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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

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.

Canadian Wood Council Joins Ontario’s Advanced Wood Construction Working Group

Toronto, ON – December 3, 2025  – The Canadian Wood Council (CWC) welcomes the Ontario government’s launch of the Advanced Wood Construction Working Group, a strategic team that will guide the implementation of Ontario’s Advanced Wood Construction Action Plan. 

The Working Group brings together leaders from across the manufacturing and construction sectors to identify practical ways to expand the use of Ontario-made wood products in homes, businesses, and communities across the province. 

“Ontario continues to show leadership in advancing innovative, low-carbon building solutions,” said Rick Jeffery, President and CEO of the Canadian Wood Council. “CWC looks forward to contributing technical expertise and national insight to help deliver on the Action Plan’s goals and grow advanced wood construction in Ontario.” 

As part of the Working Group, CWC will collaborate with government and industry partners to accelerate adoption of mass timber and prefabricated wood systems, support code modernization and training, and promote greater use of Ontario’s sustainable wood products in construction.  

“Building with wood offers a highly efficient solution for addressing Ontario’s housing needs while supporting the growth of local value-added manufacturing. More industrialized wood construction means more opportunities for skilled workers and their communities. I am proud to support Ontario’s leading role in the evolving construction sector, contributing to a more resilient, efficient, and forward-looking building environment.” Steven Street, Executive Director, WoodWorks Ontario, Canadian Wood Council. 

This initiative marks an important step forward in implementing Ontario’s Action Plan and driving investment, innovation, and housing solutions through advanced wood construction. 

About the Canadian Wood Council 

The Canadian Wood Council (CWC) is Canada’s unifying voice for the wood products industry. As a national federation of associations, our members represent hundreds of manufacturers across the country. Our mission is to support our members by accelerating market demand for wood products and championing responsible leadership through excellence in codes, standards, and regulations. We also deliver technical support and knowledge transfer for the construction sector through our market leading WoodWorks program. 

Wood Design & Building Magazine, vol 24, issue 99

As the design and construction industry collectively strives towards a more sustainable built environment, one of the more interesting challenges in architecture today is how to work with what already exists. When existing structures are adapted and repurposed rather than demolished once they outlive their original use, resources are conserved, greenhouse gas emissions are lowered, heritage is preserved, and decarbonization goals are advanced.

Whether it’s adapting a historic structure to a new use or extending the life of a contemporary one with a creative renovation or addition, designers are exploring the possibilities and finding ways to integrate wood into projects that build on the foundations of the past, figuratively and literally, to meet the needs of the present.

In this issue, two feature stories explore different approaches to giving existing buildings new, expanded purpose. One project breathes new life into a traditional fieldstone barn through adaptive reuse, while another demonstrates how a lightweight mass timber vertical addition can expand an existing apartment building, adding new units to help meet growing housing needs. Both illustrate how wood enables design solutions that are respectful, efficient, and forward-looking.

Projects like these remind us that innovation is a form of evolution, and sometimes, the most sustainable, creative, and community-minded choice is to work with what you’ve already got.

  • Mass Timber, Woodworks

Mass Timber Business Case Studies

This document presents a series of business case studies that explore the financial performance of mass timber projects, providing quantitative data and qualitative insights to help developers and investors assess its economic viability.

Each case study measures investment success, challenges, and lessons learned from the developer’s and project team’s perspectives. Moreover, by analyzing strategy, risk, revenue, cost and schedule, these case studies enable direct comparisons between mass timber and traditional construction methods.

WoodWorks is seeking developers and owners with completed mass timber projects to share data for analysis, supporting education and training in the mass timber sector. The goal is to continuously expand case studies across various sectors and markets. To participate or learn more, please contact a WoodWorks staff member.

Canadian Wood Council’s WoodWorks Program Welcomes Rothoblaas Canada as National Partner

Ottawa, Ontario – October 16, 2025 — The Canadian Wood Council (CWC) is pleased to welcome Rothoblaas Canada as a new national partner of its WoodWorks program. This collaboration aligns two organizations committed to advancing wood construction across Canada through education, technical support, and strategic market development.

