Western Archrib supplied the custom structural glued-laminated timber (glulam) for the reconstruction of Canada’s first civic aviation hangar at Fort Edmonton Park, completed in 2000. Historically, mass timber was the standard for mid-century aviation hangars due to wartime steel shortages, rapid prefabrication timelines, and its ability to engineer massive clear spans. Glulam structure also offered distinct physical advantages, including natural resistance to rust and corrosion and predictable fire performance where the outer wood chars to insulate and protect the structural core under intense heat.

Our high-strength glulam beams enabled a completely unobstructed, 113.2-foot by 79.6-foot clear-span main hall, providing a 9,000-square-foot column-free layout that maximizes spatial flexibility for up to 600 guests. Prefabricating these mass timber components off-site to exact project specifications streamlined the construction schedule, delivering a durable, low-carbon facility for the client.

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