Recent investments in Mass Timber have showcased its potential for solving common construction issues.

Construction company EllisDon has received over $110,000 in funding from the federal government to further their research into a volumetric Mass Timber modular system aimed at residential occupancies.

Ellis Don’s Mass Timber Modular System Project will examine the benefits of mass timber for modular construction and quantify gains in efficiency made in production.

It’s hoped that by combining the efficiency advantages of modular construction with low embodied carbon materials like mass timber, the project could have the potential to create low-carbon, affordable housing solutions for the residential sector.

The company has already designed and constructed a full-scale prototype of their modular system, but the new funding will allow them to continue testing and prototyping, with the finalized project expected later this year.

“We are moving toward a more sustainable future, and it’s important that we find innovative solutions to decarbonize the building sector, improve housing supply and increase the productivity of offsite construction methods,” says Vincent Davenport, Director of Building and Material Sciences at EllisDon.

Funding was made possible through the Green Construction through Wood (GCWood) Program, which provides contributions to projects demonstrating innovative uses of wood in construction projects.

Mass Timber Solves for Construction Hassles at Kelowna International Airport

Kelowna International Airport also recently received a $500,000 investment from B.C.’s Mass Timber Demonstration Program to support its use of mass timber in its air terminal expansion.

The Mass Timber Demonstration Program provides funding for research, design and construction projects utilizing mass timber.

The airport plans to incorporate prefabricated mass-timber panels in a two-storey, 7,708 m2 expansion and upgrade of its current terminal. Upgrades will include a 4,500 m2 “waffle” roof system constructed of glulam girders and locally sourced, cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels.

Kelowna Mayor Colin Basran says he’s “thrilled to see that the terminal expansion will use mass timber, showcasing the versatility and design capabilities of BC lumber, while also contributing to the local economy.”

The prefabricated panels are expected to significantly reduce both construction time and construction traffic, resulting in less disruption to the busy airport site. It’s expected that the airport will be able to remain fully operational during the entirety of the expansion project. The expansion is slated for completion in 2025.

Image credit: Sarah Worth

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