Award

Winner

Green Building Wood Design

 

Sponsored by OWL Distribution

Bridgenorth, ON: Bridgenorth Library and Community Hall

Levitt Goodman Architects Ltd., Blackwell Bowick Partnership Ltd.

By constructing the 8,500 square foot main branch of the Bridgenorth public library entirely from wood products, the project team was able to set the tone of a great lodge or grand community cottage that takes cues from the nearby landscape and supports the Town’s vision.  Wood frame construction, beyond the straightforward advantage of using a renewable and sustainable resource, made it possible for the design team to implement additional sustainable design elements.  Veering away from conventional construction detailing, the team exposed as much of the wood structure as possible.  This strategy included exposing the wood framing in the walls, much of which is not hidden behind the typical layer of gypsum board, thus eliminating a large quantity of material that would normally be required.  The porous nature of the exposed wood and its high level of surface articulation absorbs and disperses sound which negated any need for acoustic treatments in the library spaces.  The economical cost of wood frame construction allowed the project team to include other sustainable design techniques without going over budget.

Interior Wood Design

 

Sponsored by the Ministry of Northern Development, Mines and Forestry

Toronto, ON:  Royal Conservatory of Music, Koerner Concert Hall

Kuwabara Payne McKenna Blumberg Architects, Halcrow Yolles

The idea of a ceiling 'veil' structure was conceived to reduce the imposing presence of the acoustic reflector, required by the acoustician, over the stage. The design began with the concept of a wood ceiling veil springing from the chorus level, rising towards the ceiling, and sailing across the reflector to the back of the hall. The form evolved from a concept of segmented elements to more fluid curvilinear forms after the team examined buildings with long span curved wood beam roof structures. The ribbon-like structure of the ceiling veil is a metaphor for the strings of a musical instrument.  The technical level lighting bridges from which the strings are suspended represent the frets of a stringed instrument. The architectural focal point of the concert hall is the wood ceiling veil, however, in order to maintain a feeling of warmth and continuity of materials within the room, wood was used on the majority of the surfaces. In order to maintain the acoustic rating of N1 within the hall, curves and textured surfaces were utilized on different scales, from large curving walls in the corners of the room and sweeping curves of the balcony fronts, to the fine raked texture on many of the wood surfaces. The balcony fronts alone are composed of a continuous arc, broken down by individual curved planks with a raked surface. Like a well constructed violin, the concert hall uses a language of curving wood forms to shape the acoustics of the room.

Residential Wood Design

Sponsored by Weyerhaeuser

Wasaga Beach, ON:  aerieLOFT

Breathe Architects, C+C Engineers Inc.

Northern white cedar was chosen for the aerieLOFT because of it malleability, beautiful aging process and nostalgic scent.  Cedar was also chosen for its rot and insect resistant qualities and because it can be supplied from a 250km radius.  The structure comes as a finished product or as pre-assembled parts.  It was first introduced during the 2009 ‘Green Living Show’ where it was well received by the public.  The structure serves as an extra room or ‘bunkie’ located in either cottage country or a forested backyard.  With solar panels for electricity, rain water harvesting, and white cedar rain water column / compost toilet, the assemblage becomes ‘off-the-grid’. The Aerie is a beautiful sail-like structure that is made head to toe of Eastern white cedar.  This 10-by-11-foot self-contained room with sweeping 17-foot ceilings even has a second-floor loft big enough to fit a queen-sized bed. All natural.  All wood.  All green.  In summer, you can immerse yourself in nature with the aerie fully open.  Yet when it matters, be sheltered from inclement weather.  Simple, smart and small, aerieLOFT’s designer, Martin Liefhebber, says it’s really a lean-to with mosquito screens that happens to come with a few extra comforts, like a composting toilet, a clean-burning EPA-certified wood stove, a simple rainwater catchment system and an outdoor passive solar shower.

