The goal of a new research program is to generate technical information that supports the use of mass timber products beyond traditional low-rise construction in tall and large structures. The Canadian Wood Construction Research Network’s major initiative, the NSERC-Alliance Grant Next-Generation Wood Construction research program, led by principal investigator Prof. Ying Hei Chui of the University of Alberta. …A number of technical and non-technical challenges need to be resolved if mass timber is to be recognized as a mainstream material for tall or large structures, Chui said. Among the key challenges are gaps in design methodologies and performance data for the next generation of wood buildings; the need to adopt advanced construction engineering tools to capture the benefits of wood construction; inadequate quantification of environmental impacts of wood construction; and a lack of highly qualified personnel to meet the needs of this expanded use of wood.