Wood Design & Building Awards Winning Projects Announced
Toronto, ON – The Canadian Wood Council is pleased to announce the winning projects of the 40th annual Wood Design & Building Awards program. This prestigious awards program recognizes and celebrates the outstanding work of architectural professionals from around the world who achieve excellence in wood design and construction. “We’re proud to recognize leading innovators in wood design through our awards program,” says Martin Richard, Vice President of Communications and Market Development at the Canadian Wood Council. “This year’s submissions were remarkable in their scope, quality, and variety. They reflect a rising interest in biomaterials and highlight the importance of wood as a versatile, low-carbon, high-performance material, driving the next generation of sustainable buildings.” The jurors for the Wood Design & Building Awards were: A total of 19 winning projects from a diverse group of creators were selected from the impressive field of entries. New this year, the regional WoodWorks program awards from Ontario, British Columbia, and Alberta were integrated with the Wood Design & Building Awards. The jurors for the WoodWorks awards were: Fifteen winning projects were selected, with five from each regional program. The creativity and talent of these winning teams, as well as the beauty and diversity of their wood projects, are transforming the built environment. In total, 33 award winners from around the globe were celebrated for excellence in wood design at the Wood Design and Building Awards celebration hosted at the WoodWorks Summit on October 22, 2024. COMPLETE LIST OF AWARD-WINNING PROJECTS FOLLOWS: Honor Merit Citation Sansin Sponsored Awards Sustainable Forestry Initiative Sponsored Award Western Red Cedar Sponsored Award Wood Preservation Sponsored Award WoodWorks Ontario Category WoodWorks BC Category WoodWorks Alberta, Prairie Category
BUILDEX and Canadian Wood Council Bring Cutting Edge Wood-Based Design and Construction to All Professionals of the Built Environment
Vancouver, BC, September 19, 2024 – Informa Connect and the Canadian Wood Council announce their collaboration, WoodWorks at BUILDEX, integrating WoodWorks’ technical expertise and wood products industry representation into BUILDEX Vancouver, February 26 – 27, 2025. This initiative builds on a shared commitment to advancing Canada’s built environment and expands BUILDEX’s focus on innovative materials, design, and construction practices. WoodWorks at BUILDEX offers an exceptional opportunity for all professionals of the built environment to immerse themselves in the latest innovations in wood-based design and construction through: Rick Jeffery, President and CEO, Canadian Wood Council, emphasized the importance of this collaboration: “Working with Informa Connect to bring WoodWorks to BUILDEX Vancouver in 2025 allows us to concentrate on one of our core strengths—delivering industry-leading educational content, technical support, and access to leading wood product providers—at Canada’s most progressive design, construction and real estate event.” Sherida Sessa, SVP for North America at Informa Connect, added “British Columbia is recognized as a global leader in wood-based design and construction, and this partnership solidifies BUILDEX as a key destination for technical expertise, innovation and leadership in the wood products industry.” WoodWorks at BUILDEX amplifies BUILDEX Vancouver’s core offering to Canadian and North America’s design and construction leaders: timely market insights, respected technical knowledge, transformative networking, and exposure to the materials and technologies at the forefront of Canada’s built environment. BUILDEX Vancouver will take place February 26 – 27, 2025, at the Vancouver Convention Centre West, attracting over 8,500 developers, architects, engineers, builders, designers, suppliers, and real estate professionals. Register now at www.BUILDEXVancouver.com to secure your place and witness the latest in progressive design and construction trends.
Alternative Solutions Guide
While alternative solutions have been an important feature of the National Building Code of Canada since 2005, there remains a lack of understanding among building professionals on how to approach their use. As the construction industry evolves, with increasing innovation in design and construction capabilities, new ways of building that may not be well addressed by building codes will emerge. At the same time, tools for performance testing and simulation are becoming more widespread. In light of the diverse and evolving building industry, alternative solutions that enable new ways of building are likely to become more commonplace. A critical area where alternative solutions may be employed is in the use of mass timber construction. The introduction of mass timber construction techniques, enabled by a range of engineered wood products, associated connection technologies, and fabrication methods, has resulted in a wide range of possible building solutions that may not have been considered by building codes.
