Canadian Wood Council and Woodsure launch new partnership between the WoodWorks and Woodsure programs
Ottawa, Ontario – September 17, 2024 — The Canadian Wood Council (CWC) and Woodsure (A division of Axis Insurance Managers Inc.) are pleased to announce a new partnership between their WoodWorks and Woodsure programs respectively. This strategic collaboration is expected to help support the increased adoption of wood construction in Canada. The positive influences of design innovation, advanced materials, new building codes, and the evolving priorities of society are driving change in the construction sector; in particular, these influences are driving the expanded use of advanced wood construction. However, as with the adoption of any new technology, perceived unknowns can create barriers that need to be to overcome. One such barrier is access to insurance for this new class of technologically advanced wood buildings. This partnership aims to empower architects, builders, and developers to choose wood with confidence, knowing they have access to robust insurance solutions that understand the complexities of wood construction. Together, we can significantly enhance the acceptance, safety, and growth of mass timber construction, recognizing it as a strategically preferred material for sustainable building practices. Statements from Key Stakeholders Rick Jeffery, President & CEO, Canadian Wood Council: “We are thrilled to welcome Woodsure as a partner of our WoodWorks program. This collaboration is a natural extension of our mutual commitment to supporting wood construction, fostering growth of the wood construction sector, and encouraging increased adoption of sustainable building practices. By combining our efforts, we are confident that this partnership will have a positive impact on the industry.” Roland Waldmeier, National Senior Vice President, Construction, Contracting, and Real Estate, Axis Insurance Managers Inc. “We believe that insurance should not only keep pace with, but also actively support, the mass timber and wood frame industries. These sectors are vital to both social and economic objectives in Canada. Therefore, it is important for us to continually develop innovative insurance solutions that foster growth in the Canadian wood industry. By providing the necessary capacity, we make it easier for projects to secure the coverage they need.” Connie Rowley, Senior Vice President, Woodsure: “Supporting the mass timber industry with specialized insurance products is crucial for accelerating the adoption of wood construction. By offering tailored insurance solutions, insurers can provide the necessary capacity and confidence for developers to invest in mass timber projects. This support not only mitigates financial risks, but also fosters innovation and sustainability in construction. Enhanced insurance products can address concerns related to fire safety, structural integrity, and long term reliability, thereby reassuring stakeholders and encouraging broader acceptance of this eco-friendly building material. Consequently, this leads to a more sustainable construction industry and helps in reducing the carbon footprint.”
Art Gallery of Ontario (Renovation and Addition)
The Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) was founded in 1900 as the Art Museum of Toronto. In 1919 it became the Art Gallery of Toronto and in 1966, took on its present name. The original gallery was a home (The Grange) built around 1817, located on the south side of the AGO facing Grange Park (Figure 1). In fall 2008, the Art Gallery of Ontario received wide acclaim when its recent renovation and addition, designed by Frank Gehry, was opened to the public. The work involved the renovation of existing spaces and the addition of 9,016 m2 (92,000 ft.2) of new floor space. The renovation and addition to the AGO is notable for several reasons. First, the design needed to unify and enhance previous constructions done in 1918, 1929, the 1970s and the 1980s. The design team made extraordinary use of structural and decorative wood elements to achieve this goal, as well as to lure, calm, entice and amaze visitors. In addition, the AGO needed to remain functional for prolonged periods during the construction process. Finally, the wood design, fabrication and erection was very complex. In the words of Bill Downing of Structurlam Products Ltd., the glulam supplier, in reference to the Galleria Italia portion of the AGO, “This is the most complex wood structure in North America.”
