The ribbon has been cut on Kalesnikoff’s new $34 million mass timber pre-fabrication and modular facility – the first of its kind in North America.
The mass timber company celebrated the grand opening of the 100,000 square foot facility located near the West Kootenay Regional Airport on Thursday, June 5, surrounded by community members, leaders, and elected officials.
Plans for the facility were announced in March of 2024, with construction beginning shortly after.
It took just 12 months to complete, with all materials locally harvested and sourced.
“We have CLT, we have glulam, we have GLT roof systems, we have NLT canopies – all in this 100,000-square-foot facility, built entirely out of our own mass timber, that was made from our own lumber, harvested from our local timber,” said Chief Operating Officer Chris Kalesnikoff.
“Twelve months ago, we broke ground on this site as a greenfield, and we sit here today fully operational. I think that’s an incredible accomplishment, and I would challenge any other municipality and private business to show collaboration like that.”
The facility allows Kalesnikoff to expand its mass timber products for use in multi-story affordable and market housing, schools, workforce housing, and more.
It also aligns with, and supports, both the federal and provincial governments’ commitment to create skilled jobs and urgently build more affordable homes and other infrastructure using mass timber.
“With their prefabricated building components, we’re going to be able to get things like housing, schools, and childcare – potentially long-term care – built faster,” said Kootenay Central MLA Brittny Anderson, who also serves as Minister of State for Local Governments and Rural Communities.
The expansion complements Kalesnikoff’s existing mass timber operation in South Slocan, adding new products and services – including prefabricated wall panels, mass timber modules, trusses, and other products designed and manufactured for clients’ unique needs and construction efficiency.
Kalesnikoff led the project with a $30 million investment, while other contributors -including Natural Resources Canada’s Investments in Forest Industry Transformation program – provided $3 million in additional funding, specifically allocated for infrastructure and equipment.
The Province also supported the project with a $6.725 million contribution through BC’s Manufacturing Jobs Fund to support the approximately 100 new jobs created at the facility.
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