Azzeddine Oudjehane

Paper and Presentation: The sustainability case for mass timber construction

Abstract: Over the past several years, the built environment has seen a race to build taller with wood and mass timber. In less than10 years, more than 40 building projects have pushed higher the height limit to build with wood and what is now defined as mass timber construction. Mass timber construction is grabbing headlines around the globe. In 2021, both Canada and the United States will introduce changes to their respective building codes standardizing the construction of tall buildings using wood as the primary construction material.

In addition to reviewing the changes to the building codes, this presentation will highlight the rationale and disruptive impacts of mass timber construction. Amongst the key indicators are: sustainability, constructability and low construction costs. The construction project management perspective for a 10-story case study building model will be presented.

The followings are some of the learning objectives expected from this presentation:

  1. Recognizing the types for mass timber construction
  2. Identifying the rationale for using mass timber in construction
  3. Reviewing the impacts of mass timber construction on construction project management

PMI Talent Triangle: Technical Project Management


Biography: Dr. Azzeddine Oudjehane an Instructor from the BSc CPM at SAIT. Azzeddine joined SAIT in 2012, to teach in the Bachelor of Science in Construction Project Management program and develop applied and scholarly research opportunities that meet the needs of Alberta’s construction industry.

With over 30 years of experience leading multi-disciplinary projects in R&D, business innovation and market development he has worked with various stakeholders from Academia, Government and Industry. Azzeddine holds graduate degrees in both Applied Science and Business Administration.

Azzeddine strives through teaching excellence to train the next generation of construction project managers in Alberta and Canada, while developing scholarly applied research that meets the needs of the Alberta industries Since joining SAIT, he was nominated to SAITSA’s Teaching Excellence Award in 2014, 2019 and 2020.

Alongside his academic position Azzeddine currently serves as the Vice Chair for the Chapter Leadership Board of Directors of the Alberta Chapter of the Canada Green Building Council CaGBC. Azzeddine is also the Treasure and Secretary for the Board of Directors of Value Analysis Canada.

With over 100 publications and presentations at international conferences, Dr. Oudjehane serves in various journal review committees and has chaired sessions at conferences. His applied research work and interests include: Integration of AI and Unmanned Systems in Construction management; Sustainable mass timber design and construction; an emphasis on zero carbon resilient and sustainable built environment. In the past year, he was invited as keynote speaker and gave several presentations and talks on the role and impact of innovation and sustainable