CHIBOUGAMAU, Quebec – More and more architects are taking a shine to incorporate mass timber construction in their large-scale projects. Such is the case of the new terminal at Chibougamau-Chapais Airport located in the Eeyou Istchee James Bay region.

The new terminal showcases high-performance engineered wood products such as glulam and cross-laminated timber (CLT) structural slabs made with black spruce wood locally sourced from the area’s boreal forest. The reconstituted wood products were manufactured by Nordic Engineered Wood of Montreal. Nordic is a division of Chantiers Chibougamau.

The terminal project design was created by EVOQ and ARTCAD in a joint venture. The new building is composed of two low structures on either side of a glazed concourse, which is the central focal point of the design.

The terminal’s waiting area is delimited on three sides by timber curtain walls, topped by a raised roof forming a south-facing clerestory. The roof structure combines engineered wood and steel components. Stressed CLT panels spanning 12m are supported by wood columns at each end, reinforced with high-strength steel rods tying the centre to the extremities.