The world of mass timber construction continues to evolve at breathtaking speed, with groundbreaking projects reshaping our built environment. This week, we journey across North America and the UK to spotlight remarkable structures that showcase the versatility, sustainability, and sheer beauty of engineered wood.

Vancouver's stunning 10-story Hive office building stands as a testament to mass timber's artistic potential, with Dialog's design featuring intricate connection systems that blend form and function seamlessly. The structure exemplifies how commercial buildings can become architectural showcases while meeting rigorous performance standards. Meanwhile, sustainability champion Kevin McLeod of Grand Designs UK brings his expertise to the Built by Nature Prize 2025, elevating recognition for excellence in sustainable construction.

We challenge conventional thinking with insights from TYLin Justin, who argues that retrofitting existing structures often trumps new mass timber construction from a sustainability perspective. His concept of "hybrid, optimized buildings" offers a thoughtful middle path that embraces circular economy principles. Across the pond, Aberdeen's £29 million River Bank School demonstrates mass timber's ability to serve complex institutional needs while slashing carbon emissions by an impressive 2,510 tons compared to conventional methods.

Quebec celebrates a milestone with La Pache Town Hall becoming the province's first Passive House Certified institutional building, showcasing how mass timber elements like glulam, CLT, and western red cedar create biophilic spaces that harness natural light and solar gain. And in Toronto, an innovative 78-unit affordable housing development will rise in just 6-8 weeks using CLT—dramatically faster than the 6-7 months required for traditional concrete construction, proving that mass timber can simultaneously address housing needs and climate concerns.

Join our growing community of mass timber enthusiasts by liking, sharing and subscribing to the podcast. Your support helps us continue bringing you the latest developments in this revolutionary construction approach that's reshaping our world, one wooden building at a time.

Send us a text

Support the show