The Rise of Mass Timber: How Canada is Reshaping Sustainable Construction

By Denis Koshelev

Canada stands at the forefront of a transformative shift in construction, pioneering the use of advanced engineered wood products like cross-laminated timber (CLT) and glue-laminated timber (glulam) to create stronger, more sustainable buildings. This mass timber revolution represents a convergence of traditional Canadian forestry expertise with cutting-edge engineering technology, positioning the country as a global leader in low-carbon construction solutions.

Mass timber refers to prefabricated, engineered wood components designed for structural use in modern buildings, combining strength, sustainability, and versatility. Mass timber encompasses a diverse range of large-dimensioned structural composite lumber products designed for structural applications. Prominent examples in Canadian construction also include nailed-laminated timber (NLT), laminated strand lumber (LSL) and laminated veneer lumber (LVL). [9]

Glue-Laminated Timber (Glulam) and Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT)

Glulam, specifically, is an engineered wood product made by bonding multiple layers of dimension lumber with durable, moisture-resistant adhesives, ensuring the grain of all laminations runs parallel to the member’s length [10] [11]. This process allows for the creation of large, strong structural members suitable for both interior and exterior applications, including beams, columns, headers, and even curved components.

CLT, on the other hand, consists of several layers of kiln-dried lumber boards stacked in alternating directions and bonded with structural adhesives to form large, solid panels. These panels are prefabricated and can be used for walls, floors, and roofs, offering high dimensional stability and strength-to-weight ratio. The alternating lamination pattern in CLT provides enhanced structural performance in multiple directions, making it a versatile material for various building types. [12] The manufacturing of both CLT and glulam follows rigorous standards to ensure performance and safety.

Canadian glulam is produced using waterproof adhesives, making it suitable for diverse environmental conditions [11]. The laminations are often non-destructively tested (machine stress rated) to ensure predetermined strength properties [10].

Current Trends in Canadian Construction

Mass timber construction is experiencing a significant surge in Canada, driven by its environmental benefits, technological advancements, and evolving building codes. As of 2023, Canada was recognized as a world leader in this transformative technology, with over 661 mass timber projects either completed or underway nationwide [28]. A key driver of this trend is technology. Advancements such as parametric and generative design models that optimize panel manufacturing, improving customization and efficiency in the industry.

These digital tools integrate with Building Information Modelling (a collaborative process that uses digital models to manage a building's physical and functional information throughout its lifecycle, combining 3D geometry with detailed data to create a shared resource for all project stakeholders) to streamline design and production, supporting the rapid adoption of mass timber in Canadian construction. [3]

Additionally, research on the fire performance of mass timber connections, including the use of self-tapping screws and hybrid connections, addresses safety concerns critical for wider acceptance in tall buildings. [4]

The Canadian construction sector is increasingly adopting mass timber for a variety of building types, from residential and office buildings to institutional structures. This adoption is supported by a growing body of research and real-world applications demonstrating the material’s capabilities [17].

The development of proprietary mass timber systems, such as Adera Developments’ SmartWood, which claims to be as strong as concrete and steel but at a more competitive price point, further illustrates the innovation and market penetration of these materials [18].

A key driver for this increased adoption is the evolution of building codes. Recent updates, effective January 1, 2025, now permit encapsulated mass timber construction for buildings up to 18 storeys, a significant increase from the previous 12-storey limit [16] [19]. This regulatory change is expected to mainstream mass timber, allowing its use in a wider range of projects and major occupancy types.

Provinces like British Columbia have been at the forefront, with initiatives like the Mass Timber Action Plan and the “Wood First Act,” which mandates the use of wood in provincially funded buildings [18] [21]. These provincial efforts, coupled with federal support such as the $10 million investment in a new mass timber manufacturing facility in Nova Scotia, underscore a strong governmental push towards this green building material [21].

The focus is not only on tall buildings but also on mid-rise structures, where mass timber offers advantages in speed of construction, reduced on-site waste, and improved working conditions [22]. The industry is also seeing a shift towards more exposed mass timber for its aesthetic and biophilic benefits, with code updates facilitating this trend for buildings up to 9 storeys in some jurisdictions [23].

Environmental Benefits of Mass Timber

The significant environmental advantages of mass timber are fundamentally linked to sustainable forestry practices. When sourced from responsibly managed forests, wood serves as a powerful tool in mitigating climate change for two primary reasons: carbon sequestration and lower embodied carbon.

Wood, as a primary building material, naturally absorbs and stores carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the atmosphere during the tree’s growth phase [14]. This carbon remains locked within the wood fibres throughout the lifespan of the building, effectively acting as a carbon sink. It is estimated that for every cubic meter of wood used in construction, approximately one tonne of CO₂ is sequestered [14].

