Fort McMurray International Airport

Fort McMurray International Airport’s mass timber construction is a striking example of a dramatically expansive roof design. Glulam beams support wide planks of CLT—a high-strength engineered spruce-pine-fir super-plywood.

This roof design has the added benefit of placing the sprinkler and other mechanical systems in gaps between the ceiling’s CLT panels, emphasizing clean architectural lines and minimizing visual clutter. Sound-absorbing acoustic panels are discretely tucked away beneath perforated oak veneer cladding, further refining the space. Additional acoustic installation is combined into the second-floor walls, mounted behind perforated laminated-MDF strips that display as attractive tiles.

The facility is designed to withstand the northern winter climate and is equipped with layers of thick, airtight insulation to minimize excess heat loss. The building includes several sustainable features, including in-floor radiant heat for warming, passive ventilation for cooling, heat recovery systems that recycle excess heat back into the building and high windows and ceilings that provide ample natural light.

The building’s vast use of wood provides significant thermal advantages over steel. Because the CLT panels were manufactured to precise measurements, the joints fit tighter and offer better energy efficiency for the structure. And since CLT panels are a solid material, airflow through the system is reduced.

1.4 million pounds of pine wood material was used to build the roof using engineered timber reclaimed from forested areas in interior British Columbia. The innovative re-use of this material reduces the building’s environmental impact.