British Columbia province in Canada is launching the Mass Timber Action Plan and announcing funding for four new mass-timber housing and infrastructure projects as a key step in the StrongerBC Economic Plan.
Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation, along with several cabinet ministers, announced the action plan and $1.2 million in funding, at the University of Victoria, where a 783-bed mass-timber student housing and dining project is set to open in September.
The Mass Timber Action Plan shows that B.C. could have as many as 10 new mass-timber manufacturers by 2035. In addition, boosting the sector’s skills training through trades programs at post-secondary institutions will help fill an anticipated 4,400 additional job openings in manufacturing, construction and design.
The Mass Timber Demonstration Program will include four new projects ranging from multi-family homes to mixed-use commercial and industrial buildings.
The University of Victoria has three mass timber construction projects in development: a new student housing and dining facility; an engineering and computer science expansion; and the National Centre for Indigenous Laws.
Successful program applicants in 2022 were:
- P. Rock Ltd.: Monad Granville: First of its kind prefabricated mass-timber highrise, mixed-use housing. Scalable industrialized solution to address climate change and housing affordability.
- Castlegar and District Chamber of Commerce: The Confluence: Combined tourist information centre, technology incubator, chamber of commerce office and meeting facilities. Will be the only Passive-House-certified institutional building in the B.C. Interior.
- Forefront Communities Ltd.: MAN 6: Hybrid mass-timber/concrete structure featuring cross-laminated timber and glulam with concrete core.
- L’Alliance Française de Vancouver: L’Alliance Française: First of its kind for a four-storey assembly occupancy building. Will feature exposed mass timber equivalent to non-combustible steel or concrete construction.
