Mass timber gains momentum in mid-rise housing as Mercer launches rapid planning tool

Published on May 27, 2026 Time: loading...

Concept illustration of a multi-story wooden building with open shelving units facing a sidewalk on a corner lot.

Mass timber construction is moving closer to mainstream adoption in Canada’s mid-rise housing sector as developers search for faster and lower-carbon building solutions. A new digital platform developed by Mercer Mass Timber is expected to simplify the early-stage evaluation of hybrid timber structures for architects and developers.

The free planning tool, called BuildSpec, was created in partnership with ZGF Architects and Fast + Epp. The platform enables project teams to assess structural systems and carbon impacts within minutes during the conceptual design phase.

According to Ricardo Brites, director of engineering and VDC at Mercer Mass Timber, the platform addresses one of the largest barriers facing engineered wood adoption. Critical structural and cost information is often unavailable during the earliest design stages. As a result, many developments move forward with conventional concrete and steel systems before timber options are fully considered.

BuildSpec was designed to reduce that delay. The software generates immediate comparisons between hybrid structural systems. Architects can review embodied carbon estimates alongside structural performance while massing models are still being developed.

Mass timber products, including cross-laminated timber (CLT), are increasingly being considered for residential developments across North America. These engineered wood products are manufactured by bonding layers of timber panels into strong structural components suitable for multi-story construction.

Hybrid systems are becoming especially important. Timber is often combined with steel and concrete to maximize structural efficiency and manage project costs. Brites stated that the strongest projects are rarely built from a single material alone. Instead, materials are selected according to their individual performance advantages.

Cost competitiveness remains central to the sector’s future. Brites explained that affordability will ultimately determine whether engineered wood products achieve widespread use in housing construction.

Prefabrication continues to strengthen the appeal of mass timber systems. Structural components are digitally modeled and manufactured off-site before delivery to construction locations. Installation timelines can therefore be reduced significantly. Project coordination challenges are also resolved earlier in the design process.

Construction delays can be minimized through this approach. On-site disruptions may also be reduced. These efficiencies are increasingly valued in housing markets facing labor shortages and rising construction costs.

Environmental performance is another major driver. The City of Vancouver estimates that mass timber structures can reduce embodied carbon emissions by 25 to 45 percent compared with conventional concrete and steel buildings. BuildSpec highlights these carbon metrics during the earliest planning stages, helping project teams evaluate sustainability targets more effectively.

Canada has emerged as one of North America’s leading markets for engineered wood construction. British Columbia remains particularly active due to supportive government policies, strong forestry resources, and growing housing demand.

Several landmark projects have contributed to market confidence. Developments such as Brock Commons Tallwood House at the University of British Columbia demonstrated the viability of tall timber buildings and accelerated industry interest in mass timber systems.

Policy support has also expanded. New building regulations in parts of Canada are encouraging more standardized mid-rise housing developments using timber-based construction methods. Manufacturing capacity for engineered wood products has increased alongside this regulatory support.

Brites believes North America is now experiencing a market transition already seen in Europe. During his earlier work in the United Kingdom, he observed mass timber evolve from a niche solution into a more widely accepted construction material. Projects delivered by firms including Lendlease, Mace, and Berkeley Homes contributed to that shift.

The North American market is currently progressing beyond demonstration projects toward broader commercial adoption. Industry stakeholders are increasingly focused on repeatable housing delivery systems rather than isolated showcase developments.

Housing supply pressures are reinforcing this urgency. The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation estimates that between 430,000 and 480,000 new homes must be built annually by 2035 to restore affordability levels across the country.

Mass timber advocates argue that scalable prefabricated systems can help address this demand. Faster construction timelines, lower carbon emissions, and improved digital coordination are being positioned as major advantages for the sector.

The success of engineered wood products, however, will continue to depend on economics. Developers are expected to prioritize systems capable of balancing sustainability goals with predictable construction costs. Hybrid timber structures may therefore represent the industry’s most practical path forward in the evolving mid-rise housing market.