Multi-Unit Wood Design

Sponsored by the Ontario Wood Truss Fabricators Association

Welland, ON: Seaway Pointe, Phase 1

Jonathan Weizel Architect, Hallex Engineering Ltd.

This 4-storey, 72-unit, residential condominium was completed in September 2009 and is Welland’s only waterfront condominium. Wood framing was chosen because it was a less costly system when compared to other construction methods.  Wood construction helped the developer achieve its goal: to provide quality, affordable housing for every lifestyle.  4-storeys were achieved by fully sprinklering the building and by dividing the building into two blocks by the use of a firewall to reduce the building area of each block.  Wall framing was panelized off-site. The development is a pragmatic, efficient and attractive architectural design with the highest-quality, innovative materials available – a combination that appeals to homeowners across the country.

Commercial Wood Design

Sponsored by Abitibi Bowater

Beamsville, ON:  Fielding Estate Winery

superkül inc | architect, Blackwell Bowick Partnership

From the outset, the building was conceived of by the owners and the architect as one closely tied in with both the landscape and the vernacular agricultural architecture of southern Ontario.  As such, it was always a building that was honest in its form and use of materials – true to its purpose as a working agricultural building.  The use of wood predominates.  Clad in knotty cedar, the winery sets itself into the 18-acre vineyard site, tied in with the woody vines and against the trees of the Bruce Trail that borders the vineyard to the south.  Warm in its expression, the form and materiality of the building clearly evoke those of a traditional barn.  Inside, the largely bipartite programme of production and retail spaces sits under the long clear span gabled roof.  Required to accommodate the large vats and equipment of the production area, the clear span – achieved with exposed and carefully detailed black spruce glulam beams – visually and spatially integrates the production and retails spaces to give the visitor a fuller experience of the winery.

Institutional Wood Design

Toronto, ON:  Native Child and Family Services Longhouse

Levitt Goodman Architects, Blackwell Bowick Partnership

Native Child and Family Services is an agency providing services to the native children and families in Toronto.  The new headquarters on College Street are intended to represent native heritage in a contemporary way that reflects the unique situation of the urban native.  The longhouse is a structure within the larger facility that serves as a spiritual meeting place.  The form and materiality of the structure is derived quite explicitly from traditional longhouses where wood is the sole building material.  In this case, the entire structure was completed with local cedar. The thoroughly contemporary construction techniques and details of this longhouse are intended to inspire optimism and confidence for the native person in the urban context.  The structure of the longhouse consists of a reciprocal frame arch.

The reciprocal frame is an ancient building technique derived from weave patterns which allow spans to be achieved with short members, none of which are long enough to cover the whole span.  In the case of an arch, the reciprocal frame also allows a curved surface to be created with short straight members. The efficiency of the arch allows the span to be achieved with much smaller members than what would have been required for a flat structure. The traditional longhouse structure includes closed ends, not usual for a reciprocal frame arch. The geometric wrapping of the reciprocal frame around the ends is a very unique aspect of this project. The complex geometry and architectural intent precluded the use of light steel hardware at the connection points. Connections were mocked up and tested to verify their capacity, which fell outside of the range of application of normal design techniques.

Institutional Wood Design

Sponsored by Natural Resources Canada

Toronto, ON:  Transformation AGO,  Art Gallery of Ontario

Gehry International Inc., Halcrow Yolles

Construction for the new AGO began in 2005 and finished in 2008.  The renovation added 97,000 square feet of newly built space, bringing the total square footage to 583,000.  The architect’s aim was to create an interior space that was welcoming and intimate yet powerful, which was accomplished by incorporating natural elements throughout the building.  The strategic use of wood played a key part in helping to realize many of the building’s striking features.  The strength of wood is most evident in its application as the supporting structure for the Dundas Façade.  Comprised of 1800 glulam members, each one within the 600 ft façade has a unique configuration.  The unique geometry used required new methods of communicating technical information between the project team. During the design and construction phases, 3D models became the standard for expressing design intent, coordination of information and reviewing the construction progress of the project. The wood framing system is unique to this project, and is informed not only by architectural intent, but also by the character of the existing structure to which it connects. The strength of the Douglas Fir glulam was relied upon heavily, in order to minimize the volume of structural materials used. Each of the framing members was evaluated against 200 different loading combinations, which include the weight of the structure and the glazing it supports, environmental considerations such as wind gusts from multiple directions, accumulation of snow, temperature fluctuations, the possibility of seismic events, in addition to several other potential scenarios.

