Replicability of GCWood Program Projects

Replicating Success: Innovations in Offsite Timber Construction

Scius reviewed the replicability of 31 projects and 33 discrete technologies across Canada which were funded by the Natural Resources Canada GCWood program to advance the efficiency and performance of timber construction. We evaluated the innovations based on their technical feasibility, market uptake potential, and knowledge transferability and estimated that 65% of them can be ranked as "highly replicable". While the first phase of the program (GCWood 1) primarily addressed structural and fire performance challenges, the second phase (GCWood 2) shifted toward the "systemization" of construction, including prefabrication, modular kits, and design for manufacture and assembly.

Despite the technical success and the early replication of ten technologies, wider adoption remains hindered by regulatory barriers, financial risks, and unpredictable costs, which requires a fundamental change in mindset regarding project planning and processes. Ultimately, the GCWood program acts as a critical risk-mitigation tool, enabling teams to pursue innovative, "envelope-pushing" designs that provide essential lessons for future projects and suggest a path to reduce the costs of the innovations for the broader industry.

You can read the full Replicability of GCWood Projects Report here.