By Shiraz Ali
Special to Ontario Construction New
Urban Land Institute Toronto (ULI) held an event recently to examine the rising demand for iconic mass timber structures in the Toronto Region. The global trend towards engineered wood construction and the local phenomenon that it has sparked raise important questions about the sustainability of our construction methods and whether we are keeping up with other jurisdictions, organizers said.
Participants discussed ways to satisfy the city’s rising demand for Mass Timber buildings. To establish our region as a leader in this cutting-edge typology, we tackled a variety of issues, such as building codes, supply chains, height restrictions, and insurance.
An informative tour of 80 Atlantic gave attendees a close-up look at one of Toronto’s mass timber structures as the event progressed. This one-of-a-kind experience taught me a lot about the design and construction procedures involved.
Following the tour, guests took part in a lively networking reception where they were able to meet professionals from the construction industry, subject matter experts, and others who shared their enthusiasm for sustainable building. During this portion of the event, interesting conversations and useful connections were created.
The panel discussion moderated by Luigi Ferrara, dean of the Centre for Arts, Design & Information Technology at George Brown College, included a panel of experts:
- Jeff Hull, president of Hullmark
- Alexandra Khazzam, director at Hines
- Penny Phelan, director at BTY Group
- Lee Scott, P. Eng, MBA
Scott, manager of sales and business development at Element5 Co., shared viewpoints on the opportunities and difficulties associated with mass timber construction.
The event provided a venue for industry professionals to learn, network, and contribute to the conversation on sustainable construction in the Toronto region and the future of mass timber construction.
Shiraz Ali is an event photographer.