This characteristic makes mass timber a powerful tool in mitigating climate change, particularly when compared to traditional building materials like steel and concrete, which have a much higher embodied carbon footprint due to energy-intensive manufacturing processes.

The Royal BC Museum’s Collections and Research Building in Victoria, British Columbia, serves as a prominent Canadian example of this potential. As North America’s largest cultural mass timber structure (15,000 m²), it is reported to store over 3,000 tonnes of CO₂, which is equivalent to removing approximately 650 cars from the road annually. This project utilized significant amounts of CLT and glulam, showcasing how engineered wood can contribute to substantial carbon storage at a building scale. [24] [14]

The broader impact of widespread mass timber adoption in Canada could be substantial. Natural Resources Canada estimates that maximizing the use of mass timber in construction across the country could remove an estimated 0.6 million tonnes of CO₂ from the atmosphere annually by 2030. This is comparable to taking 125,000 cars off the road each year [25]. Mass timber additionally magnifies the environmental advantages of regular wood products by substituting wood for concrete and steel in much larger buildings, reducing embodied carbon at a greater scale and extending wood’s use into new types of construction.

The ability of wood products to continue storing carbon for decades, or even centuries, within the building structure, makes them a unique and valuable asset in the fight against climate change, turning buildings into long-term carbon reservoirs. [26] [27] This inherent property of wood, combined with sustainable forestry practices, positions mass timber as a cornerstone of green building strategies worldwide, including in Canada.

Market Forecasts and the Mass Timber Roadmap

The Canadian mass timber industry is poised for substantial growth, with optimistic market forecasts and strategic roadmaps guiding its development. The global mass timber market was valued at approximately CA$1.9 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach CA$4.9 billion by 2030, assuming an annual growth rate of 14.5% [28].

Canada currently holds a significant share of this market, estimated at just under 20% in 2023, with an economic output of $379 million from mass timber [29]. To capitalize on this potential, “The Mass Timber Roadmap” was unveiled in June 2024, outlining a strategic vision to transform green construction and drive economic growth across Canada [30]. Developed in partnership with the Canadian Wood Council (CWC), Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC), and Energy Futures Lab (EFL), this roadmap sets ambitious targets to increase the mass timber market — both domestic and export — to $1.2 billion by 2030 and to $2.4 billion by 2035.

Notable Canadian Mass Timber Projects

Canada has become a hub for innovative tall wood building construction, showcasing the potential of mass timber to create sustainable and aesthetically striking urban structures. A landmark example is Brock Commons Tallwood House at the University of British Columbia (UBC) in Vancouver. When completed in 2017, this 18-storey student residence was the tallest mass timber hybrid building in the world, reaching 53 meters [31]. This project served as a significant demonstration of the feasibility and benefits of tall wood construction.

Another prominent example is Limberlost Place at George Brown College in Toronto. This 10-storey institutional building, designed by Moriyama Teshima Architects and Acton Ostry Architects, is one of the world’s tallest mass-timber institutional buildings and Ontario’s first institutional mass timber building designed to achieve net-zero carbon emissions. Limberlost Place is a hybrid structure of CLT, concrete, and steel, with approximately 50% of its CLT structure exposed, including nine-meter-span beams and all columns [32]. Limberlost Place has garnered numerous awards and played a pivotal role in prompting the Ontario government to amend building codes to allow encapsulated mass timber construction up to 18 storeys. [33]

The momentum for tall wood buildings continues with projects like the Keith Drive Office Building in Vancouver, a 10-storey mass timber structure featuring exposed timber throughout, including timber brace frames and CLT shear walls for seismic resistance [34]. In Toronto, a nine-storey mass timber residential building at 230 Royal York Drive, manufactured by Intelligent City in Delta, B.C., is set to become the city’s tallest residential mass timber structure upon completion in late 2025. This project will consist of 58 market-rate rental units and is expected to have its structure and enclosure assembled on-site within 90 days, highlighting the speed of prefabricated mass timber construction [35] [36].

The ambition doesn’t stop there. A 31-storey hybrid mass timber building at 191 College Street in Toronto, approved by city council in 2024, is poised to set a new national record, signalling the next frontier for mass timber in Canada’s urban centres [35] [37]

Conclusion: The Future of Mass Timber in Canada

Canada’s future skyline is increasingly being built with wood. Guided by strategic initiatives like the Mass Timber Roadmap and propelled by technological innovation, mass timber is rapidly transitioning from a niche alternative to a mainstream construction solution. This shift promises not only to lower the carbon footprint of our built environment but also to spark significant economic growth and job creation across the country.

Mass timber can help Canada meet its climate goals, build resilient communities, and become a global leader in green construction.