Wood Construction in Quebec and Canada: Tall Buildings, Low Footprint

Wood construction is making a comeback in Quebec and Canada. It is neither a passing trend nor a nod to the past, but a concrete response to current challenges: decarbonization, construction speed, and quality of life. New regulations allow for high-rise wooden buildings, the industrial supply is strengthening, and cities are looking for clean and fast solutions. As a result, wooden buildings are no longer the exception. They are becoming a common sight, from mid-rise to very tall structures.

A Regulatory Framework That Changed the Game

The turning point came with the 2020 National Building Code. It incorporated mass timber construction and allowed wooden buildings up to twelve stories, depending on usage, with specific fire safety and encapsulation requirements. This national recognition legitimized the material beyond single-family homes, particularly for multi-unit housing and certain public facilities.

In British Columbia, a code update announced in spring 2024 expanded the use of mass timber and allowed buildings up to eighteen stories, covering a wider range of functions such as housing, schools, and some commercial spaces. This regulatory move triggered rapid skill development in the local industry, from architects to contractors.

In Quebec, the Régie du bâtiment initially supported the implementation of encapsulated mass timber up to twelve stories with detailed guides and requirements. Then, in 2025, it approved the possibility of going up to eighteen stories depending on usage, specifying required protections and performance standards. The message is clear: the framework is no longer a barrier; it is a clear and auditable path for designing and building with wood.

Popularity: Climate, Speed, Capabilities

Interest is rising not just because the law allows it. Wood meets three powerful drivers:

• Climate: Wood stores carbon and helps reduce the intrinsic footprint—the impact associated with materials and the construction site. As building operations become more efficient, this component weighs more heavily in the total environmental assessment. Canadian publications on material carbon footprints highlight this lever in a credible trajectory toward 2030 and 2050.
  
  
• Speed: Encapsulated mass timber relies on precise prefabrication. Components arrive ready to install, floors go up quickly, and sites are calmer and easier to manage. In urban areas, saving a few weeks changes the financial costs, nuisances, and time to market. Federal programs like GCWood accelerate the sharing of experience and tools.
  
  
• Capabilities: Canada is investing in the industry: factories, engineering, training. With support from provinces and targeted programs, supply is increasing, quality is standardizing, and perceived risks are decreasing. This industrial dynamic strengthens local availability of products and skills.

Key Benefits for Developers and Occupants

• Sustainability: Compared to highly emissive materials, wood has a favorable carbon footprint, provided sustainable forestry practices and rigorous life-cycle analysis are applied. Forest sequestration and storage in construction combine to support ambitious climate goals.
  
  
• Speed and Precision: Mass timber is particularly suitable for residential buildings. Repetitive layouts, controlled tolerances, and anticipating interfaces in digital models secure schedules and reduce on-site uncertainties.
  
  
• Comfort and Spatial Quality: Controlled exposure of wood indoors, when allowed by code, creates warm atmospheres. Well-designed structures offer good acoustic and thermal performance, becoming a real asset to attract and retain occupants.

And Fire Safety

This question always arises. How can a wooden building rise to twelve or eighteen stories safely? The answer lies in the principle of encapsulation. Mass timber elements are sized to maintain their load-bearing capacity through controlled charring and are protected by systems like gypsum. Codes also require detection, sprinklers, compartmentalization, and interface details. We are not talking about light framing, but a complete system whose fire performance is measured and verified.

Concrete Example: Le Merlo in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield

In Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, le Merlo places wood at the heart of the project. Apartments are designed for everyday life and are set in a green environment, close to services. The construction progresses quickly, as observed by ALYZÉ, showing controlled execution and well-prepared market launch. This is exactly what is expected from a mass timber project: a warm atmosphere, streamlined construction, and a clear material identity that resonates with future tenants.

Such operations show the coherence between the material and the promised experience. Rational structure, readable volumes, high-performance envelope, warm identity: wood becomes both a narrative thread for marketing and a lever for technical performance.

Where the Market is Heading

The trajectory is clear. In the short term, we will mostly see six- to twelve-story mass timber projects in urban centers. Gradually, more ambitious projects will follow, rising to eighteen stories where regulations allow. As volumes increase, costs will stabilize and the supply chain will become smoother. Lessons learned in British Columbia will inspire other provinces. In Quebec, the opening to eighteen stories and the strength of the forestry and industrial sectors offer a real advantage.

Conclusion

Wood construction is now a credible option for building faster, with a reduced carbon footprint and high-quality living spaces. Regulations have reached key milestones, the industry has embraced the transition, and concrete examples are multiplying. The question is no longer whether we can build with wood, but how to do it intelligently, project by project, taking advantage of the regulatory framework and best practices.