.
