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Light Wood Frame and Mass Timber Hybrid Mid-Rise Construction

Course Overview

55 Franklin in Kitchener, Ontario, is a four-building complex of mid-rise residential buildings that the project team is using as an opportunity to explore new and different strategies for delivering quality affordable housing to our Region. Each of the four buildings will be designed as a prototype exploring different construction methodologies and solutions tested against their sustainability impacts. The first building constructed uses a combination of conventional wood framing and mass timber.

Learning Objectives

  1. Understand the impact of mass timber construction on project timelines and the operational efficiencies it can provide.
  2. Analyze the factors influencing the choice of construction methodologies in mid-rise building projects, with a focus on the efficiency and speed of different methods.
  3. Evaluate the challenges associated with municipal approvals when using new building materials like mass timber, including the need for alternative compliance solutions.
  4. Assess the practical benefits of using Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) in construction, particularly in terms of labor and time savings during the flooring installation process.

Course Video

https://vimeo.com/1046544702

Speaker Bio

Mike Maxwell
President
Maxwell Building Consultants

Mike was drawn to Waterloo for his degree from Laurier University and has seen local real estate development potential ever since. A combination of zoning bylaw rules, site data chart statistics and construction knowledge produce unique results for projects that he is involved with. He loves the math and the problem solving. In an advisory position with local governments, not-for-profit organizations, and CMHC, Mike has created strong partnerships to move the cause of affordable housing forward.

Cornerstone Timberframes and BuildingIN: Innovation in Wood Construction and Housing Development

Course Overview

This session explores two distinct but complementary perspectives on advancing the built environment in Canada. Tanya Bachmeier, CEO of Cornerstone Timberframes, shares the evolution of her company from a traditional residential timber framing business to a multifaceted manufacturer delivering both custom timber frame structures and commercial mass timber projects. Drawing on decades of industry experience, she discusses the challenges, opportunities, and lessons learned while adapting to changing markets and emerging wood construction technologies. The session also features Rosaline Hill, Principal Architect and Senior Planner at RHJ Architecture + Planning, who introduces BuildingIN, an initiative developed to address Canada’s housing supply challenges. Drawing on extensive experience in infill housing design and planning, Rosaline examines the barriers that limit housing development in existing communities and presents strategies to support sustainable, community-supported growth. Together, these presentations highlight the importance of innovation, collaboration, and practical solutions in shaping the future of wood construction and housing development across Canada.

Learning Objectives

  1. Identify key business, workforce, and industry factors that support growth and innovation in the wood construction sector.
  2. Explain the benefits of heavy timber and mass timber construction and the importance of industry collaboration and knowledge sharing.
  3. Recognize common barriers to housing supply in Canadian communities and the role of infill development in addressing housing needs.
  4. Evaluate how planning, design, and housing policy tools can support sustainable, community-supported urban growth.

Course Video

https://vimeo.com/1022577710

Speakers Bio

Tanya Bachmeier LinkedIn
CEO
Cornerstone Timberframes

Tanya Bachmeier, CEO of Cornerstone Timberframes, will share her insights on the evolution of the timber industry, drawing from over three decades of experience with one of Canada’s leading heavy timber structure manufacturers. Growing up in a family deeply rooted in construction, Tanya has been immersed in the craft from a young age. Her journey from working alongside her father and uncle in the business to leading Cornerstone Timberframes as its CEO is a testament to her dedication, vision, and passion for the industry. In her speech, Tanya will explore how she and her partner have transformed Cornerstone into a multifaceted manufacturer, with a dual focus on traditional residential timber frames and cutting-edge commercial mass timber projects. She will discuss the challenges and opportunities of being a woman in a male dominated industry, finding a place in the emerging world of mass timber and emphasizing the importance of innovation while staying true to the craft’s roots. Through her unique perspective, Tanya will offer valuable lessons on leadership, adaptability, and the future of timber construction in Canada and beyond.

