FREE: Prefabricated Mass Timber Solutions Workshop

Mass timber is part of a worldwide construction shift towards prefabrication and offsite construction and is expected to be a significant share of future construction in B.C. Wood is increasingly being seen as the future building material, especially for mid-rise (7-12 story) buildings, for its lower carbon footprint, capacity for mass prefabrication production, quieter and faster construction, and other reasons.  

However, uptake remains low due to diverse barriers, including planning and building policy gaps and conflicts on all levels of government. 

In this workshop, attendees will learn about the new Building Capacity: Local Prefab Mass Timber Solutions Guide that identifies key actions, notably within the realm of municipal land use policies and building permit processes, that can accelerate prefab mass timber mid-rise construction in B.C.  

The Building Capacity Guide is the culmination of a year-long process led by SFU's Renewable Cities that included independent research and analysis complemented by engagement with over 230 developers, design consultants, builders, manufacturers, local government planners, and building officials.    

Attendees will learn the following: 

• A deeper understanding of how mid-rise buildings (7-12 stories) constructed with prefabrication mass timber leads to substantial economic gains, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and thriving communities 
• Key challenges and strategies related to land use, design guidelines, and building permit processes to facilitate more prefab and mass timber construction 
• The benefits of prefabrication and mass timber construction and how to anticipate this coming technological evolution 
• Suggestions that developers can take to contribute to a successful mass timber project 
• Opportunities for policy and process solutions that can be adopted by local governments as they develop their own “mass timber friendly” policies and regulations. 
• Recommendations for local governments to modernize the building permit process, including electronic processing and partial permits to better facilitate a transition to prefab and mass timber construction  

The full guide can be accessed online here. 

1. Computer or laptop 

• This course will involve on-screen interaction with your instructor and classmates, reading/viewing on-screen content (slides or videos), and interacting via typing with questions or responses. For this reason, cellphones may not be adequate. 

• Windows 10 or Mac iOS  

4. Internet connection - For best results, you will want to ensure you have an internet connection with an upload/download speed of 3-5 Mbps. You can test your internet speed here. Minimum recommended speed is 1.5 Mbps, but anything below 3 Mbps may result in loss of quality or buffering. Ideally hardwired connection versus wireless for stability - connect your computer directly to your router using an ethernet cable, rather than using your home wi-fi.  

5. A quiet space with minimal distractions - microphone will be engaged for interactive sessions. Please plan to be fully engaged in the class and clear your work schedule just as you would for the in-class program.    

6. Comfortable chair