CACDCR Construction News staff writer
George Brown College’s (GBC) Limberlost Place has helped trigger major changes to Ontario’s building codes and is playing a key role in the province’s strategy to grow its mass timber construction sector, college officials say.
The 10-storey academic building—Canada’s first institutional structure made from mass timber and designed to achieve net-zero carbon emissions—has served as a catalyst for the Ontario government’s Advanced Wood Construction Action Plan, unveiled on June 26.
“As our government delivers on its plan to protect and build Ontario, this action plan will help promote and prioritize wood-based building with made-in-Ontario wood construction products,” said Natural Resources Minister Mike Harris in a statement. “Advanced wood construction is a new opportunity that can help get more homes built faster and build a stronger, more competitive forest sector that can withstand whatever comes our way.”
The action plan outlines four goals:
- Promote awareness and use of advanced wood construction
- Remove regulatory barriers in codes and standards
- Stimulate innovation and investment in advanced manufacturing
- Showcase successful projects to build industry confidence
Limberlost Place embodies all four goals.
Designed to exceed Toronto’s 2030 environmental standards, the building uses Canadian-sourced wood and has already garnered more than two dozen awards for design and sustainability.
“Limberlost Place marks a bold step forward in sustainable building design and education,” said GBC president Dr. Gervan Fearon. “This project strengthens George Brown College as a leader in green innovation and workforce development while supporting the province’s Advanced Wood Construction Action Plan.”
The project’s construction techniques and best practices are being shared openly to accelerate industry adoption of mass timber construction. During construction, more than 300 tours were hosted for schools, government representatives and industry stakeholders.
Located at George Brown’s Waterfront Campus in Toronto, Limberlost Place is home to the college’s School of Architectural Studies, Indigenous student spaces, child care facilities, a fitness centre and co-working spaces.
The project also played a pivotal role in recent provincial code changes that increased the permitted height of encapsulated mass timber construction from six storeys to 18.
By demonstrating the viability and benefits of mass timber at scale, George Brown College has positioned itself—and Ontario—as a leader in sustainable construction and advanced wood manufacturing.
