PAGE A6 – December 2008 – The GTA Construction Report
Wood WORKS! Awards Gala achieves
record nominations, highlights excellence
STAFF WRITER – The GTA Construction Report
The GTA and central Ontario was well represented at the 8th an-
nual Wood WORKS! Awards gala, with winners and nominations in
several categories.
The awards celebrate excellence and innovation in wood build-
ings, while recognizing people and organizations who are dedicated
to pioneering and preserving the use of wood in construction.
The gala was held on November 12 in Toronto. The awards re-
ceived a record number of nominations this year, making the win-
ners that much more impressive.
Winners:
Green Building Wood Design: - Francis J. Lapointe Architects
and Blackwell Bowick Partnership Inc for the Fifth Town Artison
Cheese Factory in Price Edward County.
This 4,200 sq.-ft. facility is a mixed use building, employed in
the manufacturing and retailing of artisan cheeses. Wood was used
for this structure because it is the most sustainable building mate-
rial choice. Life Cycle Assessment demonstrates that the environ-
mental profile of wood offers a clear advantage over other building
materials. It generates less air and water pollution, creates less solid
waste, and has lower embodied energy. There were many features
that contributed to the buildings overall environmental perform-
ance. In addition to material choices, the building was designed to
be durable, use far less energy and water than a typical design, min-
imize impact on the adjacent site, minimize transportation to and
from the building site, and increase indoor air quality for the occu-
pants.
Institutional Wood Design > $10M: - Shore Tilbe Irwin Partners and Halcrow Yolles Inc. for the
Cassie Campbell Community Centre in Brampton.
At this 175,000 sq.-ft. community centre, wood structural, architectural and cladding components
were used for a combination of technical and aesthetic reasons. The City of Brampton wanted architec-
ture that was bold and modern, but that would fit into a residential context and convey a warm and invit-
ing atmosphere. The client and architect felt the need to develop an architectural language that was
uniquely Canadian and that would exemplify a civic presence for this community.
Heavy timber, wood composite cladding and natural Wiarton limestone are used to create an archi-
tecture with a regional materiality and character. The Cassie Campbell Community Centre uses the trans-
parency and openness of its architectural forms to market its programming to the greater community.
Multi-Unit Wood Design: - Montgomery Sisam Architects Inc. and Blackwell Bowick Partnership
Inc. for the Ontario Mission of the Deaf in Barrie.
Ontario Mission of the Deaf is an inviting collection of wood clad volumes reminiscent of the lake-
side cottages that are characteristic in the area. In addition to the aesthetic appeal of the wood cladding,
it was found to be an extremely cost effective material when compared to brick and stone. Taking ad-
vantage of the large lot, the design is developed over one level with a variety of double-height spaces.
This design is conducive to seniors who depend on a visually oriented environment by providing diffuse
light from clerestory windows and skylights to eliminate harsh shadows and silhouettes.
The resident areas are divided into smaller ‘houses’ to create a more intimate and home-like atmos-
phere. Each bedroom has views to either a landscape courtyard or surrounding wood and parkland. The
careful application of wood finishes throughout the interior and exterior provide a familiar and uplifting
environment for residents.
For a complete list of winners, see the December 2008 issue of the
Ontario Construction Report.
* all project descriptions and artwork provided by Wood WORKS!
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