George Brown College (GBC) has emerged as a pioneering force in Ontario's mass timber construction sector, with its groundbreaking Limberlost Place project serving as a catalyst for significant changes to provincial building codes. The college's innovative approach has directly supported the Ontario government's Advanced Wood Construction Action Plan, launched on June 26, which aims to increase manufacturing and use of high-quality, made-in-Ontario wood building products.
"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 Mike Harris, Minister of Natural Resources. "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 Advanced Wood Construction Action Plan focuses on four objectives:
- Support initiatives that create awareness and encourage the use of advanced wood construction
- Identify and remove barriers in codes, standards and regulations for the use of advanced wood construction
- Stimulate innovation and investment in advanced manufacturing facilities to grow Ontario's advanced wood construction sector
- Demonstrate and display examples of advanced wood construction to instill confidence in adopting new Ontario wood building products
"We are grateful for the Government of Ontario's support toward the construction of Limberlost Place, a landmark project that marks a bold step forward in sustainable building design and education," said George Brown College President, Dr. Gervan Fearon. "As one of Ontario's first institutional buildings made from mass timber and designed to achieve net-zero carbon emissions, it strengthens George Brown College as a leader in green innovation and workforce development while supporting the province's Advanced Wood Construction Action Plan. Together, we are building a cleaner, stronger, and more resilient future for all."
A game-changing project
The 10-storey Limberlost Place is Ontario's first institutional mass timber building designed to achieve net-zero carbon emissions. This internationally acclaimed structure has already won over two dozen design and sustainability awards, playing a pivotal role in prompting the Ontario government to amend building codes, which now allow encapsulated mass timber construction up to 18 storeys a dramatic increase from the previous six-storey limit.
Key highlights of Limberlost Place include:
- Sustainable Design: Built with Canadian-sourced wood and designed to meet environmental standards not required in Toronto until 2030
- Educational Impact: Hosted over 300 tours for schools, companies, and government officials during construction
- Innovation Hub: Home to GBC's School of Architectural Studies, Mary's Place child care centre, Indigenous student space, fitness centre, and collaborative workspaces
- Industry Leadership: Construction techniques developed for the project are now shared freely to advance the sector
George Brown College's leadership in mass timber construction demonstrates how educational institutions can drive innovation while supporting broader economic and environmental objectives across Ontario's construction and forestry sectors.
Read the Advanced Wood Construction Action Plan news release
