Canada’s next step in Sustainability: how the tallest mass timber installation project in North America is shaping future construction

The Government of Canada has supported a new, great and innovative mass timber building project based in Vancouver, British Colombia.

Timber is energy efficient, has inherent fire resistance and can insulate carbon dioxide. Timber has had a positive impact on Canada’s construction industry. Mass timber will bring a new shape to the future of low-carbon construction while still developing and strengthening Canada’s bio-economy by using more innovative ways to design a sustainable building sector.

Yesterday July 6th, Taleeb Noormohamed, Member of Parliament for Vancouver Granville, spoke on behalf of Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Natural Resources, and announced a contribution of $3.5 million towards the construction of 2150 Keith Drive, where they plan on building an innovative hybrid mass timber commercial office building in Vancouver’s False Creek Flats neighbourhood. The contribution is being made through the Green Construction Through Wood program (GCWood). This program supports projects and activities that increase the use of wood as a low-carbon construction material in infrastructure projects.

The British Columbia province also supports this project through a program called NetZero Energy Ready Program. A $500,000 contribution from the Mass Timber Demonstration Program (MDTP) has also been placed towards the project. MTDP provides funding for design and construction costs associated with emerging or new mass timber building systems and process developments.

“The DIALOG design team is grateful for the financial support from Natural Resources Canada that has driven the development of innovative design and construction strategies that are economical, replicable and an important part of a sustainable future.” Said Justin Tompson, Senior Architectural Technologist and Associate of DIALOG,

The office building will have advanced mass timber systems, prefabricated cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels, and glue-laminated braces and beams. It will be 10 storeys tall and over 15,000 m2 with a honeycomb-shaped exterior. The wooden braced-frame system used on the exterior eliminates the need for an interior concrete core, reducing the environmental impact. The replicable shape of its exoskeleton design also makes it ideal for more sustainable, cost-efficient and green construction.

The building will be the tallest braced-frame mass timber project and installation in North America, employing an innovative seismic resistance system. The building’s target is a minimum LEED Gold certification, with construction looking to be completed in 2025.

The government will continue to support and grow projects such as this to improve Canada’s sustainability in construction by using lower emissions and creating new jobs in this industry. As new building materials become more available, Canada’s use of mass timber will increase and help the overall economy of Canada.