Pine beetle-killed lumber used for college building

Vancouver-based CEI Architecture Planning Interiors has used pine beetle-killed lumber to construct a new building at Okanagan College in Penticton, British Columbia.

The architect negotiated with the International Living Building Institute to use wood from pine beetle-killed forest on the project instead of Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)-certified lumber.

The two-storey, 70,000ft² structure is entirely timber frame construction. Apart from some FSC-certified lumber from BC’s Kootenay region, the remaining wood in the college will come from pine beetle-killed forest.

The post-secondary facility, which will both promote green construction methods and use its green features to teach students about sustainable building techniques, has been designed to meet the Living Building Challenge (LBC).

The LBC has established a series of ambitious, environmentally-friendly requirements for buildings that exceed LEED Platinum standards.

One requirement is that the building be constructed from 100% local and environmentally sensitive materials.

The project has been financed by federal and provincial funding and is expected to open in 2011.