The Canadian Wood Council’s Wood WORKS! BC program recognizes excellence in contemporary design and building with wood in Vancouver at the virtual 16^th Wood Design Awards in B.C. Many design and building professionals joined the virtual event, including architects, structural engineers, members of project teams, local government, industry sponsors and guests.

Winners and nominees of the Wood WORKS! BC 2020 Wood Design Awards were honoured and recognized for their leadership and innovation in structural and architectural wood use.

BC Provincial Minister Katrine Conroy (Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development) provided a special message, congratulating the award winners while also outlining some of the forest industry changes her government is currently working on. She also mentioned a number of high – profile wood buildings in BC that are expected to get underway soon.

There were over 50 nominations in 9 categories for the 2020 awards – with nominations from all over the province, as well as some international project submissions from as far away as Taiyuan, China. All projects illustrate distinctive and unique qualities of wood such as strength, beauty, versatility, and cost- effectiveness while showcasing a variety of wood uses.

“With wood now recognized for its ability to significantly reduce greenhouse gas impacts in our built environment and increase construction efficiency, it now plays a leading role in the current design and building revolution. The continued exploration of new frontiers with wood is the foundation of our awards program and the projects presented here this evening provide a view into the future,” explained Lynn Embury-Williams, Executive Director of Wood WORKS! BC.

This year’s winners in the wood design categories include:

• Residential Wood Design: Perkins&Will, Vancouver, BC, for SoLo in the Soo Valley, BC
• Multi-unit Wood Design: Studio 531 Architects, Vancouver, BC for Cubes in Courtenay, BC
• Environmental Performance:  Public Architecture and Communication, Kelowna, BC for UBCO Skeena Residence in Kelowna, BC
• Commercial Wood Design: Proscenium Architecture and Interiors, Vancouver, BC for MEC Vancouver Retail Store in Vancouver, BC
• Institutional Wood Design: Small: dk Architecture, North Vancouver, BC for the Skeetchestn Health Centre in Savona, BC
• Institutional Wood Design: Large: Lubor Trubka Associates Architects, Vancouver, BC for the Tsleil-Waututh Administration and Health Centre in North Vancouver, BC
• Western Red Cedar: HDR Architecture Associates, Penticton, BC for the Lakehouse in Summerland, BC
• Wood Innovation:  Perkins&Will, Vancouver, BC for the Pavilion at Great Northern Way in Vancouver, BC

• International Wood Design: Michael Green Architecture, Vancouver, BC the Catalyst Building in Spokane, Washington, USA

Two Jury’s Choice awards were also awarded. The first award went to Waymark Architecture in Victoria, BC for the Charter Telecom Headquarters located in Victoria, BC. The second Jury’s Choice award went to Francl Architecture Inc. in Vancouver, BC for the West Village District Energy Centre located in Surrey, BC.

Ms. Embury-Williams gratefully acknowledges the nine forest industry sponsors; Canfor, Conifex, the BC Council of Forest Industries, FPInnovations, the Gorman Group, Interfor, the Interior Lumber Manufacturers Association, West Fraser Timber and Western Forest Products.

To learn more about the Wood Design Awards in BC, please visit the Wood WORKS! BC website at Wood WORKS! BRITISH COLUMBIA – Wood-Works. Wood WORKS! is a national industry‐led program of the Canadian Wood Council, with a goal to support innovation and provide leadership on the use of wood products and systems.

Through workshops, seminars, conferences and case studies, Wood WORKS! provides education, training and direct technical assistance to building and design professionals, and local governments involved with commercial, institutional and industrial projects throughout BC.

About

Wood WORKS! is a national industry‐led program of the Canadian Wood Council, with a goal to support innovation and provide leadership on the use of wood products and systems.

Through workshops, seminars, conferences and case studies, Wood WORKS! provides education, training and direct technical assistance to building and design professionals, and local governments involved with commercial, institutional and industrial projects throughout BC.

wood-works.ca/bc