As demand for high-performance, low-carbon buildings drives greater adoption of mass timber and other engineered wood systems, this partnership will strengthen the technical ecosystem supporting Canada’s construction industry. Leveraging Rothoblaas’s international leadership in structural connection technologies, envelope systems, and on-site safety solutions alongside WoodWorks’ national expertise in education, technical support, and market development, the collaboration will help advance best practices in timber design and construction. Together, the organizations will facilitate knowledge transfer and design innovation to support the integration of wood as a mainstream material in Canadian building projects.

“For more than 20 years, WoodWorks has been delivering technical expertise and support to the professionals advancing wood construction across Canada. Partnering with this respected network allows Rothoblaas Canada to share our global engineering experience and help drive innovation in connection systems, building envelope performance, and safe, efficient timber assembly,” says François-Laurent Chabot, General Manager & Region Sales Manager for Rothoblaas Canada.

“WoodWorks is proud to collaborate with Rothoblaas Canada to help build industry knowledge and acceptance of modern timber connection systems and other assembly solutions,” says Rick Jeffery, President and CEO of the Canadian Wood Council. “This partnership integrates Rothoblaas Canada’s expertise in engineered connectors and building envelope technologies with WoodWorks’ national platform for education and sector advancement—supporting a more seamless, performance-based approach to wood construction.”

Through shared outreach, resource development, and technical education across the country, this national partnership aims to equip architects, builders, and developers with the knowledge they need to confidently design and build with wood. Broader adoption of wood solutions can play a pivotal role in meeting national housing and infrastructure goals, while contributing to Canada’s climate objectives and the transition to a low-carbon economy.

About the Canadian Wood Council

The Canadian Wood Council (CWC) is Canada’s unifying voice for the wood products industry. As a national federation of associations, our members represent hundreds of manufacturers across the country. Our mission is to support our members by accelerating market demand for wood products and championing responsible leadership through excellence in codes, standards, and regulations. We also deliver technical support and knowledge transfer for the construction sector through our market leading WoodWorks program.

About the National WoodWorks Program

The Canadian Wood Council’s WoodWorks Program a national outreach initiative dedicated to advancing the use of wood in construction by providing educational opportunities and direct technical support. The program helps architects, engineers, developers and other industry professionals expand their capacity for wood design and construction, contributing to a more sustainable built environment.

About Rothoblaas Canada

Rothoblaas Canada is a leading provider of innovative solutions for mass timber and wood construction, offering a comprehensive range of structural fasteners, connection systems, membranes, and safety products. As part of the global Rothoblaas group, the Canadian division supports architects, engineers, and builders with technical expertise and code-compliant solutions tailored to local needs. Through research, education, and collaboration, Rothoblaas Canada advances high-performance, sustainable construction and helps drive the growth of Canada’s wood building industry.

Canadian Wood Council’s WoodWorks Program Welcomes Nordic Structures as National Partner

Ottawa, Ontario – October 14, 2025 — The Canadian Wood Council (CWC) is pleased to welcome Nordic Structures as a new national partner of its WoodWorks program. A longstanding Gold Level Sponsor of Cecobois (Centre d’expertise sur la construction commerciale en bois), WoodWorks’ sister organization in Quebec, Nordic Structures now joins WoodWorks as a partner at the national level.

“Nordic Structures brings exceptional technical expertise and a deep commitment to responsible forest stewardship. Their collaboration with WoodWorks builds on years of leadership in Quebec and extends that impact nationally. By working together, we’re helping ensure that more communities across Canada can benefit from the innovation and environmental performance that wood construction delivers. “ says Rick Jeffery, President & CEO of the Canadian Wood Council.

“Building on our valued relationship with Cecobois, we are excited to partner with WoodWorks to advance the knowledge, innovation, and adoption of engineered wood products as a structural solution across Canada,” said David Croteau, Nordic Structures, Vice-President, Operations and Engineering.

As we look to the future, partnerships like this are vital to expanding the adoption of structural wood solutions that can meet Canada’s growing demand for affordable housing and resilient infrastructure. Nordic’s leadership in design, engineering, and manufacturing—combined with the technical expertise of WoodWorks—will help unlock new opportunities for high-performance, low-carbon buildings across every region of the country.

