The Fonds de solidarité FTQ has broken ground on a 12-storey mass-timber apartrment building in the Montreal suburb of Terrebonne, Que.

The project, led by the Fonds, will add 164 rental units on Lucille-Teasdale Boulevard in a rapidly growing area of the city.

The development will mark a North American first with the use of Québec-developed Upbrella technology, a covered construction system designed to improve site safety and protect materials from weather conditions. Project partners include Provencher Roy, Genimac, Elema, JCB Construction Canada, Développement immobilier CT, Dyotte Déom Paysage and MJM Conseillers en acoustique, with technical support from Cecobois.

An unspecified amount of financial support is being provided by the Government of Québec through the Programme d’innovation en construction bois, part of the province’s 2030 Plan for a Green Economy. The initiative aligns with the FTQ’s objective of reaching $12 billion in assets tied to sustainable development by 2027.

The building will target Zero Carbon Building – Design certification from the Canada Green Building Council. The design emphasizes reduced greenhouse-gas emissions, improved energy performance and material reuse. Timber for the project will be supplied by Nordic Structures – Chantiers Chibougamau.

“As sole investor, the Fonds de solidarité FTQ is advancing a model that can be applied across projects,” president and CEO of the Fonds. “We are accelerating the delivery of new homes to help address the current shortage, while showing that mass timber offers a more sustainable and responsible way to build , and that repeating the model can reduce timelines and costs.

“This project reflects the Fonds de solidarité FTQ’s commitment to building a more sustainable and resilient Québec that can adapt to environmental and socio-economic change.”

Martin Raymond, FTQ’s president and CEO, said the development uses a prefabricated reusable mass-timber structure that improves energy performance and enhances comfort for residents.

“It also helps reduce the carbon intensity of our real estate portfolio while creating quality living environments that benefit the broader community,” said Raymond.

Terrebonne Mayor Mathieu Traversy said the project embodies the city’s vision of providing more housing while focusing on sustainable and innovative solutions.

“It will make a tangible difference in improving the quality of life for our residents by addressing very real issues such as the housing shortage and climate challenges,” concluded Traversy.

The first units are expected to be delivered in spring 2028.

Pictured: Dignitaries participate in a groundbreaking ceremony at FTQ’s mass-timber apartment project in Terrebonne, Que.

Rendering: Louis-Etienne Doré (CNW Group/Le Fonds de Solidarité des Travailleurs du Québec (FTQ))