Mass timber

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Understand mass timber

Mass timber products are solid, structural load-bearing components such as columns, beams, and panels. They are typically manufactured off-site in factories by fastening multiple layers of wood together with glue, dowels or nails, and are engineered for high strength. They have similar fire and seismic performance as concrete and steel, but are significantly lighter in weight and outperform traditional light-frame wood (2x6) construction.  

Examples of mass timber products include: 

• Cross-laminated timber  
• Nail-laminated timber  
• Glue-laminated timber  

Mass timber can be used in many types of construction including residential, commercial and industrial buildings.  

Prefabricated building components can be brought to job sites just in time for installation, reducing overall construction time, noise, and disruption. Mass timber is often combined with concrete and steel in “‘hybrid’” buildings to make use of the strengths of each material. 

Explore more about mass timber on naturally:wood.

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Mass Timber Action Plan

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Climate benefits of mass timber

Mass timber has an important role in increasing climate-friendly technology and buildings in the province. Mass timber buildings are made from wood and can store carbon for generations, keeping it out of the atmosphere. Mass timber buildings also replace more carbon-intensive materials, such as concrete and steel, and help to reduce construction waste.  

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Mass timber innovation in B.C.

B.C. is well known in North America for being a leader in mass timber innovation, production and usage. We have more mass timber buildings per capita than any other place in North America and we lead the country with over 285 mass timber buildings (as calculated at the end of 2020).

Notable early and innovative mass timber buildings in B.C. include: 

• The Wood Innovation and Design Centre in Prince George showcased local wood technology, design, and all the wood in the project was produced in B.C. At the time it was built in 2014, it was the world's tallest modern all-timber structure.
• UBC’s Brock Commons Tallwood House student residence is a landmark example of a mass timber tall building. It was the tallest hybrid mass timber building in the world when it opened in July 2017. Brock Commons informed both the 2020 National Building Code of Canada for 12-storey construction, and the 2021 International Building Code for 18-storey construction. The International Building Code is widely used throughout the U.S. 
• Explore more mass timber buildings throughout B.C. on naturally:wood. 

B.C. has already adopted the new provisions from the National Building Code that allow for encapsulated mass timber construction. Through the Tall Wood Initiative, the Province adopted these provisions early for interested communities, providing valuable proof of concept.

The Mass Timber Demonstration Program provides funding to support the design and construction of mass timber buildings that demonstrate emerging or new mass timber building systems and construction processes. Program recipients share lessons learned, results, and research findings to support future mass timber projects.  

Growing the mass timber sector will create many new types of jobs throughout the province. Along with new jobs in manufacturing, remanufacturing and building deconstruction, new opportunities are emerging in areas like: 

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I have questions

Have questions about mass timber? Contact the Office of Mass Timber Implementation.