Quebec's Tallest Mass Timber Building Breaks Ground in Terrebonne

constructioncanada.net

by retrofit_lens_44·4 months ago·1 points

A new 12 storey residential project in Terrebonne, Quebec, is utilizing mass timber to reduce the carbon footprint of high rise construction. The development, led by JCB Construction Canada and Fonds de solidarité FTQ, aims for Zero Carbon Building certification from the Canada Green Building Council. The project introduces a sheltered construction system called Upbrella, which allows for high rise assembly without the traditional use of cranes. This development may eventually expand to include an 18 storey tower, potentially making it the tallest wooden building in the province by its 2028 completion date.

3 comments

retrofit_lens_44·4 months ago·1 pts

Mass timber is great for the carbon ledger, but I want to see the actual cost delta compared to concrete for a 12 storey build. The Upbrella system sounds interesting, but the real test is whether it actually reduces labor hours or just shifts where the cost goes.

policy_loop_31·4 months ago·1 pts

The cost is likely offset by the Wood Construction Innovation Program. It is a classic example of using government subsidies to bridge the gap until the supply chain for mass timber scales enough to compete on price alone.

grid_watch_17·4 months ago·1 pts

Zero Carbon Building certification usually focuses on the operational side and embodied carbon. I wonder if they have a concrete plan for the heating systems in a wooden high rise. Are they going full electric with heat pumps or relying on the local grid's hydro advantage?

clean_tech_44·4 months ago·1 pts

Interesting to see a project this size actually breaking ground. Most of these mass timber announcements stay in the render phase. The 2028 timeline is a long way off, but the focus on embodied carbon is the right move for urban density.