B.C. supports mass timber demonstration projects

Key Takeaways:

• B.C. is investing $2 million—$500,000 each—in four projects through the Mass Timber Demonstration Program to de-risk and showcase mass-timber construction.
• The funded projects span the province and uses: Nexus (Penticton) mixed-use offices/daycare/retail; Indigenous affordable housing (Surrey) with 78 below-market units; Cube 2.0 (Nelson) three-storey climbing gym; and Willow House (Vancouver), a 12-storey Ronald McDonald House adding 75 units.
• The program aims to scale local manufacturing and expertise, share technical lessons with industry, and bolster B.C.’s forest-based economy—bringing the MTDP’s tally to 24 demonstration buildings and eight research projects to date.

The Whole Story:

B.C. is providing $2 million to four building projects to demonstrate the benefits of mass-timber construction, the province announced at the 2025 International Woodrise Congress in Vancouver.

Each project will receive $500,000 through Forestry Innovation Investment, a provincial Crown corporation. The funding comes from the fourth intake of the Mass Timber Demonstration Program (MTDP), which supports first-time or incremental costs tied to design, permitting and construction, and shares lessons learned with industry.

“Mass timber represents a transformative, locally sourced solution that’s generating significant employment opportunities, spurring cutting-edge innovation, and revitalizing rural economies across British Columbia,” Jobs and Economic Growth Minister Ravi Kahlon said. “Through our continued strategic investments in projects throughout the province, we’re positioning B.C. as a leader in mass-timber construction, while building the foundation for sustained, long-term economic growth that will benefit communities for generations to come.”

Forests Minister Ravi Parmar said the investments aim to protect jobs and grow the forestry sector. “Mass timber is the future of construction and British Columbia is leading the way. By investing in these projects now, we are creating a new avenue of opportunity for forestry,” he said.

The recipients are:

• Nexus, Penticton — a six-storey post-and-beam, mixed-use building with four floors of offices above daycare and ground-level retail.
• Indigenous affordable housing, Surrey — an eight-storey mass-timber hybrid providing 78 below-market rental units led by the Fraser Region Aboriginal Friendship Centre Association.
• Cube 2.0, Nelson — a three-storey, Olympic-level climbing facility intended to replace an existing structure and highlight sustainable practices in a rural setting.
• Willow House, Vancouver — a 12-storey Ronald McDonald House BC & Yukon project adding 75 units to accommodate families visiting BC Children’s Hospital.

“As an urban Indigenous organization we are proud to be a part of the Mass Timber Demonstration Program,” said Leslie Varley, interim executive director of the Fraser Region Aboriginal Friendship Centre Association. “Wood has been central to our way of life and by weaving it into modern urban housing, we offer our clients homes that feel connected to nature and welcoming in spirit.”

Rocky Sethi, managing director at Stryke Group, said the Penticton Nexus building will use “regionally harvested and manufactured mass timber for efficient and effective construction,” adding occupants will benefit from “the natural, biophilic benefits of mass timber – proven to deliver greater employee health, satisfaction and retention.”

The province says the MTDP is intended to help reduce perceived risks around mass-timber adoption, scale up innovative practices and improve production capabilities, with the goal of expanding B.C.’s wood products and expertise to global markets. With the latest intake, the program counts 24 demonstration buildings and eight research projects.

The International Woodrise Congress brings together mass-timber and sustainable building experts from more than 30 countries, and B.C. estimates it holds about 15 per cent of North American mass-timber manufacturing capacity. The province says the sector includes more than 130 architectural firms, 40 engineering firms and 115 builders.