Wood is a high-performance building material

Durable and strong, wood buildings are built to last. They’re resilient in the face of earthquakes, wind and fire. From light-frame and mass timber to new hybrid designs, wood construction is meeting and exceeding rigorous performance standards. Wood offers distinctive value from its aesthetic warmth and health benefits to its versatility and smaller carbon footprint when compared with steel and concrete.

Abbotsford Senior Secondary School
Photo credit: Aaron Millar, courtesy CHP Architects

Acoustics

Wood’s natural characteristics can improve a building’s acoustic performance through thoughtful design.

Interior mid day view of low rise three storey main rotunda showing central speaker at podium and hundreds of students on surrounding circular balconies above, all under the prefabricated radial wood roof structure built of exposed glue-laminated (glulam) timber and wood decking

Acoustic

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Durability

Durable and strong, wood is a resilient material that can provide decades, even centuries, of service. Today’s modern timber buildings are built to perform in the event of fire, strong winds, earthquakes and the wear and tear of time. ​

Glue-laminated timber (Glulam), and decorative plywood ceiling paneling bring structure and warmth to this daytime exterior view of the Prince George Airport Expansion entrance roof

Durability

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Fire Protection

Wood is fire safe. Timber buildings are designed to meet the same level of fire performance as those made from other materials, making them just as safe as steel and concrete.

 

Interior afternoon view showing entrance and lobby atrium of six storey Wood Innovation and Design Centre complete with Glue-laminated timber (Glulam) columns supporting Cross-laminated timber (CLT) ceiling sections

Fire

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Health

Wood is good for our health. Research is showing that incorporating wood and natural materials into our buildings—sometimes called biophilic design—can reduce stress and contribute to good mental health.

 

 

Interior view of low rise VanDusen Botanical Garden visitor center lobby featuring a prefabricated wooden ceiling made in the form of an inverted flower

Health

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Resilience

Wood structures can withstand earthquakes, wind and fire. In the aftermath of an unfortunate disaster, wood is a versatile and resilient building material well-suited to repairing and rebuilding structures.

© NW Project Profile | Steveston Fire Hall No. 2

Resilience

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Thermal

Wood has a lower thermal conductivity compared to concrete, steel-frame, and masonry construction and is well-suited to energy-efficient design.

Outdoor sunny snowy view showing corner of hybrid wood building with angled glue-laminated timber (Glulam) beams supporting wooden roof structure, snow on top, and mountains in the distance

Thermal

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Value + versatility

With its distinct properties, wood’s versatility is vast. The new possibilities in timber architecture are capturing the imaginations of today’s design and construction professionals.

Stack of completed laminated slats, with workers in the background at this mass timber construction site, that demonstrate the value, versatility and flexibility of light-frame wood and mass timber construction and design

Value + versatility

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