We are thrilled to announce that our research team has been awarded a CAD $250,000 co-investment from DIGITAL, Canada’s Global Innovation Cluster for Digital Technologies, under its Housing Growth Innovation program. This funding advances our proposal for the development of Modular Timber Housing Systems, an initiative designed to accelerate housing production in British Columbia through mass timber prefabrication.
Traditional architecture and construction practices often require significant time to design, develop, and construct building projects, which can lead to complexities in permitting and slower delivery of much-needed housing. However, recent changes to building codes—allowing unencapsulated mass timber construction up to eight storeys and encapsulated mass timber construction up to 18 storeys—offer a significant opportunity to address housing demand by streamlining the production of mid-rise residential buildings.
Led by Yehia Madkour and Adrian Watson from our Vancouver studio, this research takes an integrated approach to design to include sustainability, efficiency, health, and scalability. The goal is to create a regulation-ready concept for seven to eight-story multifamily residential buildings and develop a code-compliance analytics tool to streamline the design process. In collaboration with Aspect Structural Engineers, Introba, Credos, and Simon Fraser University’s School of Interactive Arts & Technology (SFU SIAT), our design research team is working to redefine the future of modular construction.
“With unprecedented demand for housing, we need scalable, sustainable solutions now,” said Yehia Madkour, Principal and Director of Innovation at Perkins&Will. “This investment will enable a shift from bespoke design thinking to modular, repeatable, and adaptable systems that address diverse human needs.”
Adrian Watson, Principal and Design Director in our Vancouver and Calgary studios, emphasized the power of collaboration:
“This initiative is an example of what can be achieved when public and private sectors collaborate towards common goals. We are grateful for the government’s support and the trust they have placed in our vision. This project will not only address pressing housing shortages but also promote enhanced community well-being through sustainable building practices.”
We commenced the project in January 2025, and plan to publish our designs by year-end. We look forward to sharing our findings and collaborating with industry leaders to drive meaningful change in housing solutions.
