Wood Design: A Guide for Architects and Educators
This Guide is designed to help educators increase wood content in their already crowded curricula, exposing students to the unique challenges and opportunities of designing with advanced wood systems, within the context of the program and student performance criteria established, maintained, and evaluated by the Canadian Architectural Certification Board.
Canadian Wood Council releases new Environmental Product Declarations for 5 Canadian manufactured wood products
OTTAWA, ON, 1 APR 2025 – The Canadian Wood Council (CWC) is pleased to announce the release of five new Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) for Canadian softwood lumber, oriented strand board (OSB), plywood, trusses, and prefabricated wood I-joists. These EPDs provide comprehensive, transparent environmental data on the potential impacts associated with the cradle-to-gate life cycle stages of these essential wood products. Developed as regionalized, industry-wide business-to-business (B2B) Type III declarations, the EPDs comply with the highest international standards, including ISO 21930, ISO 14025, ISO 14040, ISO 14044, the governing product category rules, and ASTM General Program Instructions for Type III EPDs. This ensures credible, third-party verified environmental impact data, supporting designers, builders, and policymakers in making informed, sustainable material choices. “The release of these new EPDs reinforces our commitment to transparency and sustainability in the wood products sector,” said Peter Moonen, National Sustainability Manager at the Canadian Wood Council. “By providing robust, science-based environmental information, we’re equipping the industry with the tools needed to demonstrate the environmental benefits of wood and support low-carbon construction.” The EPDs are available for download from the Canadian Wood Council’s digital resource hub: www.cwc.ca EPD Link An Industry Average EPD for Canadian Pre-fabricated Wood I-Joists A Regionalized Industry Average EPD for Canadian Softwood Lumber A Regionalized Industry Average EPD for Canadian Oriented Strand Board An Industry Average EPD for Canadian Softwood Plywood A Regionalized Industry Average EPD for Canadian Wood Trusses
Design for Deconstruction in Light Wood Frame
The Guidebook of Design for deconstruction in Light Wood Frame presents a methodology for altering typical light wood frame assemblies so that they can be easily disassembled and the materials of the building can be reused. The province of BC and, more broadly, Canada, has relatively little infrastructure for recycling wood waste. In Vancouver alone, the construction, renovation, and demolition (CRD) sector produces about 1.7 million tonnes of waste per year.1 Of this, an estimated 30-60% is wood waste which is largely discarded in landfills. What little wood that is recycled is generally incinerated for waste-to-energy conversion or shredded for biomass. Deconstructing wood buildings and reusing the salvaged wood for new construction would extend the lifespan of the wood, add value and longevity to a valuable material, reduce GHG emissions and reduce the amount of new resources required for new construction projects. Despite the benefit of re-using wood, there are some barriers to deconstructing typical light wood frame buildings, including the use of irreversible fasteners, adhesives, spray foams, and liquid applied sealants. The presence of toxic materials such as asbestos and lead are also of concern when deconstructing a building. While use of toxic materials is now prohibited in new constructions the use of nails (particularly when applied with nail guns) and adhesives makes deconstruction very difficult if not impossible in some cases.2 This guidebook proposes a design for deconstruction system that addresses these remaining issues with simple modifications of typical light wood frame construction practices, allowing for both simple construction, solid performance, and easy deconstruction.
Wood Design & Building Magazine, vol 24, issue 96
Buildings that stand the test of time aren’t just durable—they are cherished. When we invest in quality materials and good design, we can create buildings that people connect with. As you’ll discover in this issue, many heavy timber warehouses and factories constructed in the early 1900s remain a vital part of our cities today—not because they still serve their original purpose, but because people valued them enough to adapt, restore, and reuse them, giving them a new purpose. Fast forward a hundred years and resilient structures include many new forms. Modular construction, for example, has seen significant growth in recent years as this form of construction has transformed from a building method once considered inferior, into a method relied upon to deliver high-performance durable buildings. Alongside our features on historic timber buildings and modular construction, this issue also highlights notable projects and emerging trends shaping today’s built environment. From innovative mass timber structures to forward-thinking design solutions, we explore how thoughtful craftsmanship and smart engineering continue to define the spaces we build—and the ones we keep.
Camosun College
Province: British Columbia City: Victoria Project Category: Educational Description: In July 2024, the B.C. government committed to fund $151.7 million for student housing at Camosun College’s Lansdowne Campus. The College will contribute an additional $3 million, for a total project cost of $154.7 million. According to a College press release, the six-storey building will be constructed using mass timber and will have more than 400 student beds (dormitory-style, single suite, and four-bedroom apartment-style) in addition to reflection rooms, universal washrooms, and communal kitchens. The College is currently in the process of choosing a main consultant to lead the design phase; it anticipates the consultant will be in place in 2025. Project completion is expected for fall 2027.
Updates to Hem-Fir (N) design values for dimension lumber
The Canadian Wood Council is proud to share the National Lumber Grades Authority (NLGA) latest updates to the design values for Hem-Fir (N) dimension lumber, effective April 1, 2025. These changes result from a routine reassessment of strength and stiffness properties, ensuring Hem-Fir (N) continues to meet structural performance expectations. Key Points: For additional details, including specific design value changes, affected lumber grades, and implementation considerations, please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document for Canada or the USA. Download publication by Region: Canadian Market U.S. Market
Cunard Street: Live / Work / Grow Building
The new home for FBM is constructed on a 50 ft by 100 ft brown field site in the north end of Halifax; close to the city’s Commons. A one-storey transmission shop was previously located on the site, making the soil and bedrock remediation necessary to allow for the current development. Site plan The Commons, in the centre of the city, forms a green swath of space for recreation, sports fields, and well-being. Surrounding the site is a mix of occupancies, including social housing for seniors, small scale businesses, day cares, bars and restaurants, military uses at the Halifax Armory for the Princess Louise Fusiliers and Cadet units, Urban agriculture, and several architecture firms that have recently chosen this area for their new offices. The design of the new Cunard St Live/ Work/ Grow building embodies the values of FBM Architecture – a place for ‘people driven design’. This is expressed through the firm’s interest in contributing to the community, through the materials, and the work culture that the building supports.
