en-ca

Choose Your Language

Apply a language to the entire website.

Language

English FlagEnglish
French FlagFrench

Webstore

Canadian Wood Council (Conseil Canadien du Bois) logo featuring a stylized golden maple leaf.

Searching for: Mass Timber

Searching results for “Mass Timber”

Popular Topics: Mass Timber Fire Tests Sustainability Events

142 results found...
Sort By Dropdown Icon

Green Construction through Wood

Course Overview

Green Construction through Wood
The Green Construction through Wood (GCWood) program encourages the use of innovative wood-based building technologies in construction projects. The renewed program expanded its focus to fund innovative building solutions and schematic designs under key areas of interest including, but not limited to, prefabrication, modular buildings, retrofits, and design for disassembly/adaptability.

Accelerating Mass Timber Adoption in Canada
Regional experts from WoodWorks, representing jurisdictions from across Canada, offer insights into regional opportunities and lingering obstacles to mass timber adoption, and discuss the strategies developed and presented in the Mass Timber Roadmap recently published by FPAC, CWC, Energy Futures Lab and The Transition Accelerator.

Learning Objectives

  1. Understand the purpose and impact of the Green Construction through Wood (GCWood) program, including its role in reducing embodied carbon, enabling innovation, and supporting Canada’s mass timber ecosystem.
  2. Identify key barriers and enablers affecting mass timber adoption in Canada, such as technical challenges, regulatory evolution, supply chain capacity, and regional policy differences.
  3. Identify regional opportunities and market pathways for expanding mass timber construction, incorporating insights from WoodWorks experts across Canada and the strategic directions presented in the Mass Timber Roadmap.

Course Video

Speakers Bio

Jean-Francois Levasseur
Director, Industry Relations & Innovation Programs
Natural Resources Canada

Graduating from the University of Ottawa’s Chemical Engineering program, Jean-Francois started his career in a variety of increasing roles in Kraft pulp mills, including mill process and environmental engineer positions. He then joined Environment and Climate Change Canada where he led on numerous aspects of environmental regulatory regimes applicable to Canada’s forest sector. At Natural Resources Canada since 2009, he has led in the design and implementation of various funding programs supporting strategic R&D, innovation and capital investments that accelerate the transformation of the Canadian forest sector towards the Bioeconomy: the Pulp & Paper Green Transformation (PPGTP); the Forest Innovation Program (FIP); the Investments in Forest Industry Transformation program (IFIT), and; the Green Construction through Wood program (GCWood). Together, these programs provided more than $1B to support energy efficiency improvements, green energy production, and the commercialization of innovative products, transformative technologies and new wood based green building and mass timber demonstrations.

Scott Jackson
Director of Conservation Biology
Forest Products Association of Canada

Steven Street
Executive Director
WoodWorks Ontario

Shawn Keyes
Executive Director
WoodWorks BC

Rory Koska
Executive Director
WoodWorks Alberta

Simon Bellavance
Technical Advisor
Cecobois

David Porter
Program Coordinator
WoodWorks Atlantic

Tim Buhler
Director – Programs and Operations
Canadian Wood Council

  • connections, Mass Timber

Lunch & Learn: Mass Timber Connections 101 with Western Archrib

  • CWC, Sustainable Design, Wood Design

Wood Design & Building Magazine, vol 25, issue 101

Every issue of Wood Design & Building tells a different story about how wood is shaping contemporary construction. Some editions revolve around a clear theme such as our recent issue on strategic additions and adaptive reuse; others, like this one, reflect the diversity of challenges, innovations, and contexts that define wood construction today. What unites the features in this issue is not a single building type or region, but a shared commitment to thoughtful planning, ingenuity, and execution.

We begin in the mountains of British Columbia, where the Robson Cabin project pushes the limits of planning and coordination. Accessible only by helicopter, the remote alpine site demanded meticulous preparation, high levels of prefabrication, and an unwavering attention to detail. Alongside the technical complexity, the construction crew also contended with less predictable site conditions—including a persistent population of porcupines, whose curiosity added a memorable twist to an already remarkable build.

From there, we turn to one of the most sought-after—and often elusive—topics in the industry: cost. Reliable, project-specific costing data for mass timber buildings remains rare, and cost uncertainty can be a barrier to wider adoption of mass timber construction. This issue features an overview of a new mass timber business case study published by WoodWorks BC, which presents detailed cost, schedule, and design data from three projects. By comparing mass timber systems to conventional construction approaches across three building types, the study offers valuable insight into real-world construction costs, decision-making, and the strategies that can bring mass timber into cost parity.

Our final feature takes us to Trenton, Nova Scotia, for a virtual construction tour of the Pictou County Sports Heritage Hall of Fame, a community-focused project being realized through close collaboration between designers, builders, and trades. The one-storey building brings together panelized engineered wood walls, traditional light wood frame construction, and a central mass timber foyer, showcasing a deliberate “right material in the right place” approach. Built using offsite fabrication and carefully sequenced installation, the project demonstrates how coordination and precision can be leveraged to deliver a refined wood building that balances efficiency, constructability, and architectural expression.

Together, these stories offer a snapshot of a sector defined by creativity, technical rigor, and resilience—whether navigating rugged mountain terrain, unpacking the realities of construction costs, or reimagining how cultural buildings are delivered. We hope they inform, inspire, and perhaps even entertain.

Seminar: Intro to Mass Timber

International Perspectives on Sustainable Housing Development

Course Overview

Around the world there is a significant and growing housing shortage that is exacerbated by rapid urbanization and population growth. This challenge demands innovative solutions that prioritize sustainability, occupant comfort, and efficient land use. This panel discussion brings together three internationally renowned architects: Francine Houben (Mecanoo, the Netherlands), Christophe Ouhayoun (KOZ Architects, France), and Geoff Denton (White Arkitekter, Sweden) to explore their approaches to sustainable housing. Each panelist will share their unique perspective on how to address housing shortages and sustainable densification, offering insights into the latest design strategies, materials, and technologies that can contribute to more resilient and equitable urban environments. Join us for a dynamic conversation that will delve into the future of housing and the role of architecture in creating livable, sustainable cities. 

Learning Objectives

  1. Understand how international architects approach sustainable housing development, including wood‑based construction, urban densification, and low‑carbon strategies.
  2. Compare differing regulatory, cultural, and construction‑industry conditions that influence mass timber, modularity, prefabrication, and approval processes in Sweden, France, and Canada.
  3. Identify urban‑design principles used to create healthy, community‑oriented neighborhoods.

Course Video

Speakers Bio

Francine Houben
Founding Partner, Creative Director
Mecanoo, the Netherlands

Francine Houben is founding partner of Mecanoo (1984) and has led the firm to success in The Netherlands and abroad, amassing a portfolio of work that is wide-ranging, inspired by global challenges and with a sustainable view on society. Mecanoo combines the disciplines of architecture, urban planning, landscape architecture and interior design to produce unorthodox design solutions born from a strong sensitivity to context and a highly interdisciplinary design process. Each of her projects illustrates the four fundamental elements of her architectural vision: People, Place, Purpose, Poetry. Francine Houben was professor of mobility aesthetics at Delft University of Technology and taught at the universities of Harvard, Yale and Mendrisio. As curator of the First International Architecture Biennale Rotterdam (2003), she brought the theme of the aesthetics of mobility to the forefront of international design consciousness. Francine holds Honorary Fellowships of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), the American Institute of Architects (AIA), the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) and was granted lifelong membership to the Akademie der Künste in Berlin as well as receiving the International Honorary Fellow Award by the Architecture Institute of Taiwan. In 2014 Francine was named Woman Architect of the Year by the Architects’ Journal and in November 2015 Queen Máxima of The Netherlands presented her with the Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds Prize for her wide-ranging career. Francine was awarded Honorary Doctorates from the Université de Mons, Belgium (2017) and the Utrecht University (2016). In 2018 she received the BNA Kubus Award for her oeuvre; the International Prize, Prix des Femmes Architectes (2019) and distinguished with the TU Delft Alumnus of the Year (2020). In 2024, King Willem-Alexander appointed Francine Houben as a Knight in the Order of the Netherlands Lion.

Christophe Ouhayoun
Founding Partner Architect
KOZ Architects, France

Christophe Ouhayoun is a graduate of the École Nationale Supérieure d’Architecture de Paris-Belleville. He currently serves as a State Architect Advisor in the Aveyron department. In 1999, he co-founded KOZ Architectes with Nicolas Ziesel. A pioneer in wood architecture since 2001, he recently delivered Lot E of the Paris 2024 Athletes’ Village as co-coordinator within the Nexity-Eiffage team. In addition to his architectural work, he co-founded: KOZTO, a workshop dedicated to the creation of up-cycled furniture. PLAN01, a collaborative “”second office”” active from 2003 to 2014, in partnership with Atelier du Pont, BP Architectures, and Philéas. PLAN02, an integrated environmental consulting firm. Alongside his private practice, Christophe Ouhayoun works as a visiting professor at the École Nationale Supérieure d’Arts et Métiers and at the École spéciale d’architecture de Paris.

