Resource Description
This resource is intended to provide educators with a clear framework for teaching the principles of mass timber design and prefabrication. The content is organized into four modules that highlight foundational knowledge, technical design considerations, early construction strategies, and sustainability. Together, these modules support students in developing a holistic understanding of how mass timber projects are conceived, designed, and delivered.
- Module 1 – Introduction & Project Planning Provides an overview of mass timber, highlights the advantages of prefabrication, and outlines key early-stage considerations for optimizing design.
- Module 2 – Design Optimization Considerations Explores critical aspects of design including structural performance, fire protection, acoustics, and vibration.
- Module 3 – Early Construction Strategies Focuses on Building Information Modeling (BIM), Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DfMA), systems integration, and best practices for building envelope and moisture management.
- Module 4 – Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) Examines the importance of carbon accounting, introduces available LCA tools, and discusses broader sustainability and biophilia considerations.
Acknowledgments
Canadian Wood Council
Usage and Citation Guidelines
These teaching materials were developed by university professors with funding support from the Canadian Wood Council. The content is provided free of charge for teaching and educational purposes only. Any commercial use, redistribution, or modification outside of academic teaching is strictly prohibited.
When using these resources in any context that requires citation, please use the format below.
Author(s). (Year). Title of module [Teaching Module]. Funded and published by the Canadian Wood Council.