A local school won a Wood Design Award yesterday at the 16th annual Wood WORKS! celebration in Toronto.
The awards honour people and organizations that, through design excellence, advocacy, and innovation, are advancing the use of wood in all types of construction.
Near North District School Board's Woodland Public School won the Northern Ontario Excellence Award, sponsored by FedNor.
"We are very proud of this award especially when our schools such as Woodland are a daily inspiration for our students and staff regarding the environment and living in Northern Ontario," Board Chairman David Thompson told BayToday.
"Situated next to a 17-acre urban forest, the design of Woodland Public School draws inspiration from the forest landscapes of Northern Ontario to create an environment of warmth and beauty while supporting and celebrating the wood culture so important to the area," said the judge's panel in a new release.
"The design features heavy timber roof construction in all the core areas, including the lobby, gymnasium, library, and main stairway. The wood creates a warm and welcoming environment within the school while meeting code requirements for non-combustible construction. Heavy timber glue-laminated columns are also featured prominently as a facade element at the library, acting as sun-shading devices while echoing the verticality of the nearby trees. Wood composite panels used in vertical elements on the facade further this design language, bringing the warmth and beauty of wood to the exterior while minimizing maintenance costs."
The interior of the school also features the extensive use of maple veneer and solid wood elements; maple veneer wall paneling provides a durable yet beautiful wall finish in high traffic public areas, solid maple benches with maple veneer cubbies above provide a place for students to change their shoes and store their bags, while maple veneer millwork throughout the facility brings a high-quality atmosphere to the classrooms and staff spaces.
Mitchell Architects of North Bay was responsible for the design and it was engineered by WSP Canada Inc. of Toronto.
“We are pleased to recognize excellence in modern architecture, and to honour leadership in wood design and construction through the Wood Design Award program,” said Marianne Berube, executive director of the Ontario Wood WORKS! program. “The winning projects of this year’s program showcase the many benefits of wood construction such as sustainability, versatility, and cost-effectiveness.”
Ontario Wood WORKS! presented 13 awards at the event. Ten awards went to specific wood projects and three were given to professionals for contributions to the building industry that advance the case for wood design and construction.
“Wood use is definitely increasing in the province and around the world, and not just because codes now permit its use in a wider range of buildings,” said Berube. “Wood has significant environmental advantages over competing materials and, with construction professionals and designers seeking lower carbon building alternatives and renewable materials, they are increasingly motivated to build with wood.”Berube.
Wood WORKS! is a national, industry-led initiative of the Canadian Wood Council that promotes and supports the use of wood in all types of construction.
