CLIENT: SEKO Construction
PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
SEKO Construction Ltd. retained PRI for the structural design of a 6,000 sq. ft. addition to an existing elementary school serving the Nak’azdli First Nations community. The addition comprised 18 rooms including classrooms, reading rooms, and administrative offices.
CHALLENGE:
The project presented several structural complexities, including heavy roof snow loads with accompanying drift loads, the need to integrate the new structure with the existing building, and the design of pitched roof connections terminating at a 15-foot tall-wall feature at the north end of the building.
APPROACH:
PRI designed a conventional wood-frame structural system incorporating wood-framed lintels, shear walls, and roof diaphragms suited to the building’s layout and load demands. For the two classroom additions, glue-laminated pitched beams were specified to accommodate the pitched roof geometry and support the signature tall-wall feature. Careful attention was given to the connection details between the new addition and the existing structure to ensure continuity and structural integrity across the combined building.
OUTCOME:
PRI delivered a structurally sound and cohesive addition that met the community’s educational space needs, successfully addressing the site’s challenging snow load conditions and achieving a seamless integration with the existing school building.