Rosaline Hill LinkedIn
Principal Architect, Senior Planner, Development Consultant
RJH Architecture & BuildingIN

Most people prefer to live in low-rise areas, on tree-lined streets, close to transit, in communities that are well serviced and walkable. Few municipal housing strategies target this vision or focus on existing low-rise neighbourhoods. But this housing niche holds the potential to transform our cities and pull us out of housing crisis. Low-rise multi-unit repeatable infill housing in existing urban neighbourhoods is the key to housing supply and municipal fiscal sustainability. At the same time, it is the most affordable way to dramatically reduce household emissions. Housing, fiscal and environmental sustainability, with new homes in the kinds of neighbourhoods people love – it is a win for all. So why aren’t developers building this? They are not allowed, or can’t make a profit doing it. But municipalities can change that! The BuildingIN team has leveraged housing industry knowledge to understand the financial and regulatory barriers to this housing solution. Using GIS, we map our advanced housing market response forecasting to show cumulative outcomes for housing, fiscal and emissions reductions across low-rise urban areas. With this powerful simulation tool, we have reverse engineered a solution for municipalities. As a winner of the CMHC Housing Supply Challenge, BuildingIN is able to provide municipalities with a full suite of services; to quickly implement regulatory changes and establish necessary investment strategies, so that developers will build the housing we need and want, over and over and over again. We enable municipalities to plan with certainty and make evidence based decisions, instead of the age-old ‘make some adjustments’ then ‘wait and see’ approach. Our team has been researching, testing, and simulating solutions for neighborhoods for the past 6 years. This has led us to the creation of BuildingIN – a transformational solution to our country’s housing supply challenge.

Guide to Encapsulated Mass Timber Construction in the Ontario Building Code

The Guide to Encapsulated Mass Timber Construction in the Ontario Building Code – Second Edition is a comprehensive resource designed to help designers, code officials, and building professionals understand and apply the latest Ontario Building Code provisions for Encapsulated Mass Timber Construction (EMTC), effective January 1, 2025. Developed by the Canadian Wood Council / WoodWorks Ontario in collaboration with Morrison Hershfield (now Stantec), the guide explains the technical requirements, fire safety principles, and design considerations unique to EMTC, with clear references to relevant OBC articles. It covers everything from structural mass timber element specifications and encapsulation materials, to use and occupancy limits, mixed-use scenarios, and related provisions for structural design, environmental separation, and fire safety during construction. Intended to be read in conjunction with the Ontario Building Code, this is not a design guide, but rather a tool to distill complex regulations into practical, accessible information—equipping professionals to confidently design, review, and approve EMTC projects while ensuring compliance and optimizing performance.

Notice of Correction: A previous version of this document contained a small error on page 19. In this electronic version of the document (updated August 12, 2025) the 3rd major bullet of Section 5.1.1 has been corrected.

Exploring the Role of Mass Timber – Industrial Buildings and Warehouse Construction

The emerging use of mass timber in industrial buildings presents promising opportunities that are shaping the future of construction in this sector. As a sustainable and economically competitive alternative, mass timber is redefining industrial construction, a field traditionally dominated by prefabricated steel. An analysis of two cutting-edge projects in Sudbury, Ontario, highlights key advantages, including cost competitiveness, reduced embodied carbon, and aesthetic appeal. The insights from these two projects present stakeholders with helpful considerations and valuable strategies for integrating mass timber into future developments.

Understanding Glulam: The structural and architectural capabilities of mass timber

Course Overview

In this course, you’ll gain insight into the design and manufacturing considerations involved in using glulam in buildings. As one of the oldest mass timber products used in Canada, glulam offers exceptional flexibility and can be incorporated into a wide range of building types—particularly where curvature and expressive geometry are key. Presenters will outline design and manufacturing strategies for creating efficient structures, showing how glulam can be used not just as columns and beams, but as the primary structure in today’s innovative buildings—whether architecturally driven or focused on value and efficiency. They will also cover the availability of glulam products across Canada and explain how to maximize the value of the timber used. Practical tips will be shared to help designers and specifiers take full advantage of glulam’s attributes in a cost-efficient way.

Learning Objectives

  1. Participants will learn the design strategies employed when using curvature and geometry in buildings and gain an understanding of what is possible with expressive architecture.
  2. Participants will understand the practical constraints of glulam manufacturing, including how to approach the design and specification of glulam members.
  3. Participants will learn how different wood species and strength grades are applied in glulam design, and how to use them efficiently for optimal performance.
  4. Participants will understand how geometry, fire ratings, and member layups influence the cost-efficiency and design potential of glulam systems.

Course Video

https://vimeo.com/1132255489

Speakers Bio

Andre Lema
Manager of Business Development
Western Archrib

Andre Lema, a seasoned professional in the wood industry, brings decades of experience and expertise. Starting as a carpenter and advancing through a degree in Construction Engineering at NAIT, Andre has been instrumental in driving the success of Western Archrib. His passion for wood and dedication to fostering client relationships have made him a key figure in the industry.

