How Polygon’s Smart Moisture Control System Protected a Mass Timber Student Housing Project

Amid the rise of sustainable architecture, mass timber has become a powerful symbol of progress — a material that marries renewable design with modern efficiency. Yet, in the damp climate of Vancouver, BC, sustainability meets its match: moisture. Managing humidity levels in large-scale wood construction isn’t just a matter of comfort; it’s about protecting structural integrity, schedule, and long-term performance. For the University of the Fraser Valley’s new student housing project, these challenges were amplified by the region’s relentless rainfall and the building’s unique E-shaped design, which trapped moisture in stubborn corners.

Enter Polygon — and more specifically, Sean Smith, the company’s Vancouver Branch Manager. Tasked by Clark Builders to safeguard the project, Smith and his team engineered a fully integrated moisture control system that turned real-time data into action. Over 50 sensors were installed across the site to monitor both ambient conditions and the internal moisture levels of the CLT (cross-laminated timber) floors. These sensors communicated directly with an intelligent network of desiccant dehumidifiers and heaters, automatically adjusting output to maintain optimal conditions.

The result? A system that not only protected materials but also optimized energy use and streamlined workflow. Manual moisture checks were replaced by live dashboards, and project teams gained confidence backed by data, not guesswork. What could have been weeks of weather-induced delays turned into a masterclass in proactive environmental control.

To understand how smart systems and strategic thinking kept this mass timber project on track — and why automation may be the future of construction moisture management — we turn to Sean Smith, Branch Manager at Polygon, who helped lead the charge on the University of the Fraser Valley’s student housing project.