2025 Building Trends to Watch out For

Happy 2025! As we move into the new year, the development industry continues to undergo new shifts, driven by housing demands, technological advancements, environmental concerns, and evolving market dynamics. This year promises to have big impacts on construction and infrastructure in a variety of ways.??

MTE has compiled some of the key trends to keep an eye on in 2025:

Sustainability Takes the Lead

The global emphasis on sustainability continues to dominate the building industry, and in 2025, green building will become the norm for new construction.?

With climate change becoming an ever-pressing issue, the demand for energy-efficient, environmentally friendly buildings is growing exponentially. Builders are increasingly using sustainable materials, integrating renewable energy systems like solar panels, and installing advanced HVAC systems to reduce energy consumption.?

In 2025, we’ll see an increased focus on green roofs, natural ventilation, rainwater harvesting systems, and the use of low-carbon concrete. Moreover, cities will continue to push for stricter green certifications like LEED, Net-Zero, and energy efficiency, making sustainable design a critical aspect of any new construction project.?

The Bright Building

With Sustainability as a high priority for new developments, the Bright Building became Ontario’s first all-electric multi-residential high-rise. Featuring 18 stories, 228 units, and sustainable technologies such as EV charging, light dimming, and air-source heat pumps. Designed for energy efficiency, the building avoids natural gas and fossil fuels.?

MTE provided surveying, structural engineering, and building science services. Our Structural team designed the cast-in-place parking and foundation, oversaw construction, and collaborated with Stubbes Precast on the design of precast concrete elements. Using 3D modeling, we analyzed the building’s structural behavior. Our Indoor Environments team assessed building materials, while our Building Restoration team consulted on waterproofing for the parking garage.?

Architect and rendering: Martin Simmons Sweers??

IPD: Integrated Project Delivery as the Future of Collaboration

Historically, the construction industry is often divided into individual teams—architects, contractors, and engineers working separately, sometimes leading to inefficiencies, delays, and cost overruns. Enter Integrated Project Delivery (IPD), a trend that is becoming more popular in 2025.?

IPD is a collaborative approach that involves all key stakeholders from the beginning of a project, encouraging transparency, shared risk, and joint decision-making. By bringing architects, engineers, contractors, and owners together early on, this model ensures that everyone is on the same page, resulting in faster delivery times, fewer mistakes, and reduced costs.?

As the industry continues to embrace IPD, we can expect to see more projects leveraging this approach to improve efficiency, streamline workflows, and produce high-quality results.?

RBJ Schlegel Park Multi-Purpose Indoor Recreation Facility

The City of Kitchener’s first implementation of the Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) approach was for the newly constructed RBJ Schlegel Park Multi-Purpose Indoor Recreation Facility.?

This state-of-the-art facility will cater to the community’s recreation needs and set new standards for sustainability in Canada, with the goal of becoming one of Canada’s first recreation facilities certified under the Zero Carbon Building Standard v3.?

As one of the Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) team partners, MTE is proud to be providing the structural design engineering services for the new facility.?

Featuring a FIFA-sized turf field, aquatics center, walking track, cricket batting cage, and more, this facility promises to be Kitchener’s go-to indoor recreation destination. Construction began?in May 2024.?

Read the full news release form the City of Kitchener: Kitchener unveils proposal to build a new premier multi-purpose indoor recreation facility – City of Kitchener?

Resilience and Climate Adaptation: Future-Proofing Buildings

The effects of climate change are already being felt around the world, with more frequent natural disasters like wildfires, hurricanes and floods. As a result, resilience and climate adaptation have become top priorities in building design and construction.?

In 2025, the trend toward building more resilient structures will only intensify. Developers and architects will need to create buildings that can withstand extreme weather events, rising sea levels, and other climate risks. This could involve strengthening building foundations, improving insulation, installing flood barriers, and using fire-resistant materials.?

Additionally, adaptive reuse will become increasingly important as communities look to repurpose existing buildings rather than construct new ones, reducing both environmental impact and resource consumption. This type of forward-thinking design not only helps protect infrastructure but also ensures that communities remain functional and safe in the face of a changing climate.?

Lazaridis School of Business and Economics

Wilfrid Laurier University, with the support of the provincial government, developed this state-of-the-art facility to accommodate the increasing demand for enrollment in its business and math programs. The Lazaridis School of Business and Economics is proudly LEED Gold and 2030 Challenge certified, setting a benchmark for sustainable design on a large scale.?

Prior to the design of the building, MTE initially provided environmental engineering support through a Designated Substance and Hazardous Building Materials Audit, the preparation of a Demolition Plan and tendering support for the demolition of the former St. Michael’s elementary school building. ?

MTE also provided civil engineering services, completing the site grading and servicing, and stormwater management design and assisted the project team through the site plan and building permit approvals processes. In addition, MTE also completed the topographical survey and prepared the salt management plan for the site. Again, the building is designed to meet LEED Gold standards. For this aspect, MTE collaborated with the mechanical consultant and landscape architect to integrate a rainwater cistern into the stormwater management design that collected and recycled rainwater to be used for irrigation and for grey water applications.?