Canadian Wood Council and George Brown College’s Brookfield Sustainability Institute to co-host WoodWorks Summit in Toronto
Ottawa, Toronto | 27 March 2024] – The Canadian Wood Council (CWC) and George Brown College’s Brookfield Sustainability Institute (BSI) are thrilled to announce a strategic partnership aimed at fostering education in sustainable construction practices. Under this partnership, the CWC and BSI will join forces on various initiatives dedicated to accelerating the adoption of sustainable wood construction. Central to this effort is the WoodWorks Summit, which the organizations will co-host in Toronto October 21-25, 2024. The Summit promises to be a dynamic collection of events that will bring together industry leaders, practitioners, academics, and policymakers to explore the latest advancements, challenges, and opportunities in wood construction and sustainability. “We are excited to embark on this collaborative journey with the Brookfield Sustainability Institute,” said Martin Richard, VP of Market Development and Communications at the Canadian Wood Council. “Together, we aim to drive innovation, share knowledge, and accelerate the adoption of sustainable wood construction.” The WoodWorks Summit will feature an engaging lineup of events, including keynote speeches, panel discussions, tours, and networking sessions. Attendees can expect to engage with cutting-edge research, best practices, and real-world case studies, all aimed at demonstrating the use of wood as an innovative, high-performance, sustainable building material. “Our partnership with the Canadian Wood Council underscores our commitment to advancing sustainability in the built environment,” remarked Jacob Kessler, Director of Business Development & Account Management at the Brookfield Sustainability Institute. “By combining our expertise and resources, we can make significant strides to empower the design and construction community with the practical knowledge and technical resources needed to create healthier, more resilient communities with a reduced carbon footprint.” Through this collaboration, the CWC and BSI aim to catalyze positive change within the construction industry. For more information about the WoodWorks Summit, please visit www.woodworkssummit.ca.
Large-Scale Fire Tests of A Mass Timber Building Structure
The Mass Timber Demonstration Fire Test Program (MTDFTP) included two series of experiments: the pilot scale demonstration tests in summer 2021 in Richmond, BC [1] and the large scale fire tests in summer 2022 in Ottawa, ON. The series of large scale fire tests on a mass timber structure were conducted to study fire safety during construction, fire dynamics and performance in an open plan office space and residential suites, and influence of exposed mass timber on fire severity and duration. As part of its research to inform the advancement of safe and innovative solutions across Canada’s construction industry, the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) conducted the technical work and science-based large scale fire tests to support the MTDFTP. NRC was responsible for instrumenting the test structure, setting up fire scenarios and fuel loads, conducting the large scale fire tests, analyzing test data and documenting the results. This report documents the fire scenarios, fuel loads, experimental setups, instrumentation, measurements and procedure used in the large scale fire tests. The experimental data, results of data analysis, key findings and conclusions are provided in the report.
Timber Bridge Inspection, Maintenance, Restoration and Design Detailing Guide
This 3-volume guide on timber bridge inspection, maintenance, restoration, and detailing covers everything you need to know about detailing durable wood bridges, starting with a thorough description of wood’s unique and often advantageous properties, and concluding with advanced topics that will be of interest to engineers world-wide.
Canadian Wood Council Unveils New Brand Identity for WoodWorks Program
OTTAWA, Ontario – September 27, 2023 – The Canadian Wood Council (CWC) is delighted to announce the launch of an updated brand identity for its WoodWorks program. This reimagined look created in partnership with agency partner BBDO Canada, improves the accessibility of the brand and establishes an independent visual identity for the Canadian WoodWorks program within a rapidly evolving marketplace. With its simplified, modern design, the brand embraces inclusivity and invites a broader audience to explore the benefits of wood construction and the important role it must play in the future of sustainable development. The newly unveiled brand identity embodies the WoodWorks program’s dedication to technical excellence, environmental responsibility, and service to communities and individuals across Canada. Martin Richard, Vice-President Communications and Market Development at the Canadian Wood Council, expressed his enthusiasm for the rebrand, stating, “We are pleased to launch this new brand identity which better reflects the quality of WoodWorks’s technical leadership and purpose of the program while signaling our commitment to the environment and people the program serves. It’s an exciting step toward ensuring that the program is clear and accessible to all, reinforcing our dedication to advancing wood construction and sustainable development in Canada and beyond.” The WoodWorks program, under its new brand identity, is focused on expert led technical support to developers, architects, engineers, builders, and other industry professionals who want to expand their capacity for wood design and construction. The program remains committed to the pursuit of technical excellence and to connecting professionals with the information and resources they need to pursue wood construction in all its forms as well as providing valuable resources and educational opportunities. The design ethos of the new brand identity pays homage to Canadian Modernism, honouring a style that is timeless in its simplicity and functionality. The symbol showcases the strength of our collaboration with the AEC+D community in enabling construction with wood. The refreshed colour palette draws inspiration from the organic hues found in our forests, wood products and the many construction sites across Canada. The Canadian Wood Council invites everyone to reacquaint themselves with the WoodWorks program and its new brand identity. High-resolution images of the new brand identity and logos are available upon request.
Canadian Nuclear Laboratories
Canadian Nuclear Laboratories: Case Study and Environmental Impact Analysis This report showcases how Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL) delivered three landmark mass timber buildings at its Chalk River campus while meeting the federal government’s net-zero commitments. It highlights how an Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) approach enabled collaboration across architects, engineers, and builders to achieve cost-neutral, low-carbon construction. Readers will learn how the project team reduced embodied and operational carbon well beyond federal targets, demonstrated the fire safety and durability of mass timber, and created high-performance workplaces that enhance occupant well-being. With lessons on procurement, codes, and whole-building life cycle assessment, the case study offers a practical roadmap for governments, designers, and developers aiming to accelerate Canada’s transition to sustainable, net-zero infrastructure.
