The Kalesnikoff Mass Timber (KMT) Headquarters, situated in Castlegar, British Columbia, represents a weighted architectural response to both site and program. The building’s orientation carefully frames panoramic views of the Columbia River Valley, establishing a profound connection to its dramatic natural context.

This mass timber structure, featuring a glulam post and beam system with CLT floors and roof overhangs, showcases the material’s aesthetic appeal and provides practical shading and snow protection. The building’s sustainability features are further enhanced by use of the prefabricated wall panels, which offer excellent insulation and airtightness and are delivered to the site with sheathing, membranes, exterior insulation, cladding subframing, and drywall. Utilizing both mass timber and prefabrication has allowed the team to dramatically reduce construction timeline. The exterior of the building utilizes custom fabricated white metal cladding that changes scale between the lower and upper parts of the building, reacting to the human scale and perception. Outdoor areas, recessed into the building, in turn are clad with Larch boards locally harvested and manufactured by KMT to create a warm welcoming feeling at the access points.

Designed for future expansion, the building’s original simple office layout was split longitudinally to create more interior space. Not only this design allows for future growth but it also creates covered outdoor spaces at the main entrance and the staff amenity patios. The exposed mass-timber structure along with added glulam colonnades help to frame the outdoor spaces without creating strong visual barriers. Inside, a central east-west circulation corridor, flanked by full-height windows, frames views at each end, guiding occupants through a thoughtfully organized interior. Open office areas benefit from south-facing light, while enclosed offices and service spaces are located along the north. The double-height main lobby, with its exposed mass timber structure alongside a darkened steel staircase, pays homage to the industrial heritage of the location and the company’s past, resulting in a space that is both grand and grounded.