VANCOUVER, British Columbia — Canada Wood signed three memoranda of understanding (MOUs) with key Chinese stakeholders to promote mass timber and hybrid construction.

These agreements with Treezo Group, East China Architectural Design & Research Institute (ECADI), and the National Center for Technology Innovation – Green Building (NCTI-GB) underline Canada Wood’s strategic pivot to advancing mass timber and hybrid construction in China. They also highlight the growing potential for Canadian wood products to play a significant role in China’s evolving construction market.

Here’s a quick look at each of the MOUs.

Treezo Group, one of China’s leading manufacturers of OSB, plywood, cabinetry, flooring, and prefab buildings, is at the forefront of integrating mass timber into its operations. With the completion of the design for a seven-story mass timber office building at its headquarters in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, Treezo is actively exploring the establishment of its own mass timber manufacturing facility to support this project and expand its prefab business.

Treezo’s well-established 2×4 housing division, which caters to affluent retirees in rural areas, demonstrates the company’s innovative approach to wood construction. Canada Wood’s visit to Treezo’s demo house center revealed a portfolio of over 70 housing models, showcasing the potential for wood-based construction solutions.

The MOU with Treezo solidifies a partnership focused on advancing research and development, facilitating connections with Canadian academic institutions, and providing technical expertise. This collaboration aims to strengthen Treezo’s capabilities in mass timber production and its application in China’s growing prefab and mass timber markets.

ECADI, part of Arcplus Group PLC., is one of China’s most prestiigious architectural firms, known for iconic projects such as the CCTV Headquarters and Shanghai Pudong Airport Terminal 3. ECADI is now channeling its expertise into the development of tall wood mass timber construction.

The renewed MOU with ECADI focuses on establishing a wood construction innovation center dedicated to advancing mass timber research and development. Canada Wood is supporting ECADI’s proposal for a 10-story mass timber office building in Shanghai, providing technical guidance to facilitate the adoption of mass timber construction.

NCTI-GB, endorsed by the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development (MOHURD) and the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST), is a national platform focused on decarbonizing construction and promoting green building technologies. As a central force in driving low-carbon construction, NCTI-GB’s mandate aligns closely with Canada Wood’s objectives to promote mass timber as a sustainable alternative.

Facilitated by BCFII China office, the MOU with NCTI-GB underscores a commitment to joint efforts in resource sharing, technical exchange, and the development of standards and demonstration projects. This collaboration is poised to drive advancements in mass timber construction, with a shared goal of establishing wood as a key component in China’s green building agenda.