Promoting Health and Wellness with Wood Architecture
The year 2020 will forever be synonymous with COVID-19. After experiencing the pandemic and its ripple effects, few would question the importance of health and wellness. What people may not consider is the impact that our surrounding environments have on our health. Research shows that incorporating wood and other natural elements into buildings can have a positive effect on occupants’ overall health and well-being. The term for this effect is called biophilia, which refers to humanity’s innate need to connect with nature. Many industries are embracing biophilic design and its benefits. Employers are eager to create inviting spaces for their teams, hospital designs have shifted from cold and industrial-like to bright environments with wayfinding elements, and homeowners are expanding their living spaces with decks, fences, and pergolas so they can gather with friends and family outdoors. The wellness impacts of wood extend beyond the biophilic advantages of finished spaces. Mass timber buildings also benefit workers throughout the construction process by reducing construction time, and prefabricated elements contribute to cleaner, safer building sites. The team at the Canadian Wood Council/Wood WORKS! is committed to providing design and construction professionals with the tools and information needed to build with wood. We’re going taller, we’re getting bigger, and, from coast to coast, we’re not stopping. Building with wood is the right choice, for the environment and for everyone’s well-being.
Advancing Mass Timber Systems in Vancouver Schools
This case study examines the design and construction of two elementary schools in Vancouver, British Columbia in which mass timber was chosen as the primary construction system for the first time. W k ’wan’ s t syaqw m Elementary School (formerly Sir Matthew Begbie Elementary School) and Bayview Elementary School, located on the east and west sides of the city respectfully, were part of a pilot project by the Vancouver School Board (VSB) aimed to assess the potential for expanding the use of mass timber in future school projects (Figures 1.1 and 1.2). To this end, the documentation of: the opportunities presented, the challenges faced and the lessons learned, is a vital step in the evaluation process.
Low-Rise Commercial Construction in Wood
Across Canada, the low-rise non-residential sector—think offices, retail stores, warehouses, and restaurants—presents a major growth opportunity for structural wood systems, including light wood-frame, heavy timber, mass timber, and hybrid construction. Together, retail, office, and light industrial warehouse buildings account for nearly 75% of new floor space in this market each year. Yet despite their scale, these segments continue to show low uptake of structural wood. As retailers adapt to the shift toward online shopping and businesses compete to attract talent, the design and performance of their buildings matter more than ever. Wood offers a sustainable, visually appealing solution that enhances employee well-being and elevates commercial spaces. This new technical publication explores the market potential, challenges, and the role wood can play in redefining this sector.
The Canadian Guide to Mid-Rise Wood Construction 2021
The Mid-Rise project and the ensuing publication were conceived in order to provide a guide for opportunities that have been created by Canadian Code Provisions progressing, allowing 6 storey wood buildings over at least a decade. The foundation for some of the ideas contained within, came from the Wood WORKS! program hosting regional focus groups, made up of key industry stakeholders. They were held at various locations across Canada during 2019. From the focus-group conversations and the research gathered and analyzed, it was evident that each province was at varying degrees of adoption, understanding and application for wood buildings up to 6 storeys. The opportunities that are available for wood use in mid-rise development are varied and many and it is hoped that some of the illustrations and information contained inside this guide will continue to inspire the design and construction industry. The Code Matrix captures the variations of code provisions currently in use in each of the Canadian provinces, and highlights Part 3,4 and 5 requirements for wood buildings up to 6 storeys in height. Permissible building types, heights and areas, permitted mixed major occupancies, required fire resistance ratings and sprinkler provisions are illustrated. The flow of the sections is laid out to mirror basic project planning steps that are generally undertaken by design teams. A keen understanding of what is allowed by code, creates the conversation around ideas for buildings and potential project opportunities. The location of a site, how it fits into local planning and zoning regulations, and a business case that makes it achievable, are all stages a design team navigates early with a client. Many factors drive the business case. Goals set early for greener and environmentally sustainable development, applications of sustainable materials having significantly lower embodied carbon, can be incorporated into design principles. Schedule often drives design and project efficiency, creating consideration into using prefabricated and modular wood structural systems. Part 5 of the guide contains some technical considerations for 5- and 6- storey wood buildings is laid out to help designers better understand some of the practical considerations needed for the construction and design of mid-rise wood buildings. It is written for design professionals in the construction industry, and builders with the necessary skills to consider taller wood buildings. This guide is illustrated to be relevant to all design and building professionals involved in building our future environments, including architects, engineers, the development community, material suppliers, manufacturers, building inspectors, municipal officials and planners, project managers, contractors, innovators, and the general public at large.
