British Columbia Wood Design Awards

The VanDusen Botnical Garden Visitor Center, in Vancouver, British Columbia, was designed by Perkins + Will. Photo: Courtesy Wood WORKS! BC

The Perkins + Will-designed VanDusen Botanical Garden Visitor Centre was one of nine British Columbia projects recognized in the 2013 Wood Works BC Design Awards. The highlight of building's design is its curving roof.

Awarded for innovation in wood design, the prefabricated structure of the visitor center was assembled in 71 panels, each made of 100 uniquely curving glulam beams. FSC-certified Doug fir was used in the panels, along with insulation, electrical conduits, fire suppression plumbing, and acoustic materials.  Elsewhere in the building, FSC-certified wood, including that from on-site salvage and harvest activities, make up other elements of the building's structure and finish materials, including custom door handles.

At the building's entrance, the roof extends well beyond the curtain wall, forