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AcoustiTECH’s innovative and effective acoustic solutions made New York’s first mass timber residential project a triumph of modern design and sound comfort. Discover how the AcoustiTECH Lead 6 and AcoustiTECH SOFIX system harmonized natural aesthetics with high acoustic performance.
KITCHENER, ON — The Canadian Wood Council (CWC) was proud to participate in a significant announcement by the Government of Ontario yesterday, where the Honourable Mike Harris, Minister of Natural Resources, and the Honourable Kevin Holland, Associate Minister of Forestry and Forest Products, launched Ontario’s Advanced Wood Construction Action Plan.
The Action Plan outlines a strong, strategic commitment to advancing the use of mass timber and prefabricated wood systems—technologies that can deliver high-performance buildings while supporting job creation and investment across Ontario’s forestry, manufacturing, and construction sectors.
As the national association representing manufacturers of Canadian wood products, CWC welcomes this important step forward. Through its technical resource program, WoodWorks, the Council is committed to supporting the growth of advanced wood construction by providing guidance, education, and project support to professionals across the building sector.
“This is about solving today’s challenges while laying the groundwork for long-term economic growth—with industrialized wood construction driving that transformation forward,” said Steven Street, Executive Director of WoodWorks Ontario.
The Action Plan includes investments in research, education, training, and manufacturing, positioning Ontario as a leader in low-carbon, efficient, and sustainable construction. CWC applauds the province’s leadership and looks forward to continuing its collaboration with public and private partners to advance the adoption of made-in-Ontario wood solutions.
To read the full plan, visit: https://www.ontario.ca/page/advanced-wood-construction-action-plan
Who can use this document:
Contractors, Developers, Owners and Design Teams.
How to use this document:
This document is an editable form that teams can fill out to aid in collecting mass timber project-specific information to share with their insurance team.
When to use this document:
A project team should engage a broker or underwriter as early as possible in the planning stages of a construction project, ideally during the initial design phase or when the project scope is being defined.
How will this help me:
The goal is to provide project-specific information about mass timber, pre-emptively addressing some of the common questions and concerns insurers may have to pave the way for a more efficient and informed process when working with your broker or underwriter. Keep in mind that this document is not intended to address all topics nor be a universally accepted form that provides all necessary information to insurers.
This workshop covers wood construction connectors, design apps, mass timber connectors, mass timber fasteners, structural screws, and anchor systems, with demonstrations on hanger testing, fastener installation, and anchor installation and testing.
Mass timber construction offers speed, sustainability, and design flexibility – but it also requires a higher level of coordination than traditional structural systems. Its prefabricated components and tight tolerances call for early planning, clear communication, and a shared understanding across the project team. Ensuring that all partners – including those less familiar with timber construction – are aligned on these unique requirements helps avoid costly delays and, more importantly, positions the team to fully capitalize on the benefits mass timber has to offer.
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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
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