Alejandro Coronado, P.Eng.
Technical Advisor
WoodWorks BC

Alejandro Coronado is a Technical Advisor with a multidisciplinary background spanning contracting, supply, and consulting engineering. With both a Diploma and a Bachelor’s Degree in Structural Engineering from BCIT, Alejandro began his career in single-family residential design and steadily advanced to contribute to landmark projects such as the Centre Block Base Isolation at Parliament Hill, the UBC Museum of Anthropology Great Hall Renewal, the Royal BC Museum PARC Campus, and a mass timber campus in Silicon Valley. Initially drawn to mass timber for its expressive architectural potential, Alejandro quickly recognized its broader value in addressing today’s social and environmental challenges. Through many years of hands-on experience, Alejandro has become a champion for sustainable construction and simple yet effective structural solutions.

Wood Bridge Design

Resource Description

This comprehensive pedagogical resource presents two detailed mass timber projects, developed to support educators in teaching advanced wood construction concepts.

The first project is a 3-storey mass timber office building featuring a Glulam post-and-beam main structural system supporting CLT floor and roof panels. The case study includes extensive engineering calculations for the primary structure, detailed analyses and design of CLT shear walls, and full calculations for all major connections. Sample construction documents are provided at the end of the case study, offering practical examples of how the design can be implemented. The resource is complemented by a fully detailed architectural and structural Revit model, providing a complete digital representation of the project. An accompanying Design Example illustrates practical applications of the design principles, helping students connect theoretical concepts with real-world practice.

The second component focuses on timber highway bridge design. Key reference materials include Wood Highway Bridges (CWC), the Canadian Highway Bridge Design Code 2014 (CHBDC), CAN/CSA O86-14, and the Ontario Wood Bridge Reference Guide. The material covers wood bridge systems—including decks, superstructures, and substructures—with examples from Canada, the United States, and Europe demonstrating a variety of timber bridge types and designs. Durability considerations are emphasized, including protective roofing, preservative treatments, moisture control, proper detailing for drainage and airflow, and the use of corrosion-resistant connectors. A detailed design example of an 18 m single-span vehicular bridge is included, featuring transverse glulam deck panels on glulam girders. Structural analyses for deck panels and girders, stiffener beams, diaphragms, and major connections are provided, with calculations and code-based design methods aligned with CHBDC standards.

Together, these projects provide educators with a robust, ready-to-use teaching package that integrates theoretical knowledge, engineering calculations, construction documentation, and digital modeling. The resource supports instruction in both building and bridge mass timber systems, allowing students to explore structural design, durability, load transfer, and practical implementation in real-world contexts. It is intended to facilitate comprehensive learning in wood construction, bridging the gap between classroom theory and professional practice.

Acknowledgments

Lead Authors
Canadian Wood Council

Usage and Citation Guidelines

These teaching materials were developed by 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.

Global Lessons from Local Forests

Course Overview

Through the example of the Biomass Power Plant at Hotchkiss School this presentation highlights distinctive and sustainable infrastructure. This Biomass Power Plant was designed to do double duty as a living classroom. It exposes ecologically friendly technologies and sustainable construction materials to students and community groups through public tours. Attendees will see how an industrial building can also be beautiful and how sustainable and local materials can be incorporated into local infrastructure in ways that include and invite the community into the building and the operations of a Biomass facility.

Learning Objectives

  1. How wood structure can complement sustainable design.
  2. Appropriate uses for Glulam in the design of industrial and institutional construction.
  3. Conservation features under LEED that include: a renewable, laminated wood structural system; water-conserving plumbing fixtures; use of local materials with a high recycled content; an abundance of daylight inside; and highly efficient mechanical systems, lighting, and exterior skin.
  4. Infrastructure that connects and informs the local community and visitors, how the facility has become an integral part of the school’s commitment to becoming a carbon neutral campus by 2020.

Course Video

https://vimeo.com/1109954539?share=copy#t=0

Speaker Bio

Alan D Paradis, RA, Leed AP
Associate
Centerbrook Architects and Planners, LLP. – Connecticut, USA

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.

80 Atlantic Avenue – Toronto, Ontario

Ontario’s first mass timber commercial building in over 100 years, 80 Atlantic pioneers a new urban office typology for potentially many more timber-frame projects across the province, and the country. Comprising four storeys of mass timber above a one-storey concrete podium, the 8,825-sq.m. (95,000-sq.ft.) building completes a courtyard with 60 Atlantic to create a paired commercial development. Revisions to the Ontario Building Code in 2015 made it possible to build commercial wood buildings up to six storeys high. The developer and architect saw this as an opportunity to demonstrate leadership in the rapidly developing field of mass timber, and to attract tenants seeking a premium workplace environment associated with innovation and sustainability. The client requested that the building harmonize with the Liberty Village neighbourhood, noted for its wealth of converted factories and warehouses, which attract high-calibre, creative tenants in this section of downtown Toronto.

