Malahat SkyWalk Viewing Tower and Walkway on Vancouver Island, BC, Canada
Customer Project
The accessible outdoor recreation structure Malahat SkyWalk viewing tower and walkway is an exciting new tourism project located on southern Vancouver Island.
Client |
Malahat Skywalk Corp. malahatskywalk.com |
Structural Design |
Aspect Structural Engineers aspectengineers.com |
Architecture | Muroch & Company Architecture & Planning |
Design Assist Contractor |
Kinsol Timber Systems www.kinsoltimber.com |
3D Detailing & Shop Drawings |
Styxworks styxworks.com |
Viewing Tower Model Parameters
Model
The single-story Visitors' Centre includes a café and features a mass timber and light wood frame. From there, an accessible 2,133-foot-long treetop walk leads visitors onto a spectacular gentle spiral ramp up 98 ft to a lookout with stunning views of Finlayson Arm and the distant Coast Mountains.
Structure
The primary structural system consists of glulam columns with steel X-bracing around the perimeter. Outriggers from these columns create a 1,967-foot-long spiral walkway transporting visitors to the top of the structure and giving access to the viewing platform. A galvanized steel central spiral staircase provides emergency egress.
This project aims to protect and enhance the ecological values of the park, collaborate with First Nations, balance public use with ecological values, and connect visitors to the park’s natural values and cultural heritage.
Project Location
901 Trans-Canada HwyKeywords
Viewing tower Walkway Timber Steel
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New
Timber Member Compression Perpendicular to the Grain acc. to NDS 2018 and CSA O86:19
A standard scenario in timber member construction is the ability to connect smaller members by means of bearing on a larger girder member. Additionally, member end conditions may include a similar situation where the beam is bearing on a support type. In either scenario, the beam must be designed to consider the bearing capacity perpendicular to the grain according to the NDS 2018 (Sect. 3.10.2) and the CSA O86:19 (Clause 6.5.6 and 7.5.9). In the new generation RFEM 6 and Timber Design add-on, the added feature 'design supports' now allows users to comply with the NDS and CSA bearing perpendicular to the grain design checks.
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