Vancouver Convention Center

Project Description

The key solution for planning the structure turned out to be steel trusses for the full depth of floor levels and in a number of cases, multiple floor levels together with long span floor framing and roof framing. Steel joists provided a key part of the puzzle carrying heavy loads over long spans and easily integrated with the truss framing of the support walls. 10 foot deep trusses over the ballroom create a span between key bearing points that run down through the building onto the marine deck and onto the steel pipe piled foundations. Being able to span the distances necessary to reach key bearing points provided overall efficiencies that only the joists could provide.

Atop the sloping and irregularly shaped roofs is a living green roof, the largest of its kind on North America to date. Only with the use of steel roof joists could the structure have been as economical and quick to construct. With joists over the ballroom spanning to 120ft, the challenge of supporting the green roof was solved. Floors with a combination of composite beam and joist provided an efficient solution where vibration sensitivity was high and the depth available to mechanical and structure was very limited. The choice of a joist system helped the project maintain its budget and erection time-lines. Careful selection of systems helped contribute to the targeted LEED Gold Status.