Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, has announced over $1.5 million in federal funding for three projects promoting prefabricated wood construction in British Columbia. These investments, provided through Natural Resources Canada’s Green Construction through Wood (GCWood) program, aim to advance sustainable construction, enhance the use of Canadian wood products, and support innovation in the forestry and construction sectors.

1. British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) – $995,000
   • BCIT will construct the Robert Bosa Carpentry Pavilion, a two-storey, mass timber educational facility.
   • The structure will incorporate glulam columns and beams, cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels, and meet zero-carbon, Passive House, LEED Gold, and Rick Hansen certification standards.
   • It will serve as a hub for mass timber education, supporting British Columbia’s climate and sustainability goals.
2. Prefab Buildings Initiative – $300,000
   • This project will develop energy-efficient, prefabricated mass timber building designs to address housing shortages.
   • A design workshop will finalize multi-unit building prototypes, fostering collaboration among manufacturers to streamline housing production.
   • The initiative will accelerate the adoption of cost-effective, prefabricated housing models, including hotels, apartment retrofits, and seniors’ residences.
3. Scius Advisory – $219,870
   • Scius will develop an interactive online directory of prefabrication companies across Canada.
   • The platform will feature a map of green construction material suppliers, aiding builders and policymakers in sourcing sustainable building solutions.
   • The project is expected to lower construction costs, reduce building timelines, and expand the availability of affordable, sustainable housing.

The federal government’s investment in prefabricated wood construction supports the construction industry’s transition to greener practices, while strengthening Canada’s forestry sector. These projects will help reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, improve housing affordability, and accelerate the use of innovative wood-based technologies.

Minister Wilkinson highlighted the benefits of Canadian timber in creating jobs, reducing emissions, and addressing housing challenges. BCIT’s Dr. Jeff Zabudsky emphasized the institution’s role in sustainable trades training, while Andrew Bowerbank of the Prefab Buildings Initiative and Mark Devereux of Scius Advisory praised the GCWood program’s impact on advancing prefabrication and green building technologies.

Since its launch in 2017, GCWood has invested $14.7 million in nine British Columbia projects and 35 initiatives nationwide, promoting taller and more sustainable wood buildings as part of Canada’s 2030 and 2050 emissions reduction targets.

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