Decoding Timber Towers is the fourth competition presented by Urbanarium to encourage dialogue and design investigations to promote housing affordability and address the effects of climate change. Entrants are asked to consider design solutions for mass timber residential and mixed-use buildings that, as with the earlier Missing Middle, Mixing Middle, and Decoding Density competitions, also explore how housing innovations and higher densities are constrained by building code, zoning, and other regulations.

This competition explores the challenges facing designers, builders, and developers in replacing concrete residential high-rise buildings with an industry-wide approach to deliver low carbon buildings more competitively, while maintaining a high standard of comfort, sociability, and connection to land. It highlights a systems-thinking approach to optimize the use of BC timber, prefab and modular buildings in the 8 to 20+ storey range.

Compete in Decoding Timber Towers. $50,000 in cash prizes! Competition results will be shared widely through videos, a publication, a press campaign, various websites, Urbanarium Studio workshops and Woodrise 2025, a global congress on mid and high-rise timber construction and buildings coming to Vancouver in September. 
 

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The Jury

Andrew Lawrence

Structural Engineer | Arup Fellow, Director
@
Arup

Andrew is Arup’s global timber expert based in the UK. He is the Arup Fellow, Royal Academy of Engineering Visiting Professor at Cambridge University, member of the European Timber Design Code Committee and judge for the UK Wood Awards. He has helped engineer some of the most challenging timber structures in the world.

Andrew Lawrence Jury Headshot

Brenda Knights

Housing Developer | CEO
@
BC Indigenous Housing Society

Brenda is a leader in housing, sustainability, mass timber construction and Indigenous empowerment. Her transformative efforts have provided safe, affordable, and culturally resonant housing for communities across BC. She is a member of the Kwantlen Nation and serves on the boards of Canada Lands, Legal Aid BC, and the New Relationship Trust as a Federal and Provincial appointee.

Brenda Knights Headshot

Emilie Adin

Planner | President
@
Planning Institute of British Columbia

Emily is an Adjunct Professor at the UBC School of Community and Regional Planning. She is the past Director, Climate Action, Planning and Development at the City of New Westminster and was named one of the 500 most influential leaders in British Columbia by BIV Magazine in 2023.

Emilie Adin Headshot

Ian Boyle

Structural Engineer | Principal
@
Fast + Epp

Ian has played a key role contributing to multiple landmark mass timber projects around the world. As a North American leader in timber structures he has been instrumental in advancing mass timber innovation, balancing structural efficiency with design intent.

Ian Boyle Headshot

Dr. Gary Hack

Planner | Professor Emeritus
@
UPenn, MIT

Gary is professor and dean emeritus of the School of Design at the University of Pennsylvania and emeritus professor of urban design at MIT. He is the author of Site Planning: International Practice and many other books and articles. Earlier in his career he served as managing director of CMHC’s design and development group focusing on innovative affordable housing.

Gary Hack Headshot

Mingyuk Chen

Architect, AIBC | Associate Director
@
LWPAC/Intelligent City

Mingyuk is an expert in mass timber architecture and prefabrication, specializing in the seamless integration of design and manufacturing. Mingyuk is driven by a passion for innovation, sustainable building systems, and advancing the future of productized prefabricated housing.

Mingyuk Chen Headshot

Natalie Telewiak

Architect AIBC, AIA | Principal
@
MGA | Michael Green Architecture

With an education in both architecture and engineering, Natalie’s approach to design is rooted in material logic, collaboration, and connection. With over 15 years working with mass timber, she leads and inspires her team to deliver elegant solutions that marry structure, systems, manufacturing, and architecture.

Natalie Telewiak Headshot

Norm Leech

Community Leader | Executive Director
@
Frog Hollow Neighbourhood House

Norm is an elder, facilitator, past Chief and Administrator for T’it’q’et, St’at’imc Nation and an urban Indigenous housing and decolonizing expert. He is the President of the DTES Community Land Trust, Co-chair of the Metro Vancouver Aboriginal Executive Council, President of the Aboriginal Front Door Society and was the former Director of the Vancouver Aboriginal Community Policing Centre.

Norm Leech Headshot

Richard Henriquez

Retired Architect, AIBC | Founding Principal
@
Henriquez Partners Architecture

Richard is a recipient of the Order of Canada and an RAIC Gold Medal; he is internationally recognized for his award-winning, iconic buildings, his sculptures and for his many years of community service including the Founding Chair of Urbanarium.

Richard Henriquez Headshot

Sailen Black

Architect, AIBC | Senior Green Building Planner, Planning, Urban Design and Sustainability
@
City of Vancouver

Sailen has been a part of the Green & Resilient Buildings team at the City of Vancouver for twenty years. His work includes creating incentives for mass timber, Passive House, and Net Zero energy buildings through policy, project review and advising staff, consultants, and applicants.

Sailen Black Headshot

Press

Schedule

Early Bird Registration Opens*Monday, March 31, 2025
Site Allocations Begin**Monday, April 7, 2025
Early Bird Registration DeadlineFriday, April 11, 2025
Deadline for Questions Round***Thursday, April 3, 2025
Answers Posted Round 1Tuesday, April 8, 2025
Deadline for Questions Round 2Thursday, April 24, 2025
Answers Posted Round 2Tuesday, April 29, 2025
Registration DeadlineFriday, May 2, 2025
Deadline for Questions Round 3Thursday, May 8, 2025
Answers Posted Round 3Tuesday, May 13, 2025
Submission DeadlineMonday, August 25, 2025
Jury DeliberationSaturday, September 6, 2025
Awards PresentationMonday, September 15, 2025
Woodrise Congress Winners ShowcaseSeptember 22-26, 2025
Party! Publication & Solutions VideoMonday, November 24, 2025

*Early bird registration will be open with a discounted fee of $95 CAD until Friday April 11. Standard registration fee is $140 per team, with a student rate of $55 per team (all members must be students). Registrants before Friday, April 11 at 11:59pm PST will receive their preferred site selection.

**The first wave of site packages will be distributed on or after Monday April 7, with subsequent packages being distributed on an ongoing basis.

***Question Rounds: Competitors have the opportunity to submit questions in three rounds. Answers to competitor questions will be posted online for all entrants. 
 

Prize Money

Overall Prize Awards
     First Prize $15,000 CAD
     Second Prize $10,000 CAD
     Third Prize $5,000 CAD
     5 Honourable Mentions $2,000 CAD ea.
 
Digital Award
     Innovation in Systemization and Standardization Award $10,000 CAD

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