Geoff Denton
Partner Architect
White Arkitekter, Sweden

Geoff Denton is an architect and urban designer who has led residential, educational and mixed-use urban design and architectural projects across the UK, Europe and North America. Educated at Sheffield University in the UK, his career in Sweden notably led him to the role of lead architect for the implementation of Greenwich Millennium Village for Ralph Erskine Architect. This project marked the beginning of his focus on socially and environmentally sustainable urban development and regeneration. He joined White Arkitekter in 2011 and is now a partner and member of the board of directors. During his time at White he has led award winning urban design projects and was responsible for starting White Arkitekter’s London Studio. The studio has been built on the goal to share knowledge and experience of sustainable development and offsite fabrication methods used throughout the Nordics. Key projects developed during the first years of the London studio include the Climate Innovation District in Leeds and the Gascoigne estate regeneration in London. Geoff is now based in Stockholm where he works with diverse complex international projects. His approach to architecture is collaborative and he strongly believes that good design solutions are very much about creating places where people feel secure and invigorated.

  • procurement

Mass Timber Project Procurement for the Public Sector – Victoria

  • procurement

Mass Timber Project Procurement for the Public Sector – Vancouver

Building Success: The Nshwaasnangong Child Care and Family Centre Story

Course Overview

This session will explore the transformative journey of the Nshwaasnangong Child Care & Family Centre, a project that began as a response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action. Led by Two Row Architect and supported by various community partners, the project highlights the innovative use of mass timber to create culturally meaningful and sustainable spaces. Attendees will learn about the collaborative design process, the integration of traditional materials with modern building practices, and the impact of the centre on the local community. The session will also provide insights into accessing technical resources and project support for wood construction through WoodWorks Ontario.

Learning Objectives

  1. Explore the use of mass timber to create culturally meaningful and sustainable spaces, demonstrated through the Nshwaasnangong Child Care & Family Centre.
  2. Understand the collaborative design and prefabrication process, integrating community input, modern construction practices, and workflow planning with mass‑timber manufacturers for complex geometries.

Course Video

Speakers Bio

Matthew Hickey
Architect
Two Row Architect

Matthew Hickey is Mohawk from the Six Nations First Nation and is a licensed architect with 12 years of experience working in an on-reserve architecture firm. He received his Masters of Architecture from the University of Calgary and his Bachelor of Design from Ontario College of Art and Design, winning both the Alberta Association of Architects Presidents Medal and the Medal for Best Thesis, respectively. Mr. Hickey’s focus is on regenerative design – encompassing ecological, cultural, and economic principles. His research includes Indigenous history and the adaptation of traditional sustainable technologies to the modern North American climate. He currently instructs at OCAD U, for the OAA and the Canada Green Building Council.

  • Cross-laminated timber, nordic, X-Lam

Nordic X-Lam Technical Guide

The Nordic X-Lam Technical Guide is a comprehensive technical resource for architects, engineers, and construction professionals designing with cross-laminated timber (CLT) systems from Nordic Structures. The guide provides essential information to support the effective specification and integration of Nordic X-Lam panels in mass timber buildings.

The document details panel properties, structural performance, and typical applications, with guidance on sizing, spans, loading conditions, and connections. It also addresses key design considerations including fire performance, acoustics, vibration, and building code compliance, helping project teams evaluate system suitability across a range of project types.

Developed as a practical design reference, the Nordic X-Lam Technical Guide supports coordinated, efficient project delivery by providing a clear technical framework for incorporating CLT systems into contemporary wood construction.

  • Cross-laminated timber, Lam+, nordic

Nordic Lam+ Technical Guide

The Nordic Structures LAM+™ Technical Guide is a comprehensive reference for designers, engineers, and builders working with LAM+™ mass timber floor and roof systems. Developed by Nordic Structures, the guide provides practical technical information to support the efficient and reliable specification of LAM+™ panels in a wide range of building types.

