New methods of CLT manufacturing: restoring Sault Ste. Marie's downtown through industrial & residential renewal

Abstract

In the face of escalating decay and abandonment of downtown cores within Northern Ontario communities, revitalization efforts must act swiftly and be directed towards the workers. This thesis proposes an approach to revitalizing Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario’s downtown core, through a CLT micro-factory that produces specialized panels conducive to small-scale residential typologies. By analyzing the historical values and vernacular architecture within Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, a response rooted in site-specifi c research can be provided through residential dwellings that serve the demographic needs of the community. It will take into consideration the current status of CLT manufacturing within Canada and throughout Europe to determine how the existing production line can be modifi ed and decentralized to benefi t local economies and to assist in revitalizing the declining logging industry in Northern Ontario. Simultaneously, it explores how the specialized CLT panels and connectors produced from these decentralized factories can revitalize downtown Sault Ste. Marie.