About the Canadian Wood Council
The Canadian Wood Council (CWC) is Canada’s unifying voice for the wood products industry. As a national federation of associations, our members represent hundreds of manufacturers across the country. Our mission is to support our members by accelerating market demand for wood products and championing responsible leadership through excellence in codes, standards, and regulations. We also deliver technical support and knowledge transfer for the construction sector through our market leading WoodWorks program.

About the National WoodWorks Program
The Canadian Wood Council’s WoodWorks Program a national outreach initiative dedicated to advancing the use of wood in construction by providing educational opportunities and direct technical support. The program helps architects, engineers, developers and other industry professionals expand their capacity for wood design and construction, contributing to a more sustainable built environment.

Nordic Structures
Nordic Structures offers engineered wood products and comprehensive technical services to enable state-of-the-art mass timber projects. Nordic’s founding company, Chantiers Chibougamau, responsibly harvests black spruce from Northern Quebec’s boreal forest and transforms the raw material into a full catalog of wood-based products, from I-joists to both industrial and architectural grades of glulam and CLT. Collaborating with architects, engineers, and construction firms, the team has delivered successful results on thousands of mass timber projects spanning all major sectors of public life.

Catherine Lalonde Memorial Scholarships

Catherine Lalonde Memorial Scholarships

Call for Submissions: 2025 Catherine Lalonde Memorial Scholarships for Wood Related Research

Catherine Lalonde Memorial Scholarships are presented to graduate students, enrolled at Canadian Universities, who demonstrate excellence in their studies of structural wood products or wood design. The Canadian Wood Council (CWC) invites submissions from graduate students in engineering, architecture, and wood science. Submitted projects must demonstrate their value and impact on Canadian-made structural wood products and/or their role in advancing domestic wood construction.

The CWC will award two scholarships to graduate students whose outstanding wood research not only demonstrates academic excellence but also mirrors the unwavering passion for the wood industry exemplified by Catherine Lalonde, in whose honor the scholarships are named.

Catherine, a professional engineer, was a passionate representative of our industry who relentlessly championed the use of wood in residential and commercial construction during her 10 years with the CWC. She served as president of the CWC from 2000 until 2003 when she tragically lost her battle with cancer. This award was established to commemorate Catherine’s memory and perpetuate the legacy of excellence and advocacy she bestowed upon the Canadian wood products industry throughout her influential tenure at the CWC. 

 

Scholarship Details and Application Process

1. Scholarship Value
Two scholarships, valued at $3,000 each, will be awarded to outstanding graduate students.

 

2. Who can apply?
Students enrolled in graduate programs in engineering, architecture, or wood science whose work contributes to the advancement of domestic wood products and construction. 

 

3. Application Process 

Step  Requirement  Deadline 
Step 1 – Notification of Interest  The Notification of Interest submission period has now closed. Eligible applicants have been notified of their preselection via email.

 

If you were unable to submit your Notification of Interest before the deadline for reasons beyond your control and expect to complete the full application on time, please contact Ioana Lazea at [email protected] to discuss your situation.

 Closed – October 17, 2025 
Step 2 – Full Application Submission  Preselected applicants have been invited to complete the Full Application through a dedicated portal and upload all required documents  (see checklist below).  November 14, 2025 

 

4. Full Application Submission Checklist

For Step 2, applicants must upload the following documents to the submission portal: 

  • One cover letter. 
  • Official transcripts: 
    • Master’s applicants: undergraduate and graduate transcripts. 
    • Doctoral applicants: master’s transcript. 
  • Two-page description of the project, plus up to two pages of drawings or photos (if applicable). 
  • Two letters of reference, preferably from faculty members or supervisors familiar with the applicant’s work. 

 

For additional information, please contact Ioana Lazea at [email protected]  

  • Acoustics, Partner Content

Acoustic Comparative Study

In a context where wood construction is gaining momentum, acoustics remains a key challenge in ensuring occupant comfort and compliance with standards. With this in mind, AcoustiTECH, an expert in acoustic solutions, has partnered with FPInnovations, a leader in research and development in the wood sector, to conduct an in-depth comparative study in its laboratory facility.