The document outlines system characteristics, structural performance considerations, and typical applications, with clear guidance on panel configuration, spans, loading, and integration with supporting structural systems. It also addresses key design considerations such as vibration performance, fire resistance, acoustics, and constructability to help project teams make informed decisions early in design.

Intended as a design aid, the LAM+™ Technical Guide supports collaboration between architects, structural engineers, and contractors, offering a consistent technical foundation for incorporating LAM+™ systems into mass timber projects.

Offsite Construction Handbook

Course Overview

Offsite construction is transforming the building industry by shifting key processes from traditional sites to controlled factory environments. This approach enhances productivity, quality, and sustainability, addressing challenges like labor shortages and environmental impact. The delivery process emphasizes early collaboration, integrated design, and robust project management to optimize efficiency and risk management. Durability and energy efficiency are achieved through advanced material selection, moisture management, and airtight, highly insulated assemblies. Construction logistics, quality control, and commissioning are tailored for offsite methods, ensuring rapid, reliable project delivery. Life cycle analysis shows offsite construction can reduce embodied carbon and waste, supporting climate goals. Canada’s evolving policies and market trends position offsite construction as a key solution for affordable, sustainable housing. 

Learning Objectives

  1. Understand how offsite construction improves the durability, moisture control, and energy performance of wood building systems.
  2. Identify the structural and sustainability benefits of early design integration in offsite wood construction projects.
  3. Evaluate the role of life-cycle analysis and embodied carbon in positioning offsite wood construction as a solution for sustainable and affordable housing in Canada.

Course Video

Speakers Bio

Dorian Tung
Manager, Technology Assessment
FPInnovations

Dorian Tung is currently the Manager of Technology Assessment at FPInnovations. Prior to this, he worked as a structural consultant in Canada and the US. As a manager, he has been working with scientists on projects related to structure, seismic, durability, energy, fire, acoustic, and vibration. With the evolving ecosystem, Dorian is active in many working groups to facilitate discussions, remove duplicates, accelerate processes, with the goal to maximize impacts for the forest industry NOW using research data. He is also the editor of the Offsite Wood Construction Handbook published by FPInnovations.

Helen Goodland
Principal. Head of Research and Innovation
SCIUS Advisory

Helen Goodland is an architect registered in the UK and has an MBA from the University of BC. Helen is firmly committed to achieving truly sustainable buildings within the next decade. She is also passionate about advancing leadership opportunities for women in construction technology. To this end, she participates on numerous boards and committees. Currently she serves on the Board of Directors of Building Transformations (formerly CanBIM), the BC Digital Advisory Council, the BCIT Mass Timber Education Advisory Board and the University of Victoria’s Green Civil Engineering Advisory Council. She is also past chair of the UN Sustainable Buildings Initiative’s Materials Technical Committee.

Adam Robertson
Co-founder and Principal
Sustainatree

Adam completed his Bachelor of Applied Science in Civil Engineering at the University of Toronto and also holds a Master of Applied Science degree from the Department of Wood Science at the University of British Columbia. He is the past Chair of the CSA Subcommittee on Permanent Wood Foundations and acted as a primary author and editor during the update and revisions to the Canadian Wood Council’s Permanent Wood Foundations publication. He is the co-founder and principal of Sustainatree Consulting, a small firm specializing in sustainability and engineering design of wood building systems. Prior to opening his own practice, Adam was previously employed by the Canadian Wood Council and has also worked as a consulting structural engineer and within the building development and construction management fields.

Offsite Construction in Ontario: A Practical and Diligent Path Forward

Course Overview

From the housing supply deficit to affordability issues and labour challenges, several conditions have been supporting a renewed interest for innovation in construction practices. Offsite construction is often identified as a promising approach to improve the way we build. This session explores the current market characteristics which are conducive to offsite practices, including the consistent shift towards multifamily construction in Ontario. It also identifies the numerous potential benefits of shifting the construction process from site to factory. The speakers will discuss underlying assumptions and conditions and questions such as: Are the promised benefits tangible and quantifiable? Do savings actually reach a project’s bottom line? Do all of the benefits apply to specific applications? 

Learning Objectives

  1. Identify market, labour, and housing conditions in Ontario that are driving interest in offsite and wood-based construction systems.
  2. Evaluate the practical benefits and limitations of offsite construction using mass timber and panelized wood systems.
  3. Assess when offsite construction provides measurable value at the project level, including cost, schedule, quality, and risk considerations.

