Nail-Laminated Timber Canadian Design & Construction Guide

hcma, in collaboration with Fast + Epp, co-edited an updated version of the Nail-Laminated Timber (NLT) Canadian Design and Construction Guide, for our client Forestry Innovation Investment. As leaders in mass timber building design and experienced technical communicators, we leveraged our longstanding relationships and commitment to sustainable design to continue advancing the market for NLT.

Initially published in 2017, Version 2.0 incorporates new best practices for design, updated fabrication and construction techniques, new fire and structural testing information, and aligns with latest applicable codes and standards in Canada. It also includes built examples, lessons learned, risk mitigation, and design opportunities, alongside new references and research, all within a refreshed, compelling publication designed in-house by hcma's Communication Design team.

For Version 2.0, we convened a team of 22 subject matter experts, many of whom contributed to the first version of the NLT Guide. Led by co-editors Rebecca Holt, Senior Director of Sustainability at hcma, and Carla Dickof, Director of R&D and Associate Principal at Fast + Epp, together we evolved the content across disciplines to maintain consistent and complementary guidance across chapters. This approach was key to capturing and clarifying technical nuances and shared learnings between experts.

The NLT Guide offers practical guidance aligned with current technical information to architects, engineers, construction professionals, and to authorities having jurisdiction.