Wood Works! BC celebrated the best in wood leadership and innovation at the annual Wood Design Awards in Vancouver.
There were 114 nominations in 13 categories for the 2017 awards – a record number – with nominations from all over the province, as well as some national and international project submissions from as far away as Shanghai, China. All projects showcase distinctive and unique qualities of wood such as strength, beauty, versatility, and cost-effectiveness in a wide range of projects and a variety of wood uses.
The Wood Champion Award was presented to Dana Westermark, Oris Consulting, Richmond, who was one of the first to establish wood as the best material for five- and six- storey mid-rise wood frame residential construction.
Fast + Epp, Vancouver, was the recipient of the Engineer Award. The firm’s project, Grandview Heights Aquatic Centre, Surrey, was cited in the nomination for its unique undulating roof structure.
The Architect Award was presented to HCMA Architecture + Design, Vancouver. The firm has been a leader in supporting the movement toward using wood as a first choice in design and construction.
The Wood Innovation Award was Iain Weir-Jones, Weir-Jones Group, Vancouver, for Shoreline by MGA in Vancouver. The jury felt that the wood created a contemporary design with unique warmth and character to stimulate and promote a healthy office and shop environment.
The Vancouver Coastal Health Authority was presented with the Environmental Performance Award for Bella Bella Passive House, Bella Bella.
“With wood now recognized for its ability to significantly reduce carbon impacts in our built environment and increase construction efficiency, it is playing a leading role in a design and building revolution. The relentless exploration of new frontiers with wood is the foundation of our awards program,” said Lynn Embury-Williams, executive director of Wood WORKS! BC.
Winners in the wood design categories include:
Residential Wood Design: Bo Helliwell and Kim Smith, Helliwell + Smith | Blue Sky Architecture, West Vancouver – Arbutus House, Victoria
Multi-Unit Residential Wood Design: Innovation Building Group Ltd., represented by: Ron Nadeau, Whistler – Solana, Whistler
Commercial Wood Design: Chris Jacques, Read Jones Christoffersen Ltd., Vancouver – Tsawwassen Mills, Tsawwassen
Interior Beauty Design: Rod Windjack, HDR | CEI Architecture Associates Inc., Vancouver – Mulgrave Senior School Addition, West Vancouver
Institutional Wood Design – Small: Shelley Craig, Urban Arts Architecture, Vancouver – UBC Engineering Student Centre, Vancouver
Institutional Wood Design – Large: Patkau Architects, represented by: Patricia and John Patkau, Vancouver – Audain Art Museum, Whistler
Western Red Cedar: Franc D’Ambrosio, D’AMBROSIO architecture + urbanism, Victoria – Cadboro Bay Residence, Saanich
International Wood Design: Michael Green, MGA | MICHAEL GREEN ARCHITECTURE, Vancouver | Steve Cavanaugh, DLR Group, Chicago, IL, U.S. – T3, Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.
Jury’s Choice award: Kengo Kuma, Kengo Kuma and Associates, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan – Shaw Tower Teahouse, Vancouver
Photo Credit: Wood WORKS! BC – 2017 Wood Design Awards in B.C.
