Interest in mass timber is growing among designers, builders, developers and other stakeholders worldwide due to its environmental benefits as a low-carbon and sustainable building material. In Canada, several recent initiatives by industry and governments to expand the use of wood in construction have led to an increased number of mass timber buildings across the country and enhanced existing manufacturing capability. Supported by progressive building codes, a growing supply chain, and a rising number of designers and builders with mass timber expertise, mass timber construction is poised to continue to take off in Canada. To support this momentum, the Government of Canada launched the Green Construction through Wood (GCWood) program to expedite market acceptance and foster commercial uptake of mass timber products and systems in Canada.
This paper provides an overview of the GCWood program activities, showcasing the design and construction of several demonstration projects and the ongoing efforts to implement a national wood education roadmap. This is in addition to funding critical technical research to support the adoption of tall wood buildings in the Canadian building code and transitioning the code to become more performance based.
