Ontario Construction News staff writer
The federal government has announced $6 million for four green construction and technology initiatives across Ontario, aimed at promoting the use of low-carbon and processed wood materials.
The funding includes more than $900,000 for Assembly Corp. to develop a seismic system and design for a 62-unit, all-wood residential building in Toronto. The eight-storey, mixed-use rental building will serve as a model for future projects across several sites, advancing sustainable construction practices that reduce the environmental impact of the industry.
“Thanks to NRCAN’s support, we’re able to create an efficient and sustainable eight-storey panelized wood building product,” said Geoff Cape, CEO of Assembly Corp. “This design is a repeatable solution that can be applied to various purpose-built rental sites, with prefabricated construction methods significantly reducing timelines and addressing Canada’s housing needs.”
In Barrie, Sean Mason Homes will receive $1 million for the Rainwater Condominium project, a five-storey, 38-unit development using a hybrid timber-and-steel system. The project aims to deliver a cost-effective and sustainable model for mid-rise and higher buildings, with a focus on scalability for future developments in the area.
“This building is the world’s first to combine cross-laminated timber, cold-formed steel walls, and geothermal energy,” said Sean Mason, founder of the company.
The funding also includes:
- $1 million to Post Office Limited Partnership to implement a sustainable wood-based solution for a major renovation of a heritage post office in Oshawa, adding nine storeys and providing 219 new rental units in the growing community.
- More than $3 million to Timmerman Timberworks to develop and certify next-generation mass timber products, including the creation of the first fully automated precision-engineered nail-laminated timber production line.
Altogether, these projects will add more than 300 new housing units to Ontario’s residential stock.
“Investing in Canadian timber not only supports forestry jobs but also helps us meet broader goals such as increasing housing supply and lowering emissions,” said Jonathan Wilkinson, minister of natural resources. “By supporting the use of low-carbon Canadian wood in construction, the Government of Canada is bolstering local economies and strengthening communities, all while prioritizing environmental sustainability.”
The funding comes from Natural Resources Canada’s Green Construction through Wood (GCWood) and Investments in Forest Industry Transformation programs.
