Hamilton issues Ontario's first wood mid-rise permit.

• Position: CONSTRUCTION

The City of Hamilton is the first municipality in Ontario to issue a building permit for a mid-rise wood-frame building.

The changes to the Ontario Building Code allowing six-storey buildings, up from the previous limit of four, officially +went into effect on Jan. 1.

Congratulations went out from the Canadian Wood Council.

"Canada's wood products industry continues to develop advanced building products and improved building systems that are designed to meet the rigorous standards of the building code--ultimately the design and build communities increased construction options," said council president Michael Giroux in a March 27 news release.

North Bay-based Ontario Woodworks executive director Marianne Berube also applauded the city.

"Wood-frame mid-rise buildings are redefining the way cities are built by meeting new densification targets, by making the best use of existing urban infrastructure, and by providing versatile commercial projects, mixed-use developments and more affordable options for housing. "It won't be long before these buildings are found in urban areas across the province."

The code changes are similar to that of British Columbia, the first province to adopt...