Mass timber has allowed Canada’s construction industry to build stronger, faster, and at scale using natural materials. Recent projects and building code changes across Canada show that the limits for wood buildings are climbing higher, which makes even more widespread adoption more attainable. But just how tall can a building be built with wood?
Can Mass Timber Be Used Like Concrete or Steel?
Currently, mass timber can be most effectively used in conjunction with other building materials like concrete and steel. While there are significant advantages of using mass timber over concrete and steel, such as faster construction, it also comes with unique limitations related to structural properties, moisture, fire protection, and cost.
In terms of function, mass timber has been used for the following building types:
- Residential
- Mixed-Use
- Office
- Institutional
The Role Of Hybrid Construction
Many projects use hybrid systems that combine wood with steel or concrete, using each material where it performs best. For example, concrete cores are often used for shear walls or stairwells to provide added stability in taller timber buildings. This approach leverages the best properties of each material, allowing for the creation of taller, more resilient, structures.
| Aspect | Mass Timber | Concrete and Steel |
| Weight | Much lighter; reduces foundation load. | Heavier; requires larger foundations. |
| Structural capacity | Strong but less load-bearing; grain-dependent. | Very strong; uniform strength in all directions. |
| Environmental impact | Low carbon; renewable and carbon-sequestering. | High carbon; energy-intensive production. |
| Construction speed and precision | Prefabricated; faster, quieter, less labor. | Slower; weather-dependent on-site work. |
| Moisture vulnerability | Absorbs moisture; needs protection. | Moisture-proof and rot-resistant. |
| Fire performance | Chars to self-insulate; needs protection systems. | Fire-resistant; steel weakens under heat. |
| Cost | Variable; prefabrication can save time. | Predictable; established pricing systems. |
| Supply chain | Emerging; limited suppliers and capacity. | Mature and globally established. |
Mass Timber Breakthroughs Across Canada
For many years, Canadian building codes capped wood-frame structures at 4 to 6 storeys due to fire safety concerns. This began to change with the advent of encapsulated mass timber construction: large engineered wood elements like CLT panels and glulam beams protected by fire-resistant materials.
New Provisions That Allowed Taller Mass Timber Structures
The 2020 National Building Code of Canada (NBC) introduced provisions allowing mass timber buildings up to 12 storeys tall. Provincial codes have quickly followed suit or even gone further:
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British Columbia
B.C. raised its height limit for wood buildings to 12 storeys in 2019. Since then, the tallest hybrid wood building is an 18-storey student residence in Vancouver.
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Ontario
The province announced plans to amend the code again to allow wood buildings as tall as 18 storeys, a change anticipated to take effect after reviewing a joint task force study with B.C. and Quebec. A 9-storey, 58-unit complex in Etobicoke is set to open this year as the tallest mass timber residential building in the GTA.
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Quebec
Quebec is also embracing taller wood construction. After allowing 12-storey timber buildings under the NBC guidelines, Quebec officials are working alongside other provinces on code updates to permit heights up to 18 storeys.
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Alberta
Alberta became the first province to broadly allow 12-storey wood construction in early 2020, ahead of the national code cycle. This variance acknowledged that modern mass timber products meet rigorous fire and structural standards.
Right now, Canadian builders can generally construct mass timber buildings up to 12 stories tall in most major provinces, but even taller limits are on the horizon. Each code change undergoes careful analysis by engineers and fire safety experts, ensuring that high-rise timber projects can be built to meet safety requirements.
Current Examples of Tall Mass Timber Buildings
Canada has already demonstrated how high we can build with mass timber through several groundbreaking projects. Notable examples include:
Brock Commons (Vancouver, BC)
An 18-storey student residence completed in 2017, which at the time was the tallest mass timber building in the world. This iconic project at UBC showed that engineered wood, when paired with concrete cores and rigorous fire design, can reach high-rise heights.
Origine Tower (Quebec City, QC)
A 13-storey residential condominium tower completed in 2017, and one of the tallest all-wood condo buildings in North America. Origine’s success in Quebec City demonstrated mass timber’s viability in eastern Canada’s urban environment.
Limberlose Place (Toronto, ON)
A cutting-edge 10-storey academic building for George Brown College’s waterfront campus opened in January 2025. As Toronto’s first tall wood institutional building, Limberlose Place used about 3,000 cubic meters of timber.
These projects illustrate that Canadian cities are already home to mid-rise and high-rise timber buildings. They stand as proof-of-concept that mass timber, when managed and constructed expertly, can reach heights of 10+ storeys while meeting structural and safety standards.
See Loftin’s Recently Completed Mass Timber Projects
How Much Higher Can Mass Timber Go?
With 18-storey timber-hybrid buildings becoming reality in Canada, the next question is how much taller might future wood towers rise. Globally, engineers have already pushed the envelope beyond our current Canadian limits.
The World’s Tallest Timber Structures
In 2022, the world’s tallest mass timber tower, Ascent MKE in Milwaukee (USA), opened at 25 storeys (284 feet) high. This 25-storey milestone, achieved with a hybrid timber-concrete design, leapfrogged the previous record holder, an 18-story timber tower in Norway. From a technical standpoint, mass timber high-rises of 20+ floors are achievable.
Continuing Innovations In Mass Timber Engineering
Engineers are exploring innovations like stronger engineered-wood components, structural steel reinforcement, and concrete cores to support these heights. Each increase in height comes with careful consideration of factors like wind forces, seismic performance, and fire safety. Research and successful precedent projects are steadily expanding what’s possible.
Canada’s Industry Position
Canada is not far behind. Builders and developers here have proposed ever-taller wood buildings that push the boundaries of design. One ambitious example is the Canada Earth Tower, a concept proposal for a timber skyscraper roughly 35–40 storeys tall in Vancouver. Canada’s plentiful wood resources and innovative builders position us to be global leaders in this arena. The ceiling will continue to rise.
Managing Mass Timber Projects for Success
Building taller with mass timber requires precise project management and construction expertise. Components are often prefabricated off-site, schedules can be faster, and coordination needs are paramount. Here are some keys to success when taking on a tall wood construction project in Canada:
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Early Collaboration
Engage architects, engineers, and contractors early for integrated design-build.
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Supply Chain & Logistics
Project managers and manufacturers must coordinate timely prefab timber deliveries,
crane logistics, and material staging efficiently.
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Quality and Compliance
General contractors must ensure precise timber connections, trained crews, strict inspections, moisture protection, and compliance with timber fire safety standards.
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Risk Management and Cost Control
Experienced management anticipates timber challenges, ensuring efficient, timely, cost-competitive construction through proactive oversight.
Leading firms like Loftin Management who specialize in overseeing mass timber projects bring valuable expertise. The importance of this know-how cannot be overstated; it can mean the difference between a smooth, on-time build and costly delays or issues. As mass timber moves into more high-rise builds, the right construction partner is key to success.
See All Our Mass Timber Projects
Building Higher with Confidence
Achieving these new feats in mass timber construction requires expertise and trust. Loftin Management exemplifies the professionalism and innovation needed to make tall wood buildings a reality. By combining cutting-edge engineering with meticulous project management, Canada’s builders are proving that timber can stand toe-to-toe with concrete and steel, even in high-rise applications.
The question “How tall can we build with mass timber?” is being answered a little higher each year, and with the right team in place, the possibilities for Canada’s skylines are truly exciting and inviting.