The Government of Canada supports buildings and projects that use sustainable and renewable resources as Canada transitions to a net-zero economy. The effective and innovative use of Canadian forest products has the potential to transform the construction industry. As part of this transformation, mass timber and modular construction is now a leading material and method in energy-efficient and cost-effective builds. Lighter than traditional building materials but equal in strength, mass timber and new, innovative modular construction methods are important in advancing toward a greener future.
The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Natural Resources, is pleased to announce over $110,000 to the Mass Timber Modular System Project led by EllisDon. The contribution is funded through the Green Construction through Wood (GCWood) Program, a program that encourages the greater use of wood in construction projects and supports Canada's transition to a low-carbon economy. GCWood also contributed to EllisDon's Hybrid Timber Floor System, set to be completed this year.
EllisDon has designed and constructed a prototype of a mass timber-based volumetric modular system that can be used in the delivery of various residential occupancies, including affordable housing, student housing, hotels and market housing sectors. In modular construction, components are built offsite into large volumes and then assembled onsite; this approach results in reduced on-site activity for the contractor, which in turn minimizes disruption and noise to neighbouring areas. The project is examining the benefits of using mass timber in a modular application and is quantifying the efficiencies gained in production as well as the overall embodied carbon benefits over traditional materials. Not only does mass timber have environmental and production benefits, its incorporation in modular construction methods has also inspired new and creative architectural styles.
EllisDon is also considering what this project could mean for affordable housing. The company has undertaken significant market analysis for affordable housing to understand the outlook for potential modular projects in the coming years and to align this project's outcomes with Canada's National Housing Strategy.
A full-scale mock-up of the project has recently been completed at EllisDon's fabrication facility in Stoney Creek, Ontario, with the overall project set to be finalized later this year.
