In 2005, we were honoured to be chosen to design and build BC Canada House for the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino—a 4,200 sq. ft. showcase of British Columbia craftsmanship and innovation. Drawing on our experience from the Salt Lake City 2002 Games, we created a lodge built almost entirely from sustainable BC materials, including beetle-killed lodgepole pine. We saw this as an important chance to show the world the beauty and strength of this wood.

Designed in-house, the lodge blended rustic West Coast style with advanced technology, featuring wheelchair-accessible design, a glass elevator, high-tech meeting spaces, and a fully programmable lighting system. The exterior landscaping recreated a piece of BC, complete with towering fir trees and massive local boulders.

Despite major logistical challenges—from engineering a building atop a three-level parkade to navigating truck strikes, transport delays, and EU shipping requirements—we completed the project on schedule. A highlight of the home was the 238-year-old “Spirit Log,” a massive cedar reclaimed from the shores of Bella Coola that became a focal point for visitors seeking a touch of BC’s energy and Olympic spirit.

BC Canada House quickly became one of Torino’s most popular attractions, welcoming roughly 100,000 visitors and significant global media attention. Affectionately nicknamed “Casa Canada” by locals, it remains one of the most celebrated projects in our company’s history.