1620 Main St. in Hamilton, Ontario, is a six-storey, multi-family, affordable housing development designed by mcCallumSather. Mass timber, supplied by Element5, was used for nearly the entire structure—including floors, cores, roof panels, unit demising walls, stairwells, elevator shafts, and the envelope. The mass timber structure was assembled in just 44 working days (about one floor per week), from basement sill plates to the cross-laminated timber (CLT) roof panels.

But this project isn’t just about speed—it’s also about sustainability. As CityHousing Hamilton’s first mass timber building, it is set to be one of the city’s most energy-efficient, boasting near-zero greenhouse gas emissions and ultra-low operating costs. It is also among North America’s first mass timber Passive House multi-residential buildings, placing Hamilton at the forefront of eco-friendly innovation.

The building offers 42 apartments, with 52% designated for deeply affordable rent and 48% at half-market rates, demonstrating that sustainability and affordability can go hand in hand. Modest yet groundbreaking, 1620 Main St. redefines the future of housing—where affordability meets thoughtful design, and sustainability fosters community.

The NHERI TallWood project is an ambitious research initiative aimed at developing and validating a seismic design methodology for tall wood buildings. Funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), this project focuses on creating resilient, earthquake-proof structures using mass timber.

Beyond advancing engineering knowledge, the project also supports sustainable building practices by demonstrating the viability of mass timber for tall buildings. Simpson Strong-Tie is a supporter of this groundbreaking initiative aimed at enhancing the seismic resilience of tall wood buildings. This project involves extensive shake table tests on a full-scale, 10-storey mass timber building at the University of California, San Diego.

In collaboration with multiple universities and industry leaders, Simpson Strong-Tie contributed its expertise and products to this effort. Key contributions include innovative connections, such as specialized column-base and beam-to-column connectors, which enable the structure to withstand significant seismic activity without damage.

Simpson Strong-Tie also played a crucial role in designing and testing the nonstructural components, including exterior facades and interior walls, to ensure that they can endure the relative movement between floors during an earthquake.

The most prominent contributions are the custom connections that include a glued-in-rod epoxy system for splicing the self-centering rocking mass timber shearwalls, and post-tensioned steel rods along with supplemental energy dissipating devices. Refer to the following link for more in-depth information on this groundbreaking project: [LINK]

Credit Roland Waldmeier, National SVP Construction, Contractors, Real Estate

The growing adoption of wood in construction—ranging from traditional low-rise buildings to innovative mid-rise and mass timber structures—has reshaped the building landscape. Wood’s strength, sustainability, and aesthetic appeal make it a popular choice, but its unique risks demand tailored insurance solutions.

For low-rise construction, wood’s combustibility and susceptibility to water damage are primary concerns. Builders can mitigate these risks through moisture control strategies, proper fire safety measures, and comprehensive builders’ risk policies.

Mid-rise projects, often incorporating engineered wood products like cross-laminated timber (CLT) or glulam, present additional challenges. These buildings require rigorous adherence to building codes, fire resistance ratings, and on-site safety protocols to satisfy insurer requirements.

Mass timber structures, which are revolutionizing the industry, push the boundaries of height and scale in wood construction. Insurers view these projects with both opportunity and caution, given the uncharted nature of their performance over time. Collaboration between builders, insurers, and experts is key to addressing fire risks, structural performance, and supply chain challenges.

Woodsure’s Mass Timber Program exemplifies how the industry is advancing risk solutions. This program combines risk assessment and tailored insurance policies to support wood innovation. As wood construction evolves, proactive risk management and industry collaboration will ensure it remains a sustainable, insurable choice for builders and developers. For more information on Woodsure’s initiatives in timber construction insurance, visit https://woodsure.ca/