A mass revolution
March 4, 2025
The construction industry is evolving, and mass timber is at the center of a major change. Shift by Alberta Innovates recently examined this evolution with a a two-part episode on mass timber.
March 4, 2025
The construction industry is evolving, and mass timber is at the center of a major change. Shift by Alberta Innovates recently examined this evolution with a a two-part episode on mass timber.
Shift by Alberta Innovates recently featured a two-part episode on mass timber, and what it can mean for the construction industry. We also explored the role C-FER Technologies played in running full-scale tests to determine the limits of the technology.
In part one, we explored how this material is reshaping the way we build, offering sustainability, strength, and new opportunities for construction.
Brent Olund, founder of Greencore Structures, describes mass timber as engineered wood elements glued together for increased strength. Unlike traditional stick-frame construction, mass timber creates larger, stronger, and more uniform panels.
Mass timber offers a sustainable alternative to concrete and steel. It reduces the carbon footprint by using rapidly renewable trees and storing carbon within buildings. Additionally, prefabricated panels streamline construction, minimizing waste and accelerating build times.
Brent’s experience overseeing the 18-storey Brock Commons Tallwood House (pictured above) at UBC highlighted a key challenge: traditional concrete cores take significant time to construct.
Greencore Structures is addressing this by pioneering mass timber core systems that match the speed of timber structures, making tall wooden buildings more feasible than ever.
👉 Listen to part one: From trees to towers: the mass timber revolution now!
In part two, we explored C-FER Technologies' role in testing Greencore Structures' panel system. This full-scale testing showcased the remarkable strength of mass timber and highlighted the importance of rigorous engineering evaluations in advancing construction technology.
One of the key takeaways was the staggering load-bearing capacity of Greencore’s panels. Initial tests had shown the panels withstood forces of 400,000 to 500,000 pounds without any damage, but as engineers will tell you, you need push materials to their breaking point. In a final phase of testing, C-FER’s 3.5-million-pound Universal Testing System (pictured at left) was brought into play, tearing the material apart to determine its actual over strength.
This kind of destructive testing is essential, as it provides the data necessary to set reliable engineering standards, ensuring safety and performance in real-world applications.
C-FER Technologies has built a reputation as a real-world "MythBusters" for industrial testing, serving industries ranging from aerospace to nuclear energy. Its full-scale testing facilities allow for controlled experiments under precisely monitored conditions, helping engineers to pinpoint weaknesses and improve designs iteratively. The results from these tests do not just validate the technology, they actively inform and enhance its development.
Beyond the technical achievements, we also touched on a broader issue within the construction industry: declining productivity. Despite advancements in materials and methods, construction workers today build fewer square feet per person than they did in 1960. There are many reasons, ranging from increased regulatory complexity to workforce training gaps, but the effect is clear: there is a growing need for more efficient building solutions.
Brent and the team at Greencore believe the key to solving this problem is in changing how we build, not just what we build with. Their approach involves creating larger, prefabricated panels that can be assembled using cranes rather than relying on extensive manual labour, not only speeding up construction timelines but also improving safety, reducing waste, and enhancing sustainability.
The data gathered from these tests will directly influence the design of taller, more resilient, and more sustainable buildings across Canada and beyond. With the housing crisis at the forefront of national discussions, innovations like these could play a crucial role in delivering high-quality, low-carbon buildings at scale.
As Greencore moves forward with its development roadmap, the next challenge is to determine how many storeys its core system can support, while maintaining structural integrity in various seismic conditions. With the insights gained from C-FER’s rigorous testing, the company is well on its way to proving that mass timber is not only a viable alternative to traditional materials but could be a superior one.
👉 Listen to part two now: From trees to towers: the mass timber revolution PART 2 now!