The $422 million upgrade to the Kelowna International Airport (YLW) has hit a significant milestone following the erection of the new mass timber roof structure over Canada’s 10th busiest airport. Breaking ground in 2023, the Terminal Building Expansion Project (TBEP) is split into two phases, with the waffle-slab timber roof part of stage 1 works slated to open in 2026.
“A key component to everything we do at YLW is ensuring we reflect the community in our airport. Mass timber embodies our commitment to sustainability and innovation while honouring the local industries and resources,” according to Sam Samaddar, YLW’s CEO. “By integrating this material, we are creating a space that showcases our region and community to everyone who passes through our terminal building.”
Wood Central understands that construction was supported by a $500,000 grant from British Columbia’s Mass Timber Demonstration Program, which was instrumental in creating a digital construction twin, advancing fire modelling and assessing the life-cycle of the building materials. In addition, the roof used at least 788 square metres of locally sourced cross-laminated timber and glulam – manufactured locally at Kalesnikoff’s facility in Castlegar, British Columbia.
“B.C. mass timber projects like this showcase how our province is a world leader in the industry and supports our objectives around a clean, sustainable economy,” said Diana Gibson, Minister of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation. “Using mass timber in B.C. buildings is helping to create economic benefits for a wide range of companies and is key to responding to the U.S. tariffs and duties.”
A unique waffle-slab roof design
Without doubt the architectural and engineering standout of the roof is the 1960s modernist waffle aesthetic with a two-storey prefabricated mass timber structure featuring a long-spanning signature “waffle-slab” roof design.
Designed by McFarlane Biggar Architects + Designers, the project features a mass timber “waffle” system, mirroring the original design. The roof, designed by Structural Engineers Fast + Epp, consists of glulam girders, which will be cantilevered five metres in a north-south direction, spanning 20 metres over steel columns extended from the main floor.
Prefabricated cross-laminated timber panels will span between these primary girders, hiding the lighting, sprinklers, conduit, HVAC and drainage systems within the roof. According to Fast + Epp, the structure was designed with modularity in mind to accommodate future expansion – the structure can be repeated and expanded to the south as the needs of the airport grow.
It is estimated that prefabricated panels cut construction time by 25 per cent, creating significant savings for the project and resulting in 90 per cent less construction traffic to the site. This is a key win, given that construction sites cannot encroach into areas where air traffic operates.
The expansion will lead to 3.2 million in passenger traffic by 2045
According to Sam Samaddar, the Kelowna International Airport director, the mass timber expansion “will increase airport movement and passenger traffic.”
“Throughout construction, the guest experience is a key priority,” he said. “Our team is making every effort to minimise impacts and inconvenience to passengers caused by construction.”
This is not the first airport project in the region to embrace mass timber
In May 2023, Wood Central reported on constructing the KF Centre of Excellence, which included a 5,574 square metre mass timber building.
The architecture integrates sweeping and tilting wooden truss roof structures, creating an aesthetically pleasing echo of the aeronautic theme.
Moreover, the Centre boasts spacious mezzanine areas, employing various timber systems, including Glulam, dowel-laminated timber (DLT), and cross-laminated timber (CLT).
A distinctive feature of the building is its roof, shaped to resemble an aeroplane’s “tail,” making it a standout visual beacon for those travelling via Highway 97, the main artery to Okanagan Valley.
