Wood Design & Building Magazine, vol 25, issue 103
This issue of Wood Design & Building is, in many ways, about relationships. Relationships between materials and place, between education and practice, and between forestry and the built environment. And perhaps most importantly, the relationships being built by the people at all points along the path from forest to finished building who are sharing their knowledge, experience and passion for wood buildings. That exchange of knowledge is strengthening confidence, capability, and collaboration throughout the design and construction community. In our interview with Dr. Blériot Feujofack, Education Manager at the Canadian Wood Council, we explore how new learning opportunities and accessible industry knowledge are helping prepare the next generation of designers and builders. In Lloyd Alter’s article, A Treehugger Goes Logging, we are reminded that building with wood also means understanding where the material comes from and appreciating the depth of knowledge required to manage forests sustainably. By sharing perspectives across forestry, manufacturing, and construction, the article highlights the people and practices that shape the material long before it reaches the built environment. That spirit of collaboration and shared learning is also reflected in our featured projects. In Saskatoon, the misiwe-kisik | One Sky school demonstrates how a project team’s commitment to doing something special for the community helped foster the collaboration and innovation required to use century-old, reclaimed nail-laminated timber from decommissioned grain elevators. The project’s Cree name, reflecting connection, belonging, and relationship across communities, feels equally fitting for a sector increasingly shaped by collaboration and shared ambition. What makes this moment remarkable is not only what we are building, but how we are learning to build it together.
Wood Solutions Conference: Calgary 2026
Save the date! WoodWorks Alberta and the Canadian Wood Council are bringing the Wood Solutions Conference to Calgary in November — and you won’t want to miss it. Tickets will be available this fall! Stay tuned for updates on Early Bird registration and event details.
Wood Solutions Conference: Moncton 2026
Mark your calendars! WoodWorks Atlantic and the Canadian Wood Council are pleased to present the Wood Solutions Conference in Moncton this fall — and we want you there.
Mass Timber Insurance Action Plan Phase 1 Report
Mass Timber Insurance Action Plan – Phase 1 Report examines one of the most significant barriers to scaling mass timber construction in Canada: access to affordable and reliable insurance. While mass timber offers clear advantages in sustainability, performance, and long-term value, course-of-construction insurance rates remain disproportionately high—often several times those of concrete and steel—driven largely by limited data and insurer unfamiliarity rather than demonstrated risk. Led by the Climate Smart Buildings Alliance and the Canadian Wood Council, and supported by Natural Resources Canada, this report summarizes the findings from Phase 1 of a national action plan developed in collaboration with insurance and building industry stakeholders. It evaluates the feasibility of four targeted solutions focused on data sharing, insurer-relevant research, contractor verification, and expanding insurance capacity. Bringing together technical insight and industry perspectives, the report outlines practical pathways to reduce risk perception, improve market confidence, and unlock greater adoption of mass timber construction across Canada.
Tall Wood Feasibility Study
Tall Wood Feasibility Study: Mass Timber and Concrete explores the economic, construction, and environmental performance of a proposed 12-storey residential development in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. Developed through a side-by-side comparison of optimized mass timber and concrete schemes, this study examines how material choice influences project cost, schedule, financial returns, and embodied carbon. Beyond a direct cost comparison, it provides insight into how mass timber can support construction efficiency, earlier occupancy, long-term asset value, and meaningful product differentiation in the rental market. The publication includes detailed analysis of design strategy, risk mitigation, development economics, scheduling, and structural carbon impacts—offering developers, investors, designers, and project teams practical data that demonstrates the viability of tall wood construction at this scale.
