HOLLOW TREE RESTORATION
The Hollow Tree in Vancouver’s Stanley Park is a unique and famous gathering place, drawing people from all over the world.
Client: Stanley Park Ecology Society
Location: Vancouver, British Columbia
Project Type: Structural – Buildings
About This Project
The Hollow Tree in Vancouver’s Stanley Park is a unique and famous gathering place, drawing people from all over the world to be photographed in its natural hollow. Following a devastating wind storm in the winter of 2008, the 20-metre circumference tree was considered a public-safety hazard for park users and this icon was scheduled to be taken down.
Cascade Engineering (now part of ISL) was engaged to investigate the viability of righting and preserving this 14-metre tall, 700-year-old tree stump. With the goal of retaining historical significance in terms of appearance and use, the objective was to do as little damage to the tree as possible and provide minimal visual evidence of structural intervention. An artificial root system of ten micro-piles connected to the base of the righted tree by epoxy-embedded steel studs at the inside of the hollow tree base were used to restore the tree.
Challenges
- Save this iconic tree in a safe manner for continued appreciation by park users.
- Support the structure while providing minimal visual evidence of structural intervention.
Solutions
- ISL provided expert advice to the Friends of Stanley Park, which enabled them to justify keeping the tree.
- A series of small “finger like” structures were connected to piles beneath the tree, providing it with concealed support.