We have been deeply engaged in an exciting Advanced Timber project in New York City, collaborating with an exceptional client and an incredible team comprising a design architect from Norway, specialty timber engineers from Switzerland, and an architect of record and engineer of record from New York.
Demonstration projects like this serve as catalysts for innovation in advanced processes, driving progress in materials and methods across our industry.
Swipe right to see a few of the recent progress images of the double curvature.
We’re proud to announce a new specialized glulam manufacturing facility at Spearhead.
The $60 million expansion will serve the full range of our work — from the most technically advanced freeform structures to high-end residential and commercial builds.
We’ve partnered with Ledinek Engineering to deliver a first-of-its-kind glulam line that will produce zero VOC softwood, mixed-species, and hardwood glulam in straight, curved, and double-curved layups, up to 80 feet in length. We’ve also selected Hundegger to deliver advanced CNC machining platforms, expanding on our existing expertise.
The project team includes Leckie Studio as architect of record, Fast+Epp as structural engineer, and HR Pacific as general contractor. We’re working closely with Neue Holzbau — a global leader in complex timber engineering and fabrication — to introduce GSA glued-in-rod technology to North America through this project.
Construction is underway with the building’s foundation nearing completion, and installation and commissioning of the laminating and machining equipment will begin this summer.
The expansion has received $7.5 million in provincial funding from BC’s Manufacturing Jobs Fund, and we look forward to announcing an additional funding partnership soon.
We’re expanding our capacity and evolving our capabilities to push the possibilities of timber construction — let’s amplify and execute your most ambitious projects.
This project is pushing the boundaries of Advanced Timber fabrication in North America, and we’re excited to see it come to life in New York soon. Collaboration with an international team has accelerated the development of localized capabilities, enabling the project team to collectively design and execute a wood-centric solution with North American fibre.
Interested in Advanced Timber? We’ll be in Portland next week for the International Mass Timber Conference—reach out if you’d like to connect!
Images: @emmanuel72
First look at an exciting new project, in collaboration with Fast+Epp and Creation Holz.
We’re thrilled to be working with the Taghum Footbridge Society on a proposal close to home. The dream of a pedestrian bridge reconnecting the communities of Taghum and Blewett, just outside of Nelson, is moving into its next funding phase — and it’s set to be timber.
At 189 meters (620 feet), this would be one of the longest timber pedestrian bridges in the world and a catalyst for innovation in timber construction.
Stay tuned as this project develops.
Temple of Light 2/2
In geometry, a ruled surface is one where every point is incident to at least one straight line, a rule line, that lies entirely on the surface. Previous experiments on this concept informed the design of the Temple of Light, allowing us to create curved structural shells from aggregated straight elements.
#PatkauArchitects #Patkau #CanadianArchitecture #InnovativeDesign #RuledSurface
We are problem solvers by nature. With every project we refine our processes and evolve our capabilities.
No project too big. No project too small.
This has been a rewarding opportunity to collaborate with @jamesharryart and we’re honoured to be a part of his work.
Stay tuned as James shares more information about this exciting project.
Camp House in New Hampshire — one of over 75 projects we’ve completed with @olsonkundig . Behind the scenes on this project, we developed a centralized timber-and-steel fabrication model to resolve scope interface details, program CNC machines, and enable an efficient construction process. The result: digital precision, material honesty, and enduring craft.
The fabrication process fuels our pursuit of ambitious architecture.
Every collaboration is a proving ground—a chance to refine our craft and push what’s possible.
Geometrically complex projects accelerate this: they demand new tools and techniques rooted in deep material knowledge, proven methodologies, and advanced technology—innovations that expand our capabilities and contribute to the industry.
@studiogang
Big things ahead — and we’re growing our team!
Five new positions are now open as we enter an exciting phase of growth at Spearhead.
Want to be part of it?
Check the link in our bio or email [email protected].
The future is bright!
The Temple of Light by @patkauarchitects in collaboration with @spearhead.ca a spiritual sanctuary and meeting place for the Yasodhara Ashram in Kootenay Bay, BC, Canada.
Rebuilt in 2017 after a fire, the temple showcases the possibilities of mass timber construction featuring glulam arches and prefabricated curved timber panels coming together to form a striking lotus inspired structure.
This is part of our series on mass timber in British Columbia in collaboration with @naturallywood_bc
Read more about the Temple Of Light here: /projects/temple-of-light
Structural engineer @equilibrium.consulting.inc
General Contracting by Alfred Horie Construction
#masstimber #britishcolumbia #timberinnovation #canadiantimber #timberconstruction #sustainablebuilding #architecture #canadianarchitecture #patkauarchitects #spearheadca #naturallywood #archimarathon #partnership
We’re honoured to be donating a Peace Pole to our Nelson community, inscribed with ten languages. This installation will join more than 300,000 Peace Poles around the world, serving as a reminder to think, speak, and act in the spirit of peace and harmony.
Though modest in scale, the project carries deep significance as a symbol of unity and shared hope. Crafted from reclaimed solid timber, the pole gives new life to repurposed material.
Many individuals, companies, and students came together to bring this project to life, and we’re proud to be part of it.
It will be presented to the public at Lakeside Park on Sunday, September 21st.
Fabrication is officially underway on a unique timber project in Miami, featuring Accoya elements laminated at Spearhead.
We’re excited to watch this structure take shape and look forward to sharing more of the process soon. Stay tuned!
