Our Company

Western Archrib manufactures a full range of materials in a wide variety of sizes, shapes, and lengths. Our experience shows in the consistent quality of our products and the expertise we bring to custom-fabricated projects.

We work closely with architects, engineers, developers, building owners, general contractors and building designers, bringing cost-effective solutions to unique and distinctive designs.

With two production facilities, and a network of distributors, we are well positioned to provide projects of any size across North America and beyond.

From Western Archrib to WA: A New Identity Rooted in 70+ Years of Mass Timber Excellence

As Western Archrib approaches 75 years of experience in glulam manufacturing, we are proud to introduce a new logo that marks a significant chapter in our evolution. Crafting nature's strength into marvels, our legacy is rooted in technical expertise, precision manufacturing, and contributions to iconic structures.

The new logo features a spruce tree — a meaningful symbol that connects us to the broader Northland Group of Companies. Since 2021, WA has embarked on a transformative journey alongside Northland Forest Products, creating a seamless pathway from seedling to structure. This partnership reflects our shared commitment to stewardship and sustainable practices that ensure the resilience of Alberta's forests for future generations.

This identity shift also marks our transition from "Western Archrib" to simply WA — a concise, confident expression of who we are today. While the archrib remains part of our legacy, our capabilities have continued to grow and evolve. Today, WA designs and delivers complex, custom glulam solutions for civic, commercial, and cultural buildings of all kinds. Our work spans far beyond the West — with significant contributions to projects across North America and around the globe.

Our journey with the Northland Group has unlocked unprecedented growth and capabilities. This partnership provides us with premium certified spruce lamstock and complete oversight of the glulam lifecycle — from fiber to fabrication. As part of Northland's comprehensive approach to forest products, we deliver structural systems that are carbon capturing and built for performance.

WA champions a stewardship mindset that extends beyond construction. We don't just build structures — we help preserve them. Our stewardship program supports building owners in maintaining the integrity and beauty of exposed glulam over time, ensuring the structures we help create remain as enduring as the materials they're built from.

This new logo represents more than aesthetic evolution. It embodies our evolving capabilities: creating long spans, signature curves, and innovative structural systems that elevate architecture through meticulous craftsmanship, engineered performance, and lasting beauty — while stewarding forests and channeling their inherent strength into structures that inspire.

Our History

Western Archrib, headquartered in Edmonton, Alberta, was founded in 1951 by Cecil Fargey. His son Jim Fargey joined in 1952, Kent Fargey in 1987, and daughter Joan Fargey in 2003. The initial market for the company was mostly farm buildings, hockey rinks, curling rinks and storage facilities.

In 1987, the assets of a Manitoba Glulam manufacturer were purchased and a second manufacturing facility was opened. In the early days, Western Archrib served the Western Canadian market. Today, its products are shipped all over North America and Asia for a wide variety of construction projects.

Western Archrib played a key role in establishing a national manufacturing standard for Glulam in the 1960s. We continue to be industry leaders and contributors to organizations that include the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation, Canadian Wood Council, University of Alberta, FPInnovations, the American Plywood Association, and the Canadian Standards Association. 

With seasoned technical staff, many possessing 30 to 40 years of service, Western Archrib is built on a strong foundation of industry knowledge, hands-on experience and pride in the final product.  

In 2021 Western Archrib was purchased by Northland Forest Products also a family run wood processing company. For more than 50 years, Northland Forest Products has manufactured premium dimensional lumber with the most modern equipment optimized for efficiency and safety.     

Build Brighter Futures With Western Archrib

Learn how Western Archrib's Build Bright initiative leverages advanced wood products to enhance sustainability and design in modern construction.

Learn More on Build Bright

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