MassTimber StructuralEngineering SustainableConstruction HybridStructures TallTimber StudentHousing

Hybrid Wood-Steel Systems Deliver Tall Timber Success: The BCIT’s Student Housing Tower

*Prefabricated facade systems being lifted into position on the BCIT tower. Source: Structures Magazine*

The British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) in Burnaby has delivered a milestone in tall timber design with the completion of its 12-story Tall Timber Student Housing tower. Building on the earlier success of the University of British Columbia’s 18-story Tallwood House, the project demonstrates how hybrid wood-steel systems are advancing the feasibility of mass timber for multi-unit residential construction.

The tower consists of a one-story reinforced concrete podium supporting 11 levels of mass timber. It will provide 470 single-occupancy studios and one-bedroom units, helping to address the growing demand for student housing while meeting BCIT’s sustainability objectives. Each level is framed with flat, two-way spanning cross-laminated timber (CLT) floor panels point-supported on steel columns. The large-format Hem-Fir CLT panels, manufactured to span up to 43 feet, are engineered to withstand concentrated loads while minimizing rolling shear risks through carefully detailed column connections.

Two-way spanning Hem-Fir material CLT floor plates, point-supported on steel columns without beams. Source: Structures Magazine (image by Andrew Latreille)

Several innovations distinguish this project from earlier mass timber buildings. The point-supported CLT slab system eliminates the need for beams, creating flatter floor plates that simplify service distribution. Wide CLT panels align with partition walls, concealing columns and improving acoustic performance between suites.

Safety and durability were also central to the design. The CLT floor panels are fire-rated for two hours, using gypsum board encapsulation combined with natural char layers. Testing, validated the performance of Hem-Fir in point-supported systems, an approach not yet included in design codes.

Construction sequencing emphasized speed and efficiency. Prefabricated CLT panels, facade systems, and steel cores were installed in a tightly coordinated cycle, with each floor completed within two weeks. Facade and drywall installation followed just a few levels behind, enabling rapid enclosure of the building and reducing weather exposure. Moisture mitigation programs, including drainage and vapor-permeable membranes, ensured structural integrity during construction.

Typical Steel Column to CTL slab and the punching shear behavior. Source: Structures Magazine

The Tall Timber tower highlights mass timber’s ability to reduce embodied carbon while offering a cost-competitive alternative to conventional concrete. The use of sustainably managed Hem-Fir, combined with prefabricated cladding and energy-efficient envelopes, positions the project as a benchmark for environmentally responsible student housing.

As mass timber becomes increasingly mainstream, the lessons from BCIT’s tower will guide future developments in hybrid systems, structural testing, and sustainable design practices. The project illustrates how innovation in engineering and construction can deliver durable, efficient, and sustainable buildings for the next generation.

Source: structuremag.org