Who We Are

AcoustiTECH is a broker specializing in acoustic solutions, supporting building professionals in selecting highperformance materials that meet and exceed industry standards. With 25 years of experience and unique expertise, we offer customized assemblies through a specialized brand ecosystem and reliable data. Our personalized service, backed by dedicated technical and engineering teams, ensures tailored and effective
solutions that enhance the acoustic comfort of occupants. FPInnovations is a globally recognized, private, non-profit organization specializing in research and development for the forestry sector. Its mission is to support businesses and building professionals in innovating and optimizing wood-based materials. With ISO 17025-accredited laboratories and state-of-the-art facilities, FPInnovations assesses the performance of wood structures in terms of acoustics, vibrations, fire resistance, and more.

Study Objective

At AcoustiTECH, our goal is to continuously innovate by delivering new data and acoustic solutions tailored to the specific requirements of each project. This collaboration with FPInnovations marks a significant milestone in our acoustic analysis of wood structures, as it represents our first large-scale data collection on a GLT masstimber slab and our second mass-timber campaign overall, building on a prior study.

Through this study, we obtain precise acoustic measurements for this structural system and conduct rigorous comparisons across numerous innovative market solutions. We take into account key project criteria such as acoustic performance, budget, thickness, weight, and even design, as different acoustic solutions can also influence the choice of floor coverings.

Grounded in a scientific approach and conducted in controlled environments with FPInnovations, this research aims to evaluate various acoustic configurations optimized for mass timber construction. By combining technical expertise, innovation, and in-depth analysis, we provide architects, engineers, and developers with high-performance solutions that meet and exceed the industry standards.

Wood Design & Building Award Winning Projects Announced

Vancouver, BC – September 23, 2025 – The Canadian Wood Council is pleased to announce the winning projects of the 41st annual Wood Design & Building Awards program. This prestigious awards program recognizes and celebrates the outstanding work of architectural professionals from Canada and around the world for excellence in wood design and construction.

“The diversity and creativity in this year’s winning projects demonstrate how wood can connect people with nature,” says Martin Richard, Vice President of Communications and Market Development at the Canadian Wood Council (CWC). “These designs not only showcase wood’s versatility, but also create spaces that enrich daily life and support community well-being. They are high-performance solutions that respond to today’s urgent need for housing, schools, and community spaces.”

“It’s a delight each year to see the latest and greatest wood buildings nominated to our awards program and it’s a privilege to recognize the best projects from the impressive submissions we receive,” added Ioana Lazea, Senior Project Manager at CWC responsible for delivering the awards program. “This year’s competition drew a remarkable 140 entries. We are deeply grateful to our esteemed jurors for the significant effort they invested in reviewing each one and for their careful deliberations in selecting the winners.”

 

Wood Design & Building Award Winning Projects Announced

 

18 projects earned recognition from the Wood Design & Building Awards jury. The jurors for the Wood Design & Building Awards were:

  • Omar Ghandi, Principal at Omar Ghandi Architects
  • Jane Abbott, Partner at Abbott Brown Architects
  • Alec Holser, Founding Principal at Opsis Architecture

 

14 additional projects were selected for recognition under the WoodWorks category of the Wood Design Awards programs which have regional competitions in BC, Ontario, and the Prairie provinces for projects located in those jurisdictions. The jurors for the WoodWorks Awards category were:

  • Eric Karsh, Founding Partner of Equilibrium
  • Brenda Izen, Founding Principal at Izen Architecture
  • Carol Belanger, City Architect, Edmonton

 

In total, 38 projects from Canada and around the world were honoured at the Wood Design and Building Awards celebration hosted Tuesday, September 23, 2025, at the Woodrise Conference in Vancouver, BC.

 

COMPLETE LIST OF AWARD-WINNING PROJECTS FOLLOWS:

 

Honor

  • The Spirit Garden (Toronto, ON) | Gow Hastings Architects in collaboration with Two Row Architects
  • Fraser Mills Presentation Centre (Coquitlam, BC) | Patkau Architects
  • Pacific Northwest Residence (Washington State) | Cutler Anderson Architects
  • Google Borregas (Sunnyvale, CA, USA) | Project Designer: MGA | Michael Green Architecture, Architect of Record: SERA Architects
  • TRUMPF Education Center (Ditzingen, Germany) | Barkow Leibinger
  • Dwelling on the Mountainside: Jiuceng Art Gallery (Lishui, Zhejiang Province, China) | Atelier Lu+Architects

 