Low‐Rise Commercial Mass Timber Design Case Study

Resource Description

This case study presents a 3-storey mass timber office building designed with a Glulam post-and-beam main structural system supporting CLT floor and roof panels. It has been developed as a teaching resource for educators, providing comprehensive engineering calculations for the primary structure, detailed analyses and design of CLT shear walls, and full calculations for all major connections.

To support practical learning, sample construction documents are included at the end of the case study, offering concrete examples of how the design can be implemented. The resource is complemented by a fully detailed architectural and structural Revit model, giving educators a complete digital representation of the project that can be used in teaching or demonstration settings. An accompanying Design Example further illustrates the application of design principles, helping students connect theory with real-world practice.

This material is intended to facilitate the instruction of advanced mass timber construction concepts, supporting both the theoretical understanding and practical skills of students. By integrating structural calculations, construction documentation, and digital modeling, it provides educators with a comprehensive, ready-to-use resource for teaching wood-based building design and construction.

Acknowledgments

Lead Authors
Structural Design: Carla Dickof, P.Eeng. M.Sc. Fast+Epp
Architectural Design: George Brown College Architectural Technology Program,CADE3002, Class of 2021 – Co-op Students

Reviewers
Structural Design: Nick Bevilacqua, P.Eng, Struct Eng, Fast+Epp
Reed Kelterborn Canadian Wood Council
Yang Du Canadian Wood Council
Ali Mikael Canadian Wood Council
Architectural Design: Dr. Hoda Ganji George Brown College

Usage and Citation Guidelines

These resources were developed collaboratively by Fast+Epp, the Canadian Wood Council, and contributors from George Brown College. They reflect current design and construction practice and were created to support teaching and learning in wood design and architecture.

The resources remain the intellectual property of the respective authors and are provided free of charge for educational purposes. Any commercial use, redistribution, or modification outside of an academic setting is strictly prohibited.

When these resources are used in a context that requires citation, please use the following format:

Author(s). (Year). Title of module [Teaching Module]. Funded and published by the Canadian Wood Council.

Mid-Rise 2.0 – Innovative Approaches to Mid-Rise Wood Frame Construction

Since the 2009 change to the British Columbia Building Code (BCBC) that increased the permissible height for wood frame residential buildings from four storeys to six, more than 300 of these structures have been completed or are underway around the province.

Most are located in the core of smaller municipalities and in the inner suburbs of larger ones, offering a more sustainable and cost-effective option for densification than concrete or steel equivalents. Most of these buildings have employed wood frame from the ground up, with a five- or six-storey building being constructed on a concrete slab-on-grade, or on top of a concrete basement parking garage; others have been constructed above one or two storeys of commercial accommodation, currently still required to be built in noncombustible construction. This requirement will change when British Columbia adopts the 2015 National Building Code of Canada (NBC), which will allow light wood frame assemblies, mass timber slab elements and wood beams and columns to be used in place of concrete or steel.

Over the past eight years, architects, engineers, municipal authorities and local fire departments have become familiar with the basic parameters of this new building type. Over the same period, market conditions have continued to evolve.

Beyond the energy conservation standards referenced by LEED and mandated by municipalities, there is an increasing interest in ultra-low energy buildings that comply with the Passive House standard, now formally administered in Canada by Passive House Canada.

There is also a growing need to explore new approaches to project delivery, particularly when building on infill lots that have little or no space for vehicles, materials storage and staging, and where the inconvenience to neighbours from the traffic, noise and dust generated by traditional site construction is increasingly disruptive.

Further revisions to the 2015 NBC to be introduced in British Columbia in 2017 will expand the permissible use of six-storey wood construction from multi-family residential (Group C) occupancies to business and personal services occupancies in Group D.

Prior to “modern” building codes, such buildings were often constructed using heavy timber post-and-beam systems, with solid timber floors. However, with the advent of new mass timber panel products, the opportunity has arisen for developers and design teams to explore new forms of wood construction, including hybrid mass timber/light wood frame construction.

