Mass Timber Innovation and Design Center of Canada
Mass Timber Innovation and Design Center of Canada
Mass Timber Innovation and Design Center of Canada
International Design Competition Call for Entries
Brief:British Columbia’s forestry strength and progressive codes put Vancouver at the forefront of tall timber. Design a Mass Timber Innovation & Design Center that turns research and prototyping into public learning, advancing best practices in timber construction through exhibition, studios, code/testing labs, and open-air mock-up yards organized as welcoming indoor–outdoor rooms, with respect for the local Nations on whose unceded territories this site sits.Make every joint a lesson: light-touch pavilions and shaded courts threaded through meadow and forest to protect trees and soils while framing outward views. Connect to local Trail and Path with accessible spurs, trail-edge learning nodes, native planting, and park-calibrated wayfinding.Deliver a high-performance building with a credible pathway to net-zero operations—using responsibly sourced mass timber, efficient spans, design-for-disassembly, rainwater capture, bioswales, and durable coastal detailing—to create an elegant, low-impact landmark for British Columbia’s mass-timber future.
Timeline:Early-Bird Registration — $49Jan 1 – Feb 1, 2026 (First 30 teams or end date, whichever comes first)Standard Registration — $59Feb 2 – May 17, 2026 (First 50 teams or end date, whichever comes first)Late Registration — $79May 18– Jun 14, 2026Final Week “Rush” — $89Jun 15 – Jun 20, 2026Submission DeadlineJun 21, 2026Jury ReviewJun 22 – Jul 5, 2026Winner AnnouncedJul 6, 2026*The above are local times (PT) in the competition host country. Dates are subject to change. Please refer to the official website for updates.
Site Location:Prospect Point, Vancouver, CanadaProspect Point is a civic gateway where forest meets sea, and millions encounter Vancouver’s harbor. As Stanley Park’s highest lookout, it commands sweeping views of the First Narrows, Lions Gate Bridge, and the downtown skyline. It sits on the unceded traditional territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations—land shaped by enduring relationships to water and place.Linked by one of North America’s most celebrated urban trail networks, Prospect Point is reached via pedestrian and cycling routes that weave through old-growth forest, rocky shoreline, and quiet meadows, connecting to beaches, landmarks, and the iconic Seawall. Any intervention should enhance this delicate choreography of movement, ecology, and experience.
Jury:Each jury is rigorously selected from top-tier professionals whose expertise directly aligns with the competition theme, ensuring evaluations that are both deeply informed and grounded in real-world practice.This panel is led by Dr. Thomas Tannert (Canada Research Chair and BC Leadership Chair in Tall Wood and Hybrid Structures Engineering) and Mark Anderson (Owner of Bay Pacific Construction, professor at UC Berkeley), and brings together distinguished voices from leading global firms and academia: Song He (Design Director at GOA; formerly at BIG and Toyo Ito & Associates), David Jaehning (formerly at David Chipperfield, Herzog & de Meuron, and SOM; teaches at UC Berkeley), Kristoffer Tjerrild Lund (Architect at Cobe; previously with 3XN/GXN, OMA, and Snøhetta), and Karen YunJin Seong (Director of the School of Architecture at AAU; formerly at SOM).Outstanding participants may receive job or internship offers, supported by the jury panel and their connections, to advance their careers in design and architecture.
Program Overview:The competition seeks a public-facing hub where timber innovation is clear and inviting. A legible entry leads to a hands-on Discovery Lab, auditorium, café, and materials store, with trail-edge public amenities for park users. A central Timber Gallery anchors the visit through full-scale mockups and life-cycle storytelling. Behind the scenes, create a flexible making ecosystem: research labs, tool-safe maker studios, and digital fabrication (CNC, laser, robotics), organized around a double-height assembly hall with crane access for 1:1 prototyping. Support spaces—offices, loading, timber storage—connect to outdoor yards, green infrastructure, and trail links, with a covered prototype canopy and outdoor classrooms.
Organizer:Design Unlimited is a platform dedicated to organizing architecture design competitions and providing construction opportunities for passionate young architects, designers, recent graduates, and students. It has attracted thousands of talents from over 20 countries since its establishment. Design Unlimited catalyzes creativity and collaboration, fostering a vibrant ecosystem where emerging talent can thrive, ideas can flourish, and innovative solutions can take shape.
Registration Opens January 12, 2026Registration Closes June 20, 2026Deadline to Submit Project June 21, 2026Winners announcement Date July 6, 2026