Merit

  • Vesterheim Commons (Decorah, IA, USA) | Snøhetta
  • DogTrot Magnetawan (Magnetawan, ON) | Williamson Williamson
  • Aiken Audubon Research Outpost (Chico Basin Ranch, CO, USA) | ColoradoBuildingWorkshop at CU Denver

 

Citation

  • Walking Dunes (Amagansett, NY, USA) | Bates Masi + Architects
  • Timbrelyn (Bethel, NY 12720, USA) | Adel Research Group (ARG)
  • sʔitwənx Child Care (Kelowna, BC) | Public Architecture + Design
  • Canadian Canoe Museum (Peterborough, ON) | Unity Design Studio
  • Greenhill School, Rosa O. Valdes STEM + Innovation Center (Addison, TX, USA) | Bohlin Cywinski Jackson
  • Upper Canada College – Lindsay Boathouse (Toronto, ON) | VJAA Inc. (Lead Design Architect) | RDHA (Architect of Record)
  • Winthrop Library (Winthrop, WA, USA) | Johnston Architects (Architect of Record) and Prentiss Balance Wickline Architects (Associate Architect)
  • Toronto and Region Conservation Authority Headquarters (Toronto, ON) | Bucholz McEvoy Architects + ZAS Architects and Interiors
  • MUMO (Museum of Motorcycle) (Puerto Octay, North Patagonia, Chile) | DRAA

 

Sansin Sponsored Award

  • Google Borregas (Sunnyvale, CA, USA) | Project Designer: MGA | Michael Green Architecture, Architect of Record: SERA Architects

 

Sustainable Forestry Initiative Sponsored Awards

  • Wahta’ elementary school (Wendake, QC) | DG3A Architecture
  • Kreher Preserve & Nature Center Environmental Education Building (Auburn, AL, USA) | Leers Weinzapfel Associates Architects, Inc.

 

Western Red Cedar Sponsored Awards

  • San Juan Islands Residence (Eastsound, WA) | Vandervort Architects
  • The Granary at Southlands (Delta (Tsawwassen) – BC) | MOTIV Architects

 

Wood Preservation Sponsored Award

  • Catchacoma Cottage (The Kawarthas, Municipality of Trent Lakes, ON) | Dubbeldam Architecture + Design

 

WoodWorks Ontario Wood Design Awards

  • DogTrot Magnetawan (Magnetawan, ON) | Williamson Williamson
  • Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation (OSSTF) Headquarters and Multi-Tenant Complex (Toronto, ON) | Moriyama Teshima Architects
  • Toronto and Region Conservation Authority Headquarters (Toronto, ON) | Bucholz McEvoy Architects + ZAS Architects and Interiors
  • Upper Canada College – Lindsay Boathouse (Toronto, ON) | VJAA Inc. (Lead Design Architect) | RDHA (Architect of Record)
  • 1120 Ossington (Toronto, ON) | mcCallumSather

 

WoodWorks BC Wood Design Awards

  • Fraser Mills Presentation Centre (Coquitlam, BC) | Patkau Architects
  • Adams Lake Health + Wellness Centre (Chase, BC) | Unison Architecture Ltd.
  • Kin Park Pavilion and Ice Rink (Fort St. John, BC) | Public Architecture + Design
  • sʔitwənx Child Care (Kelowna, BC) | Public Architecture + Design
  • Point Grey House (Vancouver, BC) | Patkau Architects

 

WoodWorks Prairie Wood Design Awards

  • F Residence (RM of Stanley, MB) | 1×1 architecture inc.
  • Riel Construction Office, (Dugald, MB) | Republic Architecture Inc.
  • Sam Centre (Calgary, AB) | Diamond Schmitt Architects
  • G7 Summit – Interior Renovations (Kananaskis, AB) | 1×1 architecture

 

VIEW A VIDEO COMPILATION OF THIS YEAR’S WINNERS HERE: https://cwc.ca/WoodDesignandBuildingAwards2025/

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

Sarah Hicks
Communications Manager, Canadian Wood Council
1-705-796-3381  |  [email protected]

 

2025 Wood Design & Building Awards

This prestigious awards program recognizes and celebrates the outstanding work of architectural professionals from Canada and around the world for excellence in wood design and construction.

