The Government of B.C. is providing more than $4 million for 12 new mass-timber demonstration and research projects.

There are eight demonstration building projects and four research projects receiving funding from the third intake of the Mass Timber Demonstration Program (MTDP).

Projects range from a new indoor aquatic centre in Golden to a mixed-use development featuring an 18-storey mass-timber tower in Vancouver’s Killarney neighbourhood. This will help further expand the use of mass timber in B.C.’s construction sector by providing designers and builders with real-world knowledge and experience they can learn from.

“A history of bold steps and achievements in building innovation has established our province as a global leader in the mass-timber sector. As the home of the first mass-timber building on the continent and the tallest hybrid mass-timber building in the world in its day, we know mass timber is the future of sustainable design and construction in B.C,” said Minister of State for Trade, and chair of the Mass Timber Advisory Council Jagrup Brar.

The 12 demonstration and research projects are:

• 365 Railway Street Inc – 365 Railway ($500,000)
• The City of Burnaby – Cameron Community Centre and Library ($500,000)
• Wesgroup Properties – River District ($500,000)
• More Than A Roof Housing Society – Vienna House ($500,000)
• The City of Vancouver – Marpole Community Centre ($500,000):
• Columbia Shuswap Regional District – Golden and Area Indoor Aquatic Centre ($441,720)
• The Loon Foundation – The Pender Harbour Ocean Discovery Station (PODS) ($388,000)
• The Clayoquot Biosphere Trust Society – Clayoquot Sound Biosphere Centre ($300,000).

RESEARCH

• FPInnovations – Fire Performance of Modern Mass Timber Connections Testing ($200,000)
• FPInnovations – Guide on hygrothermal modelling ($75,000)
• National Research Council (NRC) – Intumescent coating for mass-timber buildings ($210,000)
• University of British Columbia – Fire-related thermal penetration testing for mass timber ($28,000).

“Having our mixed-use River District project be a part of the Mass Timber Demonstration Program allows us to access valuable experience and learnings, while developing a mass-timber project of this scale,” said Graham Brewster, director of development, Wesgroup Properties. “We look forward to working with and contributing to B.C.’s homegrown, world-class mass-timber knowledge and industries with the shared goals of building greener buildings and better communities.”