Supporting Local Governments in Navigating Mass Timber
NEW GUIDE: ADVANCING MASS TIMBER
Risk mitigation and insurance strategies for a thriving sector
Mass timber is the future – but can we insure it? High insurance rates are a barrier for scaling mass timber construction in B.C. and beyond.
Our new guide explores three actionable pathways for industry players to collectively take:
- Pathway A: Establishing a quality assurance program
Third-party verification can ensure consistent, high-quality construction, increasing insurer confidence - Pathway B: Establishing shared protocols and standards
Standardized, evolving protocols can support insurers’ risk evaluation, especially for moisture mitigation, repairability, design and long-term building performance - Pathway C: Enhancing mass timber training programs
Standardized, quick-to-complete, industry-recognized training can ensure workers meet baseline competency requirements and reduce project risk
B.C. has the resources and expertise to lead the prefab mass timber construction revolution
Mid-rise buildings (7-12 storeys), rare in B.C. but growing and important for densification and livability, are well suited for prefabricated mass timber construction. They help support significant embodied carbon reductions, thriving communities and affordable housing.
B.C. has the resources and expertise to lead this construction category and, as of 2019, allows mass timber buildings up to 12 storeys within some early-adopter jurisdictions. Yet uptake remains low for many reasons, including policy/regulatory barriers and supply/demand dynamics.
We want to help local governments navigate mass timber to increase uptake in their communities
In 2022, we assembled an interdisciplinary project team of architects, planners, developers and building officials to work with communities and stakeholders to increase understanding of key land use and permitting barriers for the construction of prefabricated and mid-rise mass timber construction.
We engaged with over 230 municipal and building stakeholders to help inform the development of the Building Capacity: Local Prefab Mass Timber Solutions Guide.
In 2023, we shifted our focus to engage with the industry about design guidelines for mass timber buildings. We engaged with multiple municipalities and their design panels to develop adaptable design guidance for this building form. This involved engagement with over 35 industry professionals and leaders across multiple sectors in a dialogue-based Design Charette and engaging with over 500 stakeholders in presentations, conferences and workshops.
This work led to the release of Design Solutions to Prefab Mass Timber Construction v2.0 in 2024. This resource provides guidance on how municipal land use regulations and design guidelines can better accommodate 7-12 storey mass timber buildings in B.C. and outlines considerations for 18 storey projects, in alignment with updated B.C. building code, which now allows for mass timber buildings up to 18 storeys, up from 12 storeys.
BUILDING CAPACITY GUIDE
Building Capacity: Local Prefab Mass Timber Solutions offers ways for local governments to develop policies and regulations that facilitate mid-rise mass timber construction. It also provides paths for senior levels of government and the building sector to contribute to successful mass timber projects and help scale this novel building form in B.C.
Building Capacity is the culmination of a year-long that included independent research and analysis complemented by engagement with over 230 developers, design consultants, builders, manufacturers, local government planners and building officials. It was released in February 2023.
Building Capacity is primarily directed towards local governments and the development sector:
FUNDERS
Building Capacity was funded by BC Hydro, Forestry Innovation Investment (FII) and the Office of Mass Timber Implementation in the B.C. Ministry of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation.
Leanne Sawatzky
Renewable Cities
Project Director
Rebekah Parker
Renewable Cities
Project Manager
Helen Goodland
Architect RIBA
Scius Advisory Services,
MT & Building Innovation Advisor
Gary Penway
RPP MCIP
Penway Consulting
Land Use Policy Specialist
Norm Couttie
Architect AIBC
Ecosse Development Corp
MT Developer Specialist
Mesa Sherriff
Architect AIA, Urban Designer, LEED AP
Associate, ZGF Architects
Design Guideline Expert
Maryam Alirezaei
Associate Principal, ZGF Architects
Design Guideline Expert
Daniel Wilson
CPDH, Architect AIBC
Associate, ZGF Architects
Design Guideline Expert
Frank Ducote
FCIP, RPP
Frank Ducote Urban Design
Design Guideline Expert
Arjun Singh
Community Builder
Local Government Strategic Advisor
Marie Bednash
Associate AIA - Principal, ZGF Architects
Design Guideline and Communications Expert
Thomas Noussis
Intern Architect, ZGF Architects
Design Guideline Expert
Tim Ryce
Professional Engineer
Chief Building Official
Strategic Advisor
Geoff Triggs
P.L.Eng
Evolution Building Science Ltd,
Owner/Principal
Strategic Advisor
John de Ruiter
City of North Vancouver
Chief Building Inspector (former)
Permitting & Inspection Advisor