Recognized by the Canadian Wood Council for its ingenuity in wood design and building, Fast + Epp’s new head office embodies the firm’s identity as skilled mass timber engineers. Located in the Mount Pleasant district of Vancouver near the major transit intersection of West Broadway and Cambie Street, this 4-storey hybrid mass timber and steel structure was built with sustainability and employee wellness in mind. The core concept behind the building design was “connectivity” – between employees, between interior and exterior, between building and site, between people and nature.
Exposed wood is visible throughout the space, from CLT panels to Glulam beams, bringing natural warmth to the office and proudly showing off the building’s structure. This prefabricated hybrid mass timber superstructure took only four weeks to install, highlighting the efficiency of constructing with this material. Dynamic glass spans the building exterior with automatic tint control, limiting glare and solar heat while maximizing natural light and the northern mountain views. This also eliminates the need for blinds or other coverings that could interfere with the adjacent sidewalk.
Fast + Epp also took the opportunity to test new structural technologies in their office, particularly in seismic design. Tectonus devices were installed at the base of the CLT shear walls and within the steel braced frames, ensuring that the building absorbs the shock of any potential earthquakes. This seismic safety feature – the first of its kind in North America – snaps the building back into place after the tremors end, ensuring an immediate and safe return to occupancy. This passion for testing and technological integration continues in the office’s Concept Lab, a dedicated space for research and tests related to mass timber construction.
With this building as its “living laboratory”, Fast + Epp has poised itself to continue pushing the mass timber industry forward with the innovative and efficient designs that it is recognized and respected for.
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