 

 

Winning Projects

Honor

  • The Spirit Garden (Toronto, ON) | Gow Hastings Architects in collaboration with Two Row Architects
  • Fraser Mills Presentation Centre (Coquitlam, BC) | Patkau Architects
  • Pacific Northwest Residence (Washington State) | Cutler Anderson Architects
  • Google Borregas (Sunnyvale, CA, USA) | Project Designer: MGA | Michael Green Architecture, Architect of Record: SERA Architects
  • TRUMPF Education Center (Ditzingen, Germany) | Barkow Leibinger
  • Dwelling on the Mountainside: Jiuceng Art Gallery (Lishui, Zhejiang Province, China) | Atelier Lu+Architects

 

Merit

  • Vesterheim Commons (Decorah, IA, USA) | Snøhetta
  • DogTrot Magnetawan (Magnetawan, ON) | Williamson Williamson
  • Aiken Audubon Research Outpost (Chico Basin Ranch, CO, USA) | ColoradoBuildingWorkshop at CU Denver

 

Citation

  • Walking Dunes (Amagansett, NY, USA) | Bates Masi + Architects
  • Timbrelyn (Bethel, NY 12720, USA) | Adel Research Group (ARG)
  • sʔitwənx Child Care (Kelowna, BC) | Public Architecture + Design
  • Canadian Canoe Museum (Peterborough, ON) | Unity Design Studio
  • Greenhill School, Rosa O. Valdes STEM + Innovation Center (Addison, TX, USA) | Bohlin Cywinski Jackson
  • Upper Canada College – Lindsay Boathouse (Toronto, ON) | VJAA Inc. (Lead Design Architect) | RDHA (Architect of Record)
  • Winthrop Library (Winthrop, WA, USA) | Johnston Architects (Architect of Record) and Prentiss Balance Wickline Architects (Associate Architect)
  • Toronto and Region Conservation Authority Headquarters (Toronto, ON) | Bucholz McEvoy Architects + ZAS Architects and Interiors
  • MUMO (Museum of Motorcycle) (Puerto Octay, North Patagonia, Chile)) | DRAA

Sansin Sponsored Award

  • Google Borregas (Sunnyvale, CA, USA) | Project Designer: MGA | Michael Green Architecture, Architect of Record: SERA Architects

 

Sustainable Forestry Initiative Sponsored Awards

  • Wahta’ elementary school (Wendake, QC) | DG3A Architecture
  • Kreher Preserve & Nature Center Environmental Education Building (Auburn, AL, USA) | Leers Weinzapfel Associates Architects, Inc.

 

Western Red Cedar Sponsored Awards

  • San Juan Islands Residence (Eastsound, WA) | Vandervort Architects
  • The Granary at Southlands (Delta (Tsawwassen) – BC) | MOTIV Architects

 

Wood Preservation Sponsored Award

  • Catchacoma Cottage (The Kawarthas, Municipality of Trent Lakes, ON) | Dubbeldam Architecture + Design

 

WoodWorks Ontario Wood Design Awards

  • DogTrot Magnetawan (Magnetawan, ON) | Williamson Williamson
  • Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation (OSSTF) Headquarters and Multi-Tenant Complex (Toronto, ON) | Moriyama Teshima Architects
  • Toronto and Region Conservation Authority Headquarters (Toronto, ON) | Bucholz McEvoy Architects + ZAS Architects and Interiors
  • Upper Canada College – Lindsay Boathouse (Toronto, ON) | VJAA Inc. (Lead Design Architect) | RDHA (Architect of Record)
  • 1120 Ossington (Toronto, ON) | mcCallumSather

 

WoodWorks BC Wood Design Awards

  • Fraser Mills Presentation Centre (Coquitlam, BC) | Patkau Architects
  • Adams Lake Health + Wellness Centre (Chase, BC) | Unison Architecture Ltd.
  • Kin Park Pavilion and Ice Rink (Fort St. John, BC) | Public Architecture + Design
  • sʔitwənx Child Care (Kelowna, BC) | Public Architecture + Design
  • Point Grey House (Vancouver, BC) | Patkau Architects

 

WoodWorks Prairie Wood Design Awards

  • F Residence (RM of Stanley, MB) | 1×1 architecture inc.
  • Riel Construction Office (Dugald, MB) | Republic Architecture Inc.
  • Sam Centre (Calgary, AB) | Diamond Schmitt Architects
  • G7 Summit – Interior Renovations (Kananaskis, AB) | 1×1 architecture

