Interior daytime view of Grandview Heights Aquatic Centre family activity area showing families below with glulam-cable prefab roof assembly above

Wood performance

Grandview Heights Aquatic Centre | Photo credit: Ema Peter Photography, courtesy hcma
The ceiling of a large room, with an intricate circular design of wood and lights

Wood is a high-performance building material

Durable and strong, wood buildings are built to last. They’re resilient in the face of earthquakes, wind and fire. From light-frame and mass timber to new hybrid designs, wood construction is meeting and exceeding rigorous performance standards. Wood offers distinctive value from its aesthetic warmth and health benefits to its versatility and smaller carbon footprint when compared with steel and concrete.

Abbotsford Senior Secondary School | Photo credit: Aaron Millar, courtesy of CHP Architects

A view looking up to teenagers standing at the railings of two levels of a circular atrium, which has a wooden geometric design in the centre of the ceiling.

Acoustics

Wood’s natural characteristics can improve a building’s acoustic performance through thoughtful design.

Glue-laminated timber (Glulam), and decorative plywood ceiling paneling bring structure and warmth to this daytime exterior view of the Prince George Airport Expansion entrance roof

Durability

Durable and strong, wood is a resilient material that can provide decades, even centuries, of service. Today’s modern timber buildings are built to perform in the event of fire, strong winds, earthquakes and the wear and tear of time. ​

Interior afternoon view showing entrance and lobby atrium of six storey Wood Innovation and Design Centre complete with Glue-laminated timber (Glulam) columns supporting Cross-laminated timber (CLT) ceiling sections

Fire Protection

Wood is fire safe. Timber buildings are designed to meet the same level of fire performance as those made from other materials, making them just as safe as steel and concrete.

Interior view of low rise VanDusen Botanical Garden visitor center lobby featuring a prefabricated wooden ceiling made in the form of an inverted flower

Health

Wood is good for our health. Research is showing that incorporating wood and natural materials into our buildings—sometimes called biophilic design—can reduce stress and contribute to good mental health.

Nail laminated timber (NLT) solid-wood decking, used for the roof panels, is shown in this exterior vehicle bay image of the low-rise hybrid Steveston Fire Hall No. 2

Resilience

Wood structures can withstand earthquakes, wind and fire. In the aftermath of an unfortunate disaster, wood is a versatile and resilient building material well-suited to repairing and rebuilding structures.

Exterior winter shot in the mountains of a snow-covered lodge with glulam beams supporting the roof.

Thermal

Wood has a lower thermal conductivity compared to concrete, steel-frame, and masonry construction and is well-suited to energy-efficient design.

A stack of laminated slats sit in the foreground while 2 construction workers work together in the background during the construction of the Wood Innovation and Design Centre

Value and versatility

With its distinct properties, wood’s versatility is vast. The new possibilities in timber architecture are capturing the imaginations of today’s design and construction professionals.

A close-up of a table where people are meeting. One person has a pad of paper and a pen, ready to write.

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