Since the publication of “The Case for Tall Wood Buildings” in 2011, mass timber and crosslaminated timber (CLT) fabrication technology has accelerated to create a paradigm shift in the design and construction industry, where it is now possible to construct multi-storey timber structures for many different occupancy types. At the turn of the 21st century, modern building codes only permitted “heavy timber” structures to be constructed up to 4 storeys for limited occupancy types only (i.e., industrial), despite the fact that many older, historic buildings in vicinities like downtown Toronto, ON, Seattle, WA, and Vancouver, BC, were constructed higher using non-combustible (brick) and heavy timber (laminated wood and solid wood beams/columns) – up to 6-8 storeys typically.

 

With the advent of sophisticated off-site fabrication facilities and extensive fire testing for mass timber systems in the US and Canada, mass timber structural systems are now positioned as the“green alternative” to non-combustible construction methods for all building types, ranging from smaller community buildings up to 18+ storey high-rise buildings for residential or office uses. In addition, recent building code changes in North America are embracing the greater adoption of CLT/mass timber systems, including the US International Building Code (buildings up to 18 storeys), the Canadian National Building Code (buildings up to 18 storeys), and the new B.C. Building Code 2024 (buildings up to 12 storeys currently).

 

The technical team at SenezCo are conversant in the application of mass timber systems and technologies for the built environment and have consulted on numerous recent project examples where mass timber has been incorporated in the building design in an impactful way. Through application of the fundamental building code requirements in modern building codes, to development of elaborate fire/smoke modeling techniques to prove out an “alternative” design, the technical staff at SenezCo have the capabilities to assist with the design development of any mass building type, whether it be a conventional low-rise structure, or a complex high-rise building of mass timber. Further, SenezCo is also involved with various government agencies and stakeholder groups to advance, promote, and research the further use of mass timber for the built environment, which puts us on the “cutting edge” of mass timber construction technology.