Building taller: BC mass timber suppliers see surging sales in Canada, US

By Jean Sorensen
Wood Business – Canadian Forest Industries
November 7, 2019
Category: Wood, Paper & Green Building
Region: Canada, United States

As the B.C. commodity lumber sector shutters mills, the B.C. value-added sector serving mass timber construction is surging forward with sales buoyed by a strong U.S. economy clamouring for new buildings and optimism over changes in Canada’s 2020 National Building Code. …The new Canadian code allows wood buildings up to 12 storeys and provides guidelines for the tall buildings trend unfolding. …The Canadian Wood Council’s program Wood Works! cites that, as of March 2019, 545 multi-family, commercial, or institutional projects have been constructed out of mass timber or are in design in the U.S. …Brian Hawrysh, CEO of the BC Wood Specialties Group… is not aware of any of the major commodity lumber producers opting in. Their business profile differs, he says, adding that ultimately it is a win-win situation for them as mass timber opens up a new market for dimensional lumber. Instead, companies entering the space are intermediate value-added manufacturers, such as Kalesnikoff.

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