B.C. advances new mass-timber demonstration projects
Press Release
Sept. 23, 2025
VANCOUVER – Four new buildings in B.C. are each receiving $500,000 — totalling $2 million — to demonstrate and showcase the benefits of mass-timber construction.
“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,” said Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Jobs and Economic Growth. “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.”
The four projects were announced at the 2025 International Woodrise Congress, an international conference on tall-wood and sustainable construction hosted in Vancouver this year.
The projects were selected through the fourth intake of B.C.’s Mass Timber Demonstration Program (MTDP), which helps local builders, designers and manufacturers advance their use of mass timber technologies, scale up innovative construction practices and improve production capabilities, while creating new skilled jobs, supporting climate-smart development and strengthening B.C.’s forest-based economy. These demonstration projects help lessen the risk of implementing mass timber in B.C., paving the way to export B.C. wood and expertise to global markets.
“Building in B.C. with homegrown wood will protect jobs, support local economies and strengthen our forestry sector for generations to come,” said Ravi Parmar, Minister of Forests. “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.”
Each project will receive $500,000, delivered through the Province’s Crown corporation Forestry Innovation Investment. The four projects are:
- Nexus, a six-storey mass-timber project in Penticton that includes four storeys of office space, a daycare and retail space;
- an Indigenous affordable housing project in Surrey that will be an eight-storey tall mass-timber hybrid building that will offer 78 below-market rental units;
- Cube 2.0, a three-storey climbing gym in Nelson that will be an Olympic-level facility that showcases sustainable practices in a rural setting; and
- the Ronald McDonald House BC & Yukon’s Willow House, a 12-storey build that will provide 75 units allowing the charity to accommodate twice as many families visiting Children’s Hospital in Vancouver.
“As an urban Indigenous organization we are proud to be a part of the Mass Timber Demonstration Program,” said Leslie Varley, interim executive director, 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.”
The MTDP provides funding to support the design and construction of mass-timber buildings that demonstrate emerging or new mass-timber building systems and construction processes. Information and lessons learned from funded projects will be shared with B.C.’s building industry to expand technical knowledge and capacity within the sector, and to advance the widespread use of mass timber.
“Nexus will be a landmark medical office building at the gateway to the Innovation District in Penticton, co-developed by Stryke Group and Tien Sher,” said Rocky Sethi, managing director, Stryke Group. “Our team will harness regionally harvested and manufactured mass timber for efficient and effective construction. Occupants of the space will benefit from the natural, biophilic benefits of mass timber – proven to deliver greater employee health, satisfaction and retention.”
With the new projects the program will have 24 demonstration buildings and eight research projects that are all actively growing B.C.’s mass-timber, engineered-wood-products industry.
Quick Facts:
- The Mass Timber Demonstration Program was launched in 2020 to support early adopters of mass timber.
- Government is leading by example, with 41 capital construction projects incorporating mass timber having been announced since 2021, and more that have been approved or are in business case development.
- International Woodrise Congress 2025 brings together global experts in mass timber and sustainable building from more than 30 countries.
- B.C. commands 15% of North America’s mass-timber manufacturing capacity.
- B.C.’s sector growth includes more than 130 architectural firms, 40 engineering firms and 115 builders.
Learn More:
International Woodrise Congress 2025: https://www.destinationvancouver.com/woodrise-2025/
For more information about FPInnovations and the International Woodrise Congress, visit: https://web.fpinnovations.ca/woodrise2025
To read the Mass Timber Action Plan, visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/business/construction-industry/bc_masstimber_action_plan_2022.pdf
For more information about B.C.’s mass-timber sector, visit: gov.bc.ca/masstimber
For more information about the MTDP and its projects, visit: https://www.masstimberbc.ca and https://naturallywood.com
A list of the new building projects from this MTDP announcement is in the following backgrounder.
Contact:
Ministry of Jobs and Economic Growth
Media Relations
250 883-5179
BACKGROUNDER
Mass Timber Demonstration Program – fourth 2025 Intake recipients, project summaries
The Mass Timber Demonstration Program has awarded a combined $2 million to four B.C.-based developers, building owners and non-profitorganizations to support the incremental or first-time costs of mass timber design development, permitting and construction activities.
The following are grant recipients and project descriptions:
1704 Government Street Limited Partnership – Nexus ($500,000):
This six-storey post-and-beam project features four storeys of offices over one storey of daycare and ground-level retail, and is the first office building in a seven-phase master plan community of 12 buildings and 1,500 homes in Penticton. It will serve as a proof of concept for other developers and a template for the cost-effective use of mass timber in mixed-use mid-rise buildings.
Fraser Region Aboriginal Friendship Centre Association – Indigenous affordable housing project ($500,000):
This eight-storey mass timber hybrid building in Surrey, will provide 78 rental units at a significantly below market rate in a culturally appropriate living environment. By documenting best practices in design, construction and community engagement, the project team’s goal is to help others looking for approaches that are both economically viable and culturally relevant.
Kootenay Climbing Association – Cube 2.0 – climbing gym ($500,000):
The three-storey Cube 2.0 project in Nelson will replace the existing wood structure and create an Olympic-level climbing facility that uses mass timber to address growing recreational demand, while showcasing sustainable practices in a rural setting. The project will support community health and social interaction, boost local tourism, and, by leveraging the expertise of local manufacturers, emphasize local economic growth.
The Children’s House Society of BC, operating as Ronald McDonald House Charities BC & Yukon – Ronald McDonald House BC & Yukon’s Willow House ($500,000):
Building on the success of the first mass timber Ronald McDonald House, Heather House, the 12-storey Willow House will provide 75 units, allowing the charity to accommodate twice as many families visiting Children’s Hospital in Vancouver. One of the goals in designing Willow House is to expand industry-wide knowledge and acceptability of mass timber lateral-resisting systems, leading to reduced costs and more mass timber projects.
Contact:
Ministry of Jobs and Economic Growth
Media Relations
250 883-5179
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