Canada’s Blueprint for Mass Timber Success Unveiled at Parliament Hill
June 13, 2024 (Ottawa)– Earlier today, The Transition Accelerator unveiled The Mass Timber Roadmap at the Press Conference Room in the West Block on Parliament Hill. The comprehensive report outlines an ambitious and strategic vision for the future of mass timber in Canada and its potential to transform green construction and drive economic growth across the country. Developed in partnership with Canadian Wood Council (CWC), Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC), and Energy Futures Lab (EFL), The Mass Timber Roadmap comes after more than a decade of collaborative efforts to unlock and demonstrate potential of mass timber and lays out a visionary plan to increase the mass timber market – both domestic and exports – to $1.2 billion by 2030 and to $2.4 billion by 2035. This ambitious growth aligns with increasing market demand in North America and around the world. By leveraging the power of mass timber solutions, Canada has a unique opportunity to enable the construction of residential and commercial structures at greater speeds, with lower costs, and with a lighter carbon footprint; all while capturing a share of the rapidly growing global market. Achieving targets laid out in The Mass Timber Roadmap requires coordinated efforts across three critical action areas and the report provides actionable next steps, including: Today’s event on Parliament Hill featured the following speakers who highlighted the roadmap’s goals and the promising future for mass timber in Canada, followed by an engaging Q&A session with journalists: Key Quotes: “The mass timber sector provides a perfect example of how Canada can add value to its primary resources through innovative technologies and advanced skills. If we act strategically and quickly, we have the opportunity to build an industry that reduces emissions, addresses urgent needs, and positions Canada to win in emerging global value chains.” – Derek Eaton, The Transition Accelerator “To build a world-class mass timber sector, Canada must adopt a strategic approach to ensure we can compete and win globally. This is about smart policy here at home and bringing more Canadian wood to our cities and to the world. By enabling faster, cost-effective, and environmentally-friendly construction with mass timber we can grow jobs, help address the affordable housing crunch, and reduce emissions.” – Kate Lindsay, Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC) “The potential for Canadian wood products to reduce the carbon footprint of the built environment and drive the growth of a sustainable and prosperous wood industry is immense; however, global competition to capitalize on the significant economic opportunities mass timber presents in the transition to a lower-carbon world will require us to act swiftly to stay competitive and meet rapidly emerging domestic demand.” – Rick Jeffery, Canadian Wood Council (CWC)
UBC Gateway
Province: British ColumbiaCity: VancouverProject Category: InstitutionalMajor Classification: A2 – Lecture hallsHeight: 5 storeysBuilding Area: 266,041 ft2 Description: The UBC Gateway project (official name to be determined) will co-locate the School of Nursing, School of Kinesiology, Integrated Student Health Services, and components of UBC Health together in a building that will facilitate inter-program interaction and contribute to students’ health and wellbeing. The building makes extensive use of local CLT and GLT in its hybrid structural system and architectural features reflecting the project’s Pacific Northwest setting and the immediate campus context. Prefabricated components are expediting construction and creating open, flexible space that can accommodate future programming changes. Long-span composite timber floor panels were pre-assembled off site and craned in, and the building envelope is fully prefabricated as three-metre-wide panels that tie into the timber structural module at the building perimeter. The building will be complete and occupied in 2024.
The Goldring Centre – University of Toronto Academic Tower
Province: OntarioCity: TorontoProject Category: InstitutionalMajor Classification: D – OfficesHeight: 14 StoreysBuilding Area: 176,549 ft2 Description: The University of Toronto’s new academic tower is a14 storey mass timber building, currently under construction, built with GLT components. Realizing an innovative building of this size and complexity that goes beyond prescriptive height limit of the Ontario Building Code required extensive support and a capable, timber experienced project team. Technical project interactions with WoodWorks staff date back to 2016 and we have tracked 21 direct interactions related to this project. A deeper look at our project data reveals that the project team had an additional 23 indirect interactions with the WoodWorks team (attending events, requesting technical documents, etc.). The project team has 28 projects in their combined experience portfolio, indicating an experienced, supported design team was able to push forward an alternative solutions success storey and one of North America’s tallest wood buildings.
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.
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.
Community Resource Centre
The Greenfield Community Resource Centre and Elementary School is located in a small, isolated forestry community in Nova Scotia where 16.1 % of employment is provided by the forestry sector. This forestry based community is proud of its local heritage. Indeed, in 1987 it was dubbed the “Forestry Capital of Canada” and to this day has a “Build First with Wood” policy in place for new construction. The Resource Centre, valued at $1.3 million Canadian dollars, was built by a non-profit community group to replace an insufficient and outdated building that was over 60 years old.
