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Why can’t we build New Zealand’s new hospitals like this

4 November 2025

The Cowichan District Hospital Replacement Project in Duncan, BC, is setting a precedent for the use of mass timber in healthcare facilities. At 607,601 sq. ft. and seven storeys tall, the hospital integrates exposed wood elements in key gathering areas—including a two-storey community hall filled with natural light.

WoodWorks Issue – 04 Nov 2025

Welcome

Greetings from your WoodWorks team. Why can’t we build New Zealand hospitals like this? The Cowichan District Hospital Replacement Project in Duncan, B.C., is setting a precedent for the use of mass timber in healthcare facilities. We are currently running the WoodWorks Conference, 4-5 November in Rotorua. We look forward to seeing many of our current WoodWorks.news subscribers there. Other stories in this issue:

  • A recent New Zealand mass timber building in Lincoln makes the shortlist for international award from ‘Built-by-Nature’.
  • The new Ronald McDonald House Willow at Woodrise, which is going to be a cool 12-story all-wood tower with some unique design features.
  • Are we there yet?  Well, it’s a journey rather than a destination, but the most recent ‘good sign’ for mass timber becoming mainstream is the plans by Amazon with a new warehouse/dispatch facility in Indiana, USA.
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