The desire for thorough and innovative solutions was continued into construction where new methodologies for the design of concealed connections were developed, which made full use of CNC technologies. The concept of utilizing Douglas Fir Glulam to support the curtainwall was applied consistently throughout the feature areas of the building, including the skylight above Walker Court and full height windows for the 30ft tall galleries of the new Contemporary Tower.

In addition to the structural role wood played within the striking AGO Transformation, the beauty of wood is exhibited extensively throughout the building as a finish material for walls, stairs, ramps and furniture. Although wood is utilized extensively throughout the building, it has been done so in a responsible manner, with emphasis placed using engineered wood products rather than solid wood products. The various applications of wood throughout Transformation AGO demonstrate its versatility. The vision and success achieved for Transformation AGO would not have been possible with the versatility and durability of wood products.

Northern Ontario Excellence Award

Sponsored by FedNor

Mattawa, ON: Hôpital Général Mattawa General Hospital

Larocque Elder Architects Architectes Inc. and ANO Architects/Architectes Inc. in joint venture, Halsall Associates Ltd.

The town of Mattawa, Ontario is deeply rooted in Canadian logging history and known for its importance as a hub for the lumber trade. The name Mattawa translates to "meeting of the waters" in Ojibwa and the town was given that name because of its location at the confluence of the Mattawa and Ottawa Rivers in the Nippissing District.  Conscious that the fabric of the town was built around the logging industry, the Mattawa General Hospital pays tribute to the city's rich logging history by its varied use of structural and non-structural wood components.  Just as the hospital is charged with delivering "health care", as design professionals, we have an obligation as purveyors of environmentally healthy building construction. Not only does the new Mattawa General Hospital provide a fluent dialogue between new building and historical context, it serves as an "architectural medication" to the environment by using locally grown and supplied renewable wood materials.

Through the use of wood in this hospital, the project has contributed to:

• Lowering energy consumption and solid waste produced in the manufacturing process

• Reducing air and water pollution associated with manufacturing the building structure

• Conserving limited resources by using a renewable product

• Providing an example for other institutional projects on the cost effective use of engineered wood products in their facilities.

Jury’s Choice Award

           
Sponsored by Tembec

Toronto, ON:  Rees, Simcoe and Spadina WaveDecks

WEST 8 + DTAH in joint venture, Halsall Associates Ltd.

The Spadina WaveDeck was the first of several structures born of an international design competition for Toronto's Central Waterfront. Collectively, this series of 'WaveDecks' is intended to form the basis of a memorable identity for the waterfront, in playful homage to the rural cottage dock – therefore timber construction is fundamental to the project.  From an engineering point of view, the timber design allows the structure to achieve complex geometric forms without the need for additional cladding or finishes to make them publicly accessible. For instance, the timber beams that span the 60 metre slip also form the stairs, risers, and treads of the deck. The glue-laminated structure and hardwood decking ensure superior durability in the harsh marine environment of the slip, while offering a warmer, more tactile experience than steel or concrete construction. Ultimately, the wooden structure celebrates and showcases the carpentry skills and craftsmanship of the construction team, in the spirit of traditional Canadian timber building.

The WaveDeck is a uniquely Canadian structure that exists nowhere else in the world.  The geometry of the WaveDeck’s impressive curves is unprecedented and a remarkable use of Ipe wood and glulam costal yellow cedar.  The WaveDeck is an ‘urban dock’ that is both a piece of art and a functional gathering space.  It is a completely flexible structural space.  The stairs act as an informal amphitheatre and the varying heights of the deck allow for different vantage points, and ultimately, different experiences with the lake.