Canadian Wood Council Applauds Strategic Federal Investments in B.C.’s Forest Industry
OTTAWA, March 25, 2025 – The Canadian Wood Council welcomes the Government of Canada’s announcement of over $20 million in funding for 67 projects that support the growth and resilience of British Columbia’s forest sector. While the announcement includes several strategic large-scale investments in advanced wood manufacturing, a significant strength of this initiative lies in the breadth of smaller-scale, high-impact projects that are collectively transforming communities across the province. From feasibility studies for Indigenous-led forest product businesses to the development of next-generation building technologies, these projects are advancing wood innovation, supporting workforce development, and expanding the role of wood in low-carbon construction. Administered through Natural Resources Canada, this Green Construction through Wood (GCWood) funding supports a wide range of initiatives—from fire-testing mass timber connections and refining modelling guides for timber structures, to developing bioenergy solutions and value-added wood processing in Indigenous communities. This announcement underscores the importance of decentralized innovation, where targeted investments in communities and research institutions alike contribute to a stronger, more sustainable forest sector. The Canadian Wood Council applauds this commitment and looks forward to continuing its work with design professionals, governments, and industry partners to support the expanded use of wood in the province through its market-leading WoodWorks program. View the announcement from Natural Resources Canada here:https://www.canada.ca/en/natural-resources-canada/news/2025/03/canada-announces-support-for-british-columbias-forest-sector.html https://www.canada.ca/en/natural-resources-canada/news/2025/03/canada-announces-support-for-british-columbias-forest-sector.html
Canadian Wood Council Applauds Federal-Provincial Investment in Advanced Wood Construction in Quebec
OTTAWA, March 24, 2025 – The Canadian Wood Council (CWC) applauds the joint investment of over $8.5 million by Natural Resources Canada and Quebec’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Forests in four innovative wood construction-related projects across Quebec. These strategic initiatives will help strengthen the manufacturing sector and accelerate the adoption of low-carbon, Canadian-made wood products and technologies in residential construction and other critical community infrastructure. By supporting advanced wood construction methods—including modular mass timber housing, artificial intelligence to modernize engineered wood manufacturing, and the design of tall wood residential buildings—this investment reinforces the essential role of wood in delivering high-performance, low-carbon construction solutions. From a 20-unit modular development and a 21-storey design study to the cultural leadership of the Cree First Nation of Waswanipi in forest-to-form construction, these projects demonstrate how innovative wood technologies can meet urgent housing needs in a sustainable way, through scalable and repeatable, locally driven approaches. The Canadian Wood Council commends both levels of government for recognizing the critical role of Canada’s forest sector in delivering smart, climate-friendly building systems. These investments demonstrate how advanced wood technologies can contribute to addressing urgent housing needs while helping to lower the carbon footprint of the built environment. Design and construction professionals in Quebec can access free technical support related to wood design and construction through the market-leading resource program, Cecobois. The CWC is pleased to provide support further expand the use of wood in residential, commercial, and institutional buildings throughout the rest of Canada through its WoodWorks program. View the announcement from Natural Resources Canada here:https://www.canada.ca/en/natural-resources-canada/news/2025/03/canada-and-quebec-invest-in-sustainable-wood-construction.html
Canadian Wood Council Applauds Federal Investment in Nova Scotia’s Mass Timber Industry
OTTAWA, ON, 21 MAR 2025 – The Canadian Wood Council (CWC) applauds the Government of Canada’s strategic investment in Nova Scotia’s mass timber sector, recognizing its role in advancing low-carbon construction, economic growth, and job creation. This funding will accelerate the fabrication of high-value mass timber components from undervalued eastern spruce, unlocking new opportunities for Canada’s forest sector and expanding the use of advanced wood materials in construction. By supporting the production of Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) and Glulam in Nova Scotia, this investment strengthens supply chains, creates skilled jobs in the region, and enhances the competitiveness of low-carbon building solutions across Canada. Mass timber is increasingly recognized as a proven strategy for the rapid construction of much-needed housing and other critical infrastructure. Its benefits extend across multi-residential and commercial buildings, offering a scalable, efficient, and sustainable approach to modern construction. Canada’s forest sector is well-positioned to meet the growing domestic demand for sustainable construction materials. This investment will drive innovation in mass timber manufacturing, creating economic opportunities in Nova Scotia while enhancing Canada’s capacity to produce and supply mass timber products nationwide. Expanding domestic production advances low-carbon building solutions and strengthens Canada’s wood manufacturing sector. The CWC applauds this commitment to fostering a resilient and competitive mass timber industry in Atlantic Canada. Through our WoodWorks technical program, we look forward to supporting construction professionals with the knowledge and resources they need to integrate mass timber into more projects across the country. View the announcement from Natural Resources Canada here: https://www.canada.ca/en/natural-resources-canada/news/2025/03/canada-invests-in-nova-scotias-local-mass-timber-industry.html