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Stay connected to the ideas, projects, and technical insights shaping wood design and construction across Canada and beyond. Wood Design & Building magazine is published six times per year and delivers award-winning projects, expert perspectives, and practical guidance on all forms of wood construction. Whether you’re an architect, engineer, builder, developer, or wood enthusiast, subscribing ensures each issue arrives directly in your inbox—keeping you informed, inspired, and ready to bring more wood into your work. Wood Design & Building Magazine – Sign Up Email Address * First Name Last Name Company/Organization
2026 Wood Design & Building Awards Call for Submissions Now Open
OTTAWA, ON, April 15, 2026 – The Canadian Wood Council is accepting submissions for the 2026 Wood Design & Building Awards. The prestigious annual program, now in its 42nd year, invites architects, designers, and project teams from across North America and around the world to submit their most inspiring wood projects for consideration. “The program is a celebration of architectural excellence,” says Ioana Lazea, Senior Manager for the program at the Canadian Wood Council. “Year after year, it brings forward the creativity, ambition, and craft of the industry’s leading designers, those pushing wood to new heights and redefining what’s possible in the built environment.” In a time when technology is rapidly transforming how we design and build, wood architecture is evolving in remarkable ways. Each year, the program showcases some of the most compelling and beautiful buildings in the world, but increasingly, these projects are also defined by the sophistication of the systems behind them. Advances in wood products, engineering, and prefabrication are enabling new forms, greater efficiency, and expanded possibilities, while still delivering spaces that feel warm, natural, and deeply human. Wood design innovation is happening at every scale, from refined small projects to ambitious, city-shaping developments. Together they celebrate a material uniquely positioned to respond to some of the most pressing challenges facing the architectural profession today. Submissions will be reviewed by a distinguished jury of Canadian and American architects. Projects will be evaluated based on creativity, design excellence, and the innovative and appropriate use of wood to achieve project objectives. Award categories for 2026 include: Non-residential Residential Adaptive Reuse, Additions, and Renovations International Building Other (e.g. exterior structures, bridges) The program also includes several specialty awards: Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) Award Real Cedar Award Wood Preservation Canada (WPC) Award Regional WoodWorks Awards for Ontario, British Columbia, and the Prairies Winners will receive a custom wood trophy and be recognized through a media announcement, social media, a feature profile on the Wood Innovation Network, and editorial coverage in Wood Design & Building Magazine (digital edition). Key Dates: Early Bird Deadline – May 31, 2026 Submission Deadline – June 26, 2026 For more information and to submit your project, please visit: https://cwc.ca/wood-design-and-building-awards/ For media inquiries, please contact: Sarah Hicks Communications and Outreach Manager Canadian Wood Council [email protected] | 1-705-796-3381 About the Canadian Wood Council The Canadian Wood Council (CWC) is Canada’s unifying voice for the wood products industry. As a national federation of associations, our members represent hundreds of manufacturers across the country. Our mission is to support our members by accelerating market demand for wood products and championing responsible leadership through excellence in codes, standards, and regulations. We also deliver technical support and knowledge transfer for the construction sector through our market leading WoodWorks program.
Webinar – Offsite Manufacturing: Driving Efficiency, Quality, and Sustainable Construction
Webinar – Online Tools for Wood Construction: CodeCHEK, FRR & STC & EMTC Calculator
Webinar – Custom Steel Connections for Mass Timber: Understanding the Basics Step by Step
Wood Design & Building Magazine, vol 25, issue 102
This issue of Wood Design & Building explores how intentional design can carry culture, support community, and foster connection. The projects featured here demonstrate how a clear vision can transform a building into an environment grounded in purpose, identity, and care, reflecting both people and place. Several projects in this issue centre Indigenous perspectives and priorities. The Membertou First Nation office building, the Weliankweyasimk Women’s Shelter, and the Chief Leonard George residential building each reflect cultural knowledge, respond to community needs, and create spaces of safety, continuity, and belonging. Wood is a consistent presence throughout. Long associated with shelter and refuge, it is also a material of gathering, warmth, and shared experience. It is no coincidence that projects grounded in human wellbeing so often turn to wood. This connection is present in many cultures. Our WoodWare feature on FinnFox, for example, highlights the part wooden saunas play supporting health and building community in Nordic (and Canadian) sauna culture. At the same time, building with wood is not simply a return to the past. While it reconnects us with cultural knowledge and longstanding practices, it also reflects a growing recognition of wood as a high-performance, renewable material for contemporary construction. This is evident in the Chief Leonard George Building, Canada’s first tall mass timber residential building constructed to the Passive House standard. It demonstrates how thoughtful wood design can both preserve cultural continuity and point toward the future of high-performance, low-carbon construction.
Understanding Tolerances in Prefabricated Timber Construction
As prefabrication and hybrid timber systems become more widely adopted, tolerance coordination has emerged as a critical factor in project success. While components may meet material standards and fabrication targets, misalignment between design intent, manufacturing capability, and site conditions can still lead to fit-up issues, delays, and rework. Understanding Tolerances in Prefabricated Timber Construction introduces a practical framework to help multidisciplinary project teams better define, communicate, and manage tolerances across all stages of a project—from design and fabrication to installation and in-service performance. The publication outlines four core tolerance classes—Material Specification Limits, Standard Manufacturing Capabilities, Framing/System Deviations, and Installation Allowances—and explains how these interact in real-world construction. It also introduces key concepts such as Clearance Fits, designed fitment gaps, Critical to Fit (CTF) features, and Critical Dimensions (CDs), providing a structured approach to improving constructability at critical interface zones. A step-by-step workflow is included to help teams translate broad standards into clearly defined fitment strategies, aligning design intent with manufacturing reality and site execution. This resource is intended for architects, engineers, manufacturers, contractors, and developers working with prefabricated and hybrid timber systems. By establishing a shared language around tolerances, it supports better coordination, reduced risk, and more predictable project outcomes.
