Using wood as a building material saves time and money.

Developers have found that using timber as a building material in constructing high-performance buildings not only saves time and reduces costs, but also endows them with aesthetic appeal, versatility, and excellent structural performance. The use of timber building systems combined with prefabricated timber frame components effectively controls construction timelines.

Recently, the sustainable and innovative characteristics of Vancouver's timber-framed buildings are setting a new tone for the construction industry. This is because they reduce building operating energy costs and provide residents with the natural feel of wood. Both Heights and King Edward Villa consist of a concrete podium and a five-story lightweight timber-framed upper structure.

Located in Vancouver, a six-story timber-framed apartment building that is the first in North America to meet the passive house standard.

The Heights

Prefabricate all wooden components in the factory to save significant time and reduce costs.

In the case of King Edward Villa, the high population density and limited urban space meant that there was insufficient construction space on-site. In this situation, only factory prefabrication of wooden components could meet the stringent on-site construction requirements, while also significantly shortening the construction period.

Richard Wong, the project manager for the King Edward villa project, said, "Using prefabricated components allowed us to complete the structural framework of this building in just two months."

King Edward multi-story timber-framed apartment building in Vancouver

"The use of high-grade timber and high-precision components means that we are able to build higher-quality homes at a competitive cost."

It is estimated that factory-prefabricated timber frame structures can save approximately 15% to 20% in costs compared to other materials.

Furthermore, StructureCraft, a heavy timber structure manufacturer, recently designed and built a factory building for its own plant, completing the structural construction in just five days. In the past, similar industrial buildings were typically constructed using precast concrete wall panels and steel roofs; however, StructureCraft's factory is entirely designed with wood. Its cost is comparable to that of precast concrete wall panels, but the timber structure significantly improves energy efficiency and enhances architectural aesthetics.

StructureCraft's new factory

"We not only built a low-cost timber industrial building quickly and efficiently, but also demonstrated the potential of timber in industrial construction," said Lucas Epp, engineering manager at StructureCraft.

Wood can help buildings meet and exceed energy efficiency standards.

Due to the inherent thermal insulation properties of wood, designers can achieve higher energy efficiency in buildings, and the low thermal conductivity of wood also makes it an ideal material for building passive houses.

Upon completion, The Heights project will become Canada's largest single "passive house"-an ultra-low-energy building-proving that traditional timber-framed designs are highly energy efficient in new high-performance buildings.

Located in Vancouver, a six-story timber-framed apartment building that is the first in North America to meet the passive house standard.

The Heights

"The Heights project uses wood with better thermal insulation and has an extremely high airtight building envelope, making it one of the most energy-efficient new buildings in Canada," said Chris Higgins, a green building planner for the City of Vancouver.

Higgins stated that wood is an excellent natural insulator, minimizing the "thermal bridging effect" or heat loss. It is also well-suited for constructing airtight buildings because structural plywood can effectively seal with the timber frame, forming a natural air insulation barrier. Furthermore, the building is equipped with a heat recovery system and a robust fresh air system to promote indoor air circulation, meaning that this wooden building will save at least a staggering 90% on energy costs compared to conventional buildings.

The Heights project is a long-term investment for the developer, and operating costs must be strictly controlled. Once completed, the project will consume 80% less energy than the minimum standard in the specifications.

Reduce carbon emissions through sustainable building

For developers, timber is the only renewable building material. British Columbia, Canada, not only boasts abundant forestry resources but is also a world leader in sustainable forest management. Replanting occurs after logging. New seedlings begin absorbing carbon dioxide, while discarded building materials are fully biodegradable and recyclable.

British Columbia implements some of the world's strictest standards for sustainable forest management.

The amount of carbon dioxide stored in the wood used in the King Edward condominium project is equivalent to the carbon emissions of 575 cars driving on the road for a year. It is precisely this exceptional low-carbon characteristic that has driven some Vancouver developers to choose wood as a building material in their new projects.

Wood is warm and beautiful. Studies have shown that the use of wood in construction can have a positive impact on residents to some extent. Living in a wooden house can relieve stress and lower blood pressure and heart rate.

Due to the advantages of low cost, good insulation, and short construction time, timber structures are increasingly being used by developers in new building projects.