New Toronto Mass Timber Building Tallest in the City

At ten stories tall, the newly opened Limberlost Place structure sets a new precedent in Canada’s largest city.

Up until 2022, mass timber buildings in Toronto could only rise six stories but Limberlost Place’s height represents a new standard for the city and the entire mass timber field.

Located at the city’s George Brown College and designed by Moriyama Teshima Architects and Acton Ostry Architects, the new building also represents a substantial percentage reduction in embodied carbon compared to concrete, the architects said. Phil Silverstein, a partner at Moriyama Teshima, said in an interview that the “mass timber structure achieved a 30 percent reduction in embodied carbon compared to concrete. One of the most significant findings was that the below-grade concrete work accounted for 40 percent of the building’s total embodied carbon. This result highlights that below-grade construction is by far the most carbon-intensive aspect of a building and should be minimized wherever possible.”

“The slab-band system allows for long-spanning, column-free spaces outside of classrooms as well, like (in) the Learning Landscape and Breathing rooms.” Teshima partner Carol Phillips added, “As this was such a new project for Toronto and the world, code changes and updates were happening live, so verification was required at every step. We also feel that in a student environment, where there is pressure and anxiety on individuals about ‘perfection’ and appearances, that this honesty of material expression and celebration of unaltered beauty could positively impact their mental health.”

Timber columns and walls aren’t finished over with plaster or any other materials, the architects said. “We wanted the building to be a didactic living lab that teaches through its materials,” Silverstein said. “Leaving the knots, seams and structural details visible helps students see how the building is put together, while also celebrating the natural warmth and honesty of wood.” Canada now allows the construction of mass timber buildings up to 18 stories.

Mass timber continues as a major woodworking industry growth engine and it’s coming to IWF 2026 in a big way in the Mass Timber and Prefabricated Construction Product Display Area. This showcase will present the Mass Timber sector’s newest cross-laminated and glue-laminated products and technologies. Interested in exhibiting in the showcase? Contact sales@iwfatlanta.com.

Image: George Brown College

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