Oceanfront Squamish Presentation Centre and Public House
Designed to bridge Squamish’s industrial heritage with its sustainable future, the construction and assembly of this award-winning 16,748 sf mass timber hub was a masterclass in collaborative risk mitigation and innovation.
Location
Squamish, BC
Scope
General contractor
Size
16,748 sq ft
Year Completed
2024
Timber
100% BC-sourced CLT, glulam, & yellow cedar cladding
Schedule
Mass timber installation completed in 28 working days
Performance
BC Energy Step Code 2 & NECB 2015, sequestering 612 metric tons of CO₂
1/9
Photo credit: Brett Ryan Studios
Mass Timber, Precision, & Purpose
Using virtual modelling and a nearby laydown yard to prefabricate the CLT panels, Naikoon combined speed with sustainability, erecting the building in just six weeks despite surprise freezing temperatures uncharacteristic of Squamish. Today, this high-performance, carbon-sequestering space now serves as a gathering place that inspires connection to land, culture, and future.
A Commitment to Partnership: The CCDC 5B Advantage
We aligned the interests of the owner, architect, and builder using a modified CCDC 5B contract with a Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP). Early collaboration allowed for transparent financial tracking and shared risk/reward.
Photo credit: Naikoon Contracting Ltd
Shared savings, value engineering, and budget
Through pre-construction services including cost planning and VDC modelling, we identified cost saving opportunities exceeding 4.5x the client’s pre-construction investment and delivered the project at 1.3% under GMP.
All-women project management team
As the project faced transitions in architect, owner, and project management roles, our all-women PM team ensured total digital and operational continuity. By maintaining a single source of truth from design through to the site, they successfully navigated complex design changes without sacrificing schedule or budget.
VDC Sequencing
Using a high-fidelity digital twin, we sub-divided the build into six zones. We simulated every crane pick and waterproofing detail in a virtual environment, allowing the physical superstructure to be erected in just six weeks.
“Our in-house VDC team and early prefabrication coordination gave trades a head start, reduced weather delays, and helped us deliver safely and efficiently, even through Squamish’s wildest weather”
- Naikoon's President, Joe Geluch
Strategic Risk Mitigation: Defeating the Elements
Squamish’s coastal winter climate—defined by 30 km/h winds, heavy snow, and constant rain—posed the greatest threat to the budget and the mass timber. Naikoon’s strategy was to move the risk from the field to a controlled environment.
Mass timber protection
We established a nearby laydown yard to apply rain-screen membranes to CLT panels horizontally. This protected the wood before it ever reached the site, ensuring a faster “dry-in” and mitigating moisture damage.
The Winter Pour
When temperatures suddenly plummeted during the concrete pour (556 m³), our crew worked back-to-back overnight shifts to tent and pre-heat the subgrade, ensuring structural integrity despite the freeze.
Airtight Precision
Despite the moisture risks, our efficient prefabrication at our nearby laydown yard and manual sealing of every CLT joint allowed us to achieve BC Step Code 2 with a score of 0.63 ACH @ 50 Pa, approaching Passive House standards.
Bird's-eye view of Naikoon's covered laydown yard and prefabrication facility, located just steps apart.
Photo credit: Naikoon Contracting Ltd
Naikoon's 1st generation prefabrication setup which contributed to the development of The Flying Factory™.
Photo credit: Naikoon Contracting Ltd
Mass Timber with a Local & Cultural Stewardship Lens
The structure is a showcase for British Columbia’s timber industry, sequestering 612 metric tons of CO₂ through 100% BC-sourced Douglas Fir Glulam and SPF (Spruce Pine Fir) CLT panels.
Photo credit: Brett Ryan Studios
Local Sourcing
The structure is a showcase for British Columbia’s timber industry, sequestering 612 metric tons of CO₂ through 100% BC-sourced Douglas Fir Glulam and SPF (Spruce Pine Fir) CLT panels.
The building was clad in untreated yellow cedar shingles, reclaimed from local tree stumps and milled nearby. Their colour naturally greys over time, creating a building that ages gracefully and complements the mountain face behind it.
Photo credit: Naikoon Contracting Ltd
House Post Engineering
Anchoring the interior is a House Post carved by Xwalacktun (Rick) Harry. To honor Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Nation protocols, the post could not be mechanically penetrated. Our VDC team engineered a bespoke, non-penetrative wood collar and recessed rigging system, allowing for a culturally respectful installation that met all structural requirements.
“This was more than a project. It was a privilege.”
- Naikoon's President, Joe Geluch, referencing Xwalacktun (Rick) Harry's house post at the heart of the Presentation Centre
Awards
2025VRCA Award of ExcellenceGold winner in the "General Contractors - Up to $15 Million” category
