The design and construction of the new headquarters of the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) is a nod to the agency’s environmental work. The $56-million structure, which took nine years to complete – partly delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic – officially opened in April. It’s an airy, open-concept, four-storey building that’s 86,000 square feet and made with mass timber – a low-carbon, fire-resistant construction material. …Mass-timber construction is on the uptick in Canada, with a recent report revealing that nearly 700 projects have been completed across the country, while more than 140 are either under construction or in the planning stages. Nature Resources Canada says mass-timber buildings can meet or exceed fire code safety requirements and they are capable of lasting hundreds of years, proving their resilience and longevity. …At a time when many workers are being ordered to return to office, an attractive, eco- and user-friendly building can be motivating for them to show up…