Vienna House is a seven-storey, 123-unit affordable housing project in East Vancouver that demonstrates how mass timber and prefabrication can support high-performance, mid-rise residential construction. The building uses a hybrid structural system incorporating cross-laminated timber (CLT) floor and roof panels with prefabricated light-wood frame wall assemblies. Off-site fabrication enabled tighter quality control and efficient site sequencing, while supporting the project’s Passive House performance targets through integrated air and thermal barrier strategies.
Constructability was a key driver in the project’s delivery, with early coordination across design, engineering, fabrication, and construction teams. Extensive use of BIM allowed for precise alignment of structural systems, building services, and envelope details before panels arrived on site. Prefabricated wall panels were delivered with insulation and air barriers in place, accelerating installation and reducing on-site labor. CLT floor panels were installed efficiently, supporting acoustic and fire-performance requirements while maintaining schedule certainty.
Vienna House exceeds current energy code requirements and demonstrates how hybrid mass timber systems can contribute to durable, low-carbon housing solutions at scale. As a Mass Timber Demonstration Program project, it provides valuable insight into the application of prefabrication, digital coordination, and engineered wood systems in urban residential buildings. The project reflects a collaborative approach that advances repeatable construction models for sustainable housing across British Columbia and beyond.
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