The form of the Rees WaveDeck allows people to interpret the space in many different ways – the deck descends towards the water to form a large open space that serves as a gathering space during events or as a launch for marine activities.  The steps can be used as seating.  The 30m backless bench serves as an elegant barrier to the water while also providing seating for users of the space.  The bench was used as an alternative to the toe rails used in other portions of the waterfront and showcases the beauty of wood.

A strong design consideration for the Rees WaveDeck was its integration within the existing canoe and kayak club, which consists of a number of finger piers that are perpendicular to the slip wall.  The placement of the deck maintains continued access to all canoe and kayak piers while providing the general public with closer visual access to the club.

The form of the Simcoe WaveDeck similarly allows people to interpret the space in different ways – the large open space on the east side serves as a gathering space during events or as a staging space for buskers and other performers.  The steps can be used as seating while the two large swells provide a dynamic space which can be explored and conquered by adventurous users.  The 30m backless bench serves as an elegant barrier to the water while also providing seating for users of the space.  The bench was used as an alternative to the toe rails used in other portions of the waterfront and showcases the beauty of wood.  Slender stainless steel handrails follow the undulations of the waves in the deck at the water’s edge.  They curve inward to flow with the form of the deck, surrounding the swells in the deck’s surface.  The railings act as guides for wandering visitors and as an aid to those negotiating the slopes.

Engineer Wood Advocate Award

Sponsored by LP Building Products

David Moses, PhD, PEng, PE, LEED AP

Equilibrium Consulting Inc.

David Moses is a frequent lecturer on green building and timber engineering in Canada and the United States. David has broadly published articles on his research into timber and composite materials and has made numerous contributions to Structures Magazine, Wood le Bois, and Wood Design & Building.  He serves on three active committees for Wood WORKS! and is a valued speaker at educational events including the Wood Solutions Fairs, University Guest Lecture Series and Wood Design Luncheon Conferences.

His work as a structural engineer includes innovative and award-winning commercial, institutional and residential heavy timber projects in North America and parts of Asia. On the 180 meter long, 14 meter high glass and glulam façade wall of the Art Gallery of Ontario, Equilibrium Consulting was retained by the glulam supplier to develop concepts and carry out the detailed design and engineering for the hundreds of complex and geometrically different connections.  This is just one example of his leadership and excellence in glulam connection engineering.

Architect Wood Advocate Award

Sponsored by Grant Forest Products

Levitt Goodman Architects

This architectural firm’s work with wood, by setting an example, presents a persuasive argument to others to build with wood. Levitt Goodman Architects has a history of excellence in wood design, having won three individual project awards from Wood WORKS! in 2005.  Since then they’ve added more stunning wood projects to their portfolio, including the Trinity Community Recreation Centre and the Bridgenorth Library and Community Hall which has already honoured here tonight.  Levitt Goodman Architects have made significant and ongoing contributions to the growing body of exceptional wood architecture in our province.. Their commitment to designing buildings that function efficiently, are environmentally sustainable, and have a positive influence on the people who inhabit them has earned this firm the 2009 wood advocate award, architect.

Wood Champion Award

Sponsored by OFIA

Leszek Muniak, Larden Muniak Consulting Inc.

Building Code, Fire Protection and Life Safety Consultants

Les Muniak is an individual whose ongoing work continues to create opportunities for wood construction in Ontario and across Canada. A respected building code, fire protection and life safety consultant, his tireless commitment to excellence in his profession has made him a leader in his field.  His innovative designs and ground-breaking work in pioneering new techniques in fire protection and building code compliance (such as the fog fire suppression system at Credit Valley Hospital in Mississauga), his educational training seminars and presentations, his positions on the Ontario and National Building Code Committees, and his service on the Alberta Wood WORKS! Steering Committee make him this year’s Wood Champion.