The tallest residential mass timber building in Ontario is reaching completion. Soon, 60 apartments will be ready, surrounded by walls and framing free from emissions-intensive concrete.

Large panels made of wood were shipped from the West Coast to construct the nine-storey Etobicoke build, which is heated and cooled with geothermal energy. In 2024, the Ontario government updated its building code to allow for mass timber buildings of up to 18 storeys, opening up a new market for tall wooden buildings.

The pre-fabrication aspect is what makes buildings of this kind viable, said Stephen Savell of Windmill Development Group, which is leading the project, called Hälsa. Instead of the building being constructed completely on site, a British Columbia-based start-up got the timber panels ready to install: they arrived complete with windows, cladding and more. Once the pieces reached the site, they were hefted up by cranes and attached to the building frame, which was also constructed with timber.

Despite the eco-friendly design, Savell said it was critical to keep costs comparable to something built with more emissions-intensive traditional building materials, such as concrete and rebar.

“People don't really necessarily pay more for sustainability. It's nice to have, so we need to find a pathway to have this be the same or cheaper,” said Savell.