University students from Vancouver-based design-build school DBR have created a striking architectural installation for the TED2016 conference held in Feburary.
Entitled ELEVATE, the installation is a collection of wood warming huts?each 16 feet wide by 30 feet long?that sit on the plaza of the Vancouver Convention Centre and offer a unique place for TEDsters to share ideas between sessions of the conference.
The structures were fabricated and erected by 16 students from universities in the Lower Mainland, as part of a three-month DBR design-build course. They are inspired by high-alpine shelters and the BC winter backcountry winter experience.
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The warming shelters were built using Laminated Veneer Lumber (LVL), an advanced wood product donated by METSA Wood, and sculpted with CNC technology. The structure is enclosed with shrink wrap to shelter TEDsters from the elements and create a warm interior with exposed natural wood. A large table and stools were constructed for each hut to turn the warming shelters into a large seating area where visitors can gather to meet and retreat. ELEVATE huts are not just for TEDsters to enjoy?after the conference, the shelters will be retrofit by a new class of DBR students this summer, and then permanently installed in one of BC?s outdoor recreation sites.  Here they will serve a community of climbers, backcountry skiers and other outdoor enthusiasts.

DBR is a non-profit school, founded by architect Michael Green of MG...