 

Canadian Wood and Forestry Resources

National

Provincial

 

Government

Resources
  • Mid-Rise Buildings, Seismic Studies, Woodworks

Innovative Strategies for Light-Frame Mid-Rise Buildings in High-Seismic Regions

Innovative Strategies for Light-Frame Mid-Rise Buildings in High-Seismic Regions presents a detailed design example and practical guidance for engineers and builders responding to rising seismic demands on Canada’s West Coast. With the 2020 National Building Code of Canada significantly increasing seismic forces—particularly in Vancouver and Vancouver Island—conventional light-wood-frame (dimensional lumber) shearwall systems often no longer meet code requirements without costly additions.

This guide, prepared by WHM Structural Engineers for WoodWorks BC and the Canadian Wood Council, explores two high-capacity shearwall solutions: Mid+Std walls, a code-compliant adaptation of Midply construction that achieves roughly 50% greater capacity than standard walls without increasing wall length, and Double Nail walls, a research-based approach using double rows of edge nails to match Mid+Std strength. Combined with lightweight floor topping strategies, these systems enable six-storey light-frame buildings to remain viable and cost-competitive even on poor soils and in the highest seismic regions.

Cost analysis shows Mid+Std walls incur about a 30% framing cost increase over baseline, while Double Nail walls add about 20%, both more economical than doubling corridor wall lines. The publication includes complete design calculations, construction considerations, and conceptual connection details to help practitioners implement these strategies confidently.

This resource equips designers, contractors, and owners with practical, innovative approaches to maintain the competitiveness of light-frame wood construction while meeting the stringent seismic requirements of the latest building codes.

Understanding Glulam: The structural and architectural capabilities of mass timber
Canadian Wood Council Joins Ontario’s Advanced Wood Construction Working Group
Wood Design & Building Magazine, vol 24, issue 99
Mass Timber Business Case Studies
Canadian Wood Council’s WoodWorks Program Welcomes Rothoblaas Canada as National Partner
Canadian Wood Council’s WoodWorks Program Welcomes Nordic Structures as National Partner
Catherine Lalonde Memorial Scholarships
Acoustic Comparative Study
Wood Design & Building Award Winning Projects Announced
2025 Wood Design & Building Awards
Canadian Wood and Forestry Resources
Innovative Strategies for Light-Frame Mid-Rise Buildings in High-Seismic Regions

Mid-Rise Buildings – Research

Studies General “The Historical Development of the Building Size Limits in the National Building Code of Canada“, by Sereca for CWC (2015)  (17 Mb) Structural &...

Green

Wood is the only major building material that grows naturally and is renewable. With growing pressure to reduce the carbon footprint of the built environment, building...

Energy Efficiency

Of all the energy used in North America, it is estimated that 30 to 40 percent is consumed by buildings. In Canada, the majority of operational energy in residential...

Climate Change

Concerns about climate change are encouraging decarbonization of the building sector, including the use of construction materials responsible for fewer greenhouse gas (GHG)...

Life Cycle Assessment

Construction products and the building sector as a whole have significant impacts on the environment. Policy instruments and market forces are increasingly pushing...

Codes & Standards

BUILDING CODES & STANDARDS (THE REGULATORY SYSTEM) The construction industry is regulated through building codes which are informed by: Design standards that provide...

Energy Code

The National Energy Code of Canada for Buildings (NECB) aims to help save on energy bills, reduce peak energy demand, and improve the quality and comfort of the building's...

Acoustics

Wood is composed of many small cellular tubes that are predominantly filled with air. The natural composition of the material allows for wood to act as an effective...

Combustible construction

The provision of fire safety in a building is a complex matter; far more complex than the relative combustibility of the main structural materials used in a building. To...

Encapsulated mass timber construction

In addition to combustible, heavy timber and noncombustible construction, a new construction type is presently being considered for inclusion into the National Building Code...

Fire Safety

The National Building Code of Canada (NBC) defines fire safety under Objective OS1: “an objective of this code is to limit the probability that as a result of the design or...

Flame Spread

Flame spread is primarily a surface burning characteristic of materials, and a flame-spread rating is a way to compare how rapid flame spreads on the surface of one material...

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