Brock Commons Tallwood House, Student residence at University of British Columbia, Canada
Brock Commons Tallwood House is an 18-story student residence at the University of British Columbia built primarily with wood. The building contains 404 housing units that range from studio apartments to four-bedroom configurations.
The building was completed in 2017 and became the first mass timber high-rise dormitory in North America. Its construction demonstrated that wood could be used safely and effectively for larger residential structures.
The residence features study spaces and common areas where students naturally gather throughout the day. These shared zones shape how the campus community connects and spends time together.
The building is accessible to walk around and view from the outside, which clearly shows its wood construction. Being on campus grounds makes it easy to reach, and visitors can observe the architecture from multiple angles.
The building was constructed using prefabricated wood components that were assembled on site, allowing the entire project to be completed in just 70 days. This rapid construction speed happened because most parts came ready to fit together rather than being built from scratch on location.
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