In response to these new market conditions, traditional wood frame construction techniques and project delivery methods have been modified or adapted to achieve greater efficiency, economy and performance. This case study looks at three different projects in the Vancouver area, similar in having a predominantly multi-family residential program, but differing considerably in their approach to design, construction details and project delivery

Tall Wood Buildings – Research

Tests

Current research includes the World’s largest mass timber fire test – click here for updates on the test results currently being conducted https://firetests.cwc.ca/

Studies

Reports

Fire Research

Acoustics Research and Guides

Tall Wood Building Demonstration Initiative Test Reports
(funding provided by Natural Resources Canada)

Visit Think Wood’s Research Library for additional resources

Overview of the Canadian Mass Timber Technical Guide
...How mass timber can be incorporated into a variety of structural projects that typically utilize other materials. Design considerations for utilizing mass timber and how the Mass timber guide can...
Bringing Mass Timber Mainstream: Unpacking Market Challenges and Opportunities
...leading experts in North America on Mass Timber. As an outspoken advocate for Mass Timber, Scott promotes education and information sharing within the Mass Timber community. Having worked in B.C....
Mass Timber Economics: Why One Line Item Doesn’t Tell the Whole Story
Course Overview Mass timber buildings are often perceived as premium projects, but assumptions based on a single cost line can be misleading. This session explores the complexities of costing mass...
Guide to Encapsulated Mass Timber Construction in the Ontario Building Code
...will be reviewed along with what it means for future mass timber building design. Guide to Encapsulated Mass Timber Construction in the Ontario Building Code: Encapsulated mass timber construction (EMTC)...
Delivering Mid-Rise Housing Solutions – Part 2 Mass Timber
...producer in Ontario. Patrick’s specialty lies in his ability to orchestrate mass timber solutions together with a consortium of the industry’s best service providers with experience in mass timber. He...
Understanding the New EMTC Provisions in the Ontario Building Code
...will be reviewed along with what it means for future mass timber building design. Guide to Encapsulated Mass Timber Construction in the Ontario Building Code: Encapsulated mass timber construction (EMTC)...
Halsa 230 Royal York: Ontario’s Tallest Mass Timber Residential Building
...building’s mass timber components, and how these features address common challenges in high-rise construction. Evaluate the sustainability, regulatory, and operational considerations in developing carbon-neutral mass timber buildings: Learners will assess...
Construction Moisture Management of Mass Timber Buildings
Course Overview Mass timber buildings are transforming the way we build—but with new materials come new challenges. This session will explore how moisture risks in mass timber construction and how...
Overview of the Ottawa Mass Timber Fire Test
...performance of mass timber construction will be reviewed briefly to provide the background necessary to understand how the latest tests support the design of taller and larger mass timber buildings....
Timber for the Masses
Course Overview With so many compelling reason to build with mass timber the question is no longer ‘why?’ but ‘how?’. As a construction method in its own right, mass timber...
Early Mass Timber Collaboration: A Journey from Design Assists Pre-Construction through Construction
...onboarding of a mass timber erector, to the engagement of a mass timber specialists examining topics from erection tolerances to moisture and construction protection, to storage procedures, to fire retardant...
Sound and Vibration in Mass Timber Buildings: A Practical Guide
...initiatives aimed at helping maximize exposed mass timber while still adhering to code requirements.   This webinar will also examine the sound absorptive properties of mass timber, which play a...
Course Overview Join us for an introduction to a new, comprehensive Canadian technical reference guide to mass timber. Canada’s inherent building-with-wood culture lays a...
Course Overview The positive influences of design innovation, advanced materials, new building codes, and the evolving priorities of society are driving change in the...
Course Overview Mass timber buildings are often perceived as premium projects, but assumptions based on a single cost line can be misleading. This session explores the...
Course Overview This 2-hour technical webinar will begin with an overview of ongoing fire research at the National Research Council of Canada into various performance aspects...
Course Overview WoodWorks Ontario proudly presents Delivering Mid-Rise Housing Solutions Part 2: Mass Timber. YWKW is a supportive housing project that obtained funding from...
Course Overview This 2-hour technical webinar will begin with an overview of ongoing fire research at the National Research Council of Canada into various performance aspects...
Course Overview Halsa 230 Royal York is setting new standards as Toronto’s pioneering 9-storey prefabricated mass timber rental building, demonstrating the viability of...
Course Overview Mass timber buildings are transforming the way we build—but with new materials come new challenges. This session will explore how moisture risks in mass...
Course Overview The presentation will provide an overview of the Mass Timber Demonstration Fire Tests which were conducted during the summer and fall of 2022. Past research...
Course Overview With so many compelling reason to build with mass timber the question is no longer ‘why?’ but ‘how?’. As a construction method in its own right, mass...
Course Overview In this session attendees will be taken through the evolution of the mass timber structure design for the Sam Centre at the Calgary Stampede. We will explore...
Course Overview Following an introductory overview of building acoustics, the presenter will explore both airborne and impact sound transmission in mass timber buildings....
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