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BCIT Tall Timber Student Housing project, Burnaby, B.C. J U N E 2 0 2 3 | 27 Engineered Wood Products R EN D ER I N G BY P ER K I N S &W I L L /CO U RT E S Y B C I T The rise of engineered wood products following an unpredictable market by NATALIE BRUCKNER D espite facing market uncer- tainty, misconceptions, and supply chain challenges over the past few years, the engineered wood industry has emerged stronger than ever before. B.C. has established itself as a leader in mass timber construction, having constructed several notable buildings using this sustainable material. In fact, in 2022, the province built more mass-timber wooden buildings than almost the entire U.S. combined. Several B.C. companies, including StructureCraft in Abbotsford, Kalesnikoff in Nelson, and Structurlam in Penticton, have been gaining attention for their production of mass timber. These companies pri- marily source their wood from second-growth forests in the Interior. As demand for sustainable materials continues to increase, particularly in the education sector, the cross-laminated timber (CLT) market is expected to experience significant growth. Shawn Keyes, executive director at Wood WORKS! BC Canadian Wood Council, says the advent of Encapsulated Mass Timber (EMTC) Against The Grain construction type in the building code, which allows buildings up to 12 storeys, is one reason for this growth. However, he adds that despite the potential of this new typology, "some challenges to adoption still exist." Keyes explains: "Beyond the learning curve associated with any new construction approach, one of the primary obstacles is zoning. As it stands, very few structures in B.C. fall within the seven- to 12-storey height range, which currently limits the potential of this new category of building. The financial incentive is typically to construct as tall as possible on a given site to maximize returns, par- ticularly in the Lower Mainland. We can continue to push towards taller buildings via alternate solutions and new code provisions, however, these approaches will take time. For an immediate impact, munici- palities must consider zoning for the missing middle six- to 12-storey heights allowable by code so that greater density can be achieved while building with wood." There are number of exciting projects happen- ing in B.C. of late, including the BCIT Tall Timber Student Housing project that is currently under con- struction and the 837 Beatty Street Rehabilitation project, which involves adding a four-storey mass timber office building to an existing heri- tage structure constructed in 1911. "This project takes advantage of wood's light weight and offers a sensitive approach to preserving, adapting, and expanding a local heritage building, while avoid- ing the carbon emissions that would result from demolition. It is a useful case study for develop- ers and engineers interested in reducing the costs of upgrading existing buildings to accommodate additional storeys, particularly heritage build- ings requiring rehabilitation. As our infrastructure continues to age, solutions for reusing building components and avoiding material waste will be essential," says Keyes. As for the future, Keyes is excited about the potential that engineered wood buildings offer in addressing some of the most pressing societal chal- lenges. "The rising cost of living and inflation has made it increasingly challenging for individuals to reside in our province. However, engineered wood products present a prefabricated form of construc- tion that can provide a viable solution by rapidly delivering the housing that our province so desper- ately needs," Keyes says. Kinsol Timber Systems is also thriving in the North American market, with contracted revenue at an all-time high. To meet the growing demand, the company is building a new factory on Vancouver Island that will manufacture Nail Laminated Timber and add capacity to the market. The factory is expected to be operational by April 2024. Mass timber is already well-known as an inno- vative building material, but new applications for it continue to emerge. For example, Kinsol is using mass timber for vertical applications like sheer walls, stair cores, and elevator cores. Kinsol's work on The Malahat SkyWalk project demonstrates the versatility of mass timber. It features a single-storey Visitor Center, a 600-metre- long elevated Boardwalk, and a 30-metre-high mass timber Viewing Tower. The Tower's structural ele- ments consist of Douglas Fir glulam columns and beams with steel connections and lateral bracing. CEO Mike Marshall, says the project is "a grade A example of how timber can be used for durability."

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