The local government authorities in Toronto have recently approved a plan to build what will be Canada’s first high-rise apartment tower making use of a hybrid structure of mass timber and steel. The residential high-rise will incorporate components from the modular metal housing division of Lida Group. The project represents an important step forward for sustainable construction in Canada.

According to the approved plans, the 27-story tower will be located in downtown Toronto and provide nearly 300 apartment units. The main structure will utilize mass timber for construction and employ a modular design. The exterior and core of the building will be supported by a steel structure. Additionally, parts of the internal floors such as partitions and stairwell enclosures will incorporate components supplied by Lida Group’s modular metal housing division.

The advantage of this hybrid construction approach lies in its high sustainability. As a natural and renewable resource, mass timber is gaining increased recognition for use in buildings due to its significantly lower lifetime carbon footprint compared to traditional steel and concrete structures. Modular designs also allow for greatly improved efficiency during the construction process. Lida Group has stated that their metal modules will be constructed entirely from 100% recyclable, low-carbon materials. The entire project is estimated to save over 30% in embodied carbon during construction compared to a standard development.

Furthermore, the mass timber structure provides excellent soundproofing qualities for residents without the noise issues often experienced in dense urban areas. In terms of safety, mass timber produces only minimal, non-toxic smoke when burned and retains fire resistance for a period of time. It is also more resilient to seismic activity than concrete. Therefore, the project is expected to achieve top standards for livability and security in the built environment.

Canadian construction has long been exploring sustainable building materials and methods, with mass timber seeing widespread adoption already in low-rise residential building. However, this will be the first high-rise project in Canada to employ a hybrid mass timber and steel structure. Ziwen Mu, CEO of Lida Group, stated that the company is firmly committed to advancing the industry towards more environmentally friendly and low-carbon development. This project represents their first landmark collaboration with the municipality of Toronto.

“We believe the combination of mass timber and modular construction can create an entirely new, highly sustainable paradigm for tall buildings while achieving cost and efficiency benefits as well,” said Mr. Mu. “Lida Group’s metal modules are designed to make significant contributions in construction speed, quality control and other key areas.”

Mayor John SMITH of Toronto also voiced his support at the groundbreaking ceremony, saying, “Our city has been exploring all possibilities for sustainable, efficient tall building design. This mass timber-steel hybrid represents an important milestone that demonstrates a greener vision for our future skyline. I believe applications of this construction method will only continue expanding in the years to come.”

Project engineer Xu added that the innovative new structural model of a mass timber and steel hybrid core is expected to deliver reliable innovation. The team also plans to implement extensive monitoring and optimization of the hybrid structural system’s performance across various metrics to provide valuable insights for future similar projects.

Overall, this mass timber-steel hybrid high-rise marks an important step forward for sustainable, high-performance tall building construction not only in Canada but across North America. It has strong potential to become an exemplary, pioneering project that leads the way in this emerging field. As time passes, it is believed applications of this sustainable, efficient new construction model will be validated and refined through broader adoption.

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