Prefabrication and Modular Construction: Speed and Efficiency

Prefabrication and modular construction are set to revolutionize the building industry in 2025. These methods, which involve manufacturing parts of a building off-site and assembling them on location, have been growing in popularity due to their efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and environmental benefits.?

The shift toward modular construction offers significant advantages, such as faster build times, reduced material waste, and greater precision. Pre-built modules are often made in controlled environments, which improves quality and reduces the risk of delays caused by weather conditions or supply chain issues. For example, Precast concrete is a modular form of construction that involves casting concrete elements in a controlled factory environment before transporting them to the construction site. These elements, which can include walls, floors, and columns, are assembled on-site to create the final structure.?

As the technology for modular and prefabricated components continues to evolve, builders will be able to create more complex structures with these methods, from high-rise apartment buildings to entire office complexes. Expect to see an increasing number of commercial and residential projects embracing this approach in 2025.?

Circa 1877

Completed in 2020, Circa 1877 embraced a modular design, featuring 20 stories of precast concrete construction. As one of the first condominiums of its kind in Waterloo, the building thoughtfully incorporates a section of the original fa?ade from a historic craft brewery. Our team provided structural, environmental, and building science engineering services throughout the project.?

Awarded the 2021 Ontario Concrete Award, we supported the site’s redevelopment by completing a Risk Assessment and securing environmental approvals. We also provided a Functional Servicing Report and designed the tower with precast concrete, ensuring the preservation of the historic fa?ade. A pool was added above the parking structure, requiring a waterproofing system, and we conducted a Designated Substance Audit before demolition and renovations.?

Architect: ABA Architects?

Exploring New Materials: Innovation in Construction

As demand for more sustainable and durable buildings grows, so does the exploration of new materials that can meet these needs. New innovations like mass timber, which uses sustainably sourced wood to create sturdy, carbon-sequestering buildings, are gaining traction. These materials are not only sustainable but also contribute to healthier indoor environments, as they regulate humidity and improve air quality. Similarly, advanced insulation materials, including aerogels and vacuum insulation panels, are making buildings more energy-efficient by reducing heat loss.?

YW Kitchener-Waterloo Supportive Housing?

As mass timber construction is gaining more traction,?the North American market continues to embrace mass timber design into new structures. The YW Kitchener-Waterloo Supportive Housing development is an example of a newly built mid-rise that incorporates mass timber in its design and construction. Supported by the Region of Waterloo, CMHC, and the Federal Government’s Rapid Housing Initiative, this project provides affordable housing for vulnerable women.?

Working with the Architect and Design Build Contractor, our Structural engineering professionals helped create a design that focused on energy-efficient modular construction. The 41-unit supportive housing features timber framing and cross-laminated timber (CLT) floor, roof, and wall panels. CLT substitutes typical building materials such as concrete, masonry, and steel one for one combined modular panel. This allows for a more cost-efficient and resilient system. The exterior of the building consists primarily of EIFS with punch-style residential windows and an exposed concrete style stucco fa?ade.?

Our Civil engineering team developed solutions related to the servicing, grading and stormwater management solutions for the site that incorporated both phases of the development. To meet the City’s stormwater management requirements, a riverstone lined retention swale and a rain garden were proposed to promote infiltration.?

Architect: Edge Architects

Market Dynamics: Shifting Demands and the Rise of Smart Cities & Mixed-use Developments

The construction market is being heavily influenced by shifting societal demands and evolving urban landscapes. In 2025, demand for mixed-use developments and urban regeneration projects will continue to rise, particularly in major cities. As more people live in urban areas, there is an increasing need for multifunctional spaces that combine residential, commercial, and recreational areas.?

The concept of smart cities, which integrates technology with infrastructure to improve quality of life and sustainability, is also gaining traction. Buildings in smart cities will feature advanced technologies such as AI-driven systems for energy management, waste reduction, and security. In turn, this will push the market toward the integration of smart infrastructure into everyday construction.?

The Well

Speaking of anticipated mixed-use developments, The Well, located in Toronto’s west district, is the latest major project of its kind. The space features 1.1 million square feet of office space, 500,000 square feet of retail and dining, and 1,700 residential units across six interconnected buildings —making it the city’s first truly integrated mixed-use project. The design focuses on pedestrian accessibility and integrates seamlessly with surrounding laneways. A glass canopy covers the primary East-West passage, offering year-round protection while maintaining an open-air feel.?

MTE provided structural steel framing services for various sections, including the Market Hall, Condominiums, feature walls, exterior canopies, and elevator bays, ensuring aesthetic appeal and structural integrity. MTE also oversaw construction activities to ensure compliance with the Ontario Building Code and PEO guidelines.?

Architects: BDP Quadrangle, architects—Alliance, Wallman Architects, Adamson Associates Architects, and Hariri Pontarini.?

Photography: Tridel Condos, New Condo Developments & Luxury Condos

Conclusion

The construction industry in 2025 is set for an exciting transformation. With a growing focus on sustainability, climate resilience, and the use of new technologies and materials, the future of building is all about innovation and adaptability. ?

Developers, architects, engineers and contractors will need to stay on top of these trends and work together to tackle the challenges ahead. As we move forward, MTE is staying ahead of the curve, keeping up with the industry’s evolving demands and providing our clients with the right solutions for their projects.?