Course Video

Speakers Bio

Mike Schmidt
President
Auto Construct Incorporated

A Tool & Die Maker with a Masters’ Degree in Business Administration, Mike understands manufacturing from the ground up. He spent his formative years as an executive in the automotive industry; working for world-class, multinational corporations such as Magna International and ArcelorMittal. In 2017, Mike established Auto Construct Incorporated (ACI), a management consulting firm, to accelerate the industrialization of residential construction. Specializing in the conversion from stick-built to offsite construction, Mike has led and facilitated the growth of several companies to become dominant players in their respective fields. ACI provides education, guidance, and implementation support in the areas of business development, manufacturing systems, technology selection, and factory start-ups. ACI serves a broad range of land developers, construction firms, homebuilders, and manufacturing companies throughout Canada and the United States.

Green Construction through Wood
Lunch & Learn: Mass Timber Connections 101 with Western Archrib
Wood Design & Building Magazine, vol 25, issue 101
Seminar: Intro to Mass Timber
International Perspectives on Sustainable Housing Development
Mass Timber Project Procurement for the Public Sector – Victoria
Mass Timber Project Procurement for the Public Sector – Vancouver
Building Success: The Nshwaasnangong Child Care and Family Centre Story
Nordic X-Lam Technical Guide
Nordic Lam+ Technical Guide
Offsite Construction Handbook
Offsite Construction in Ontario: A Practical and Diligent Path Forward

Green Construction through Wood

Course Overview Green Construction through WoodThe Green Construction through Wood (GCWood) program encourages the use of innovative wood-based building technologies in...

Lunch & Learn: Mass Timber Connections 101 with Western Archrib

Wood Design & Building Magazine, vol 25, issue 101

Every issue of Wood Design & Building tells a different story about how wood is shaping contemporary construction. Some editions revolve around a clear theme such as our...

Seminar: Intro to Mass Timber

International Perspectives on Sustainable Housing Development

Course Overview Around the world there is a significant and growing housing shortage that is exacerbated by rapid urbanization and population growth. This challenge demands...

Mass Timber Project Procurement for the Public Sector – Victoria

Mass Timber Project Procurement for the Public Sector – Vancouver

Building Success: The Nshwaasnangong Child Care and Family Centre Story

Course Overview This session will explore the transformative journey of the Nshwaasnangong Child Care & Family Centre, a project that began as a response to the...

Nordic X-Lam Technical Guide

The Nordic X-Lam Technical Guide is a comprehensive technical resource for architects, engineers, and construction professionals designing with cross-laminated timber (CLT)...

Nordic Lam+ Technical Guide

The Nordic Structures LAM+™ Technical Guide is a comprehensive reference for designers, engineers, and builders working with LAM+™ mass timber floor and roof systems....

Offsite Construction Handbook

Course Overview Offsite construction is transforming the building industry by shifting key processes from traditional sites to controlled factory environments. This approach...

Offsite Construction in Ontario: A Practical and Diligent Path Forward

Course Overview From the housing supply deficit to affordability issues and labour challenges, several conditions have been supporting a renewed interest for innovation in...

Our Mandate is to support excellence in wood design and construction

Subscribe to our newsletter today to stay informed and inspired!

Engage with Us
Browse Resources
Other Programs

Get Access to Our Resources

Stay in the loop and don’t miss a thing!

1
2
3

Get Access to Our Resources

Stay in the loop and don’t miss a thing!

What’s Your Occupation?

Help us personalize the content for you.

Continue
Skip

What Interests You the Most?

Help us personalize the content for you.

Personalize my Content
Skip

Filters

Clear all
Expertise Icon
Field of Expertise
Dropdown Icon
Province Icon
Province
Dropdown Icon
Member Type Icon
WoodWork National Partners
Dropdown Icon

Filters

Clear all
Post Type Icon
Post Type
Dropdown Icon
Persona Icon
Persona
Dropdown Icon
Language Icon
Language
Dropdown Icon
Tags Icon
Tags
Dropdown Icon
Mass Timber Plus Icon Environment Plus Icon Safety Plus Icon Durability Plus Icon Design Systems Plus Icon Budget Plus Icon Construction Management Plus Icon Fire Resistance Plus Icon Tall Buildings Plus Icon Short Buildings Plus Icon
Date Icon
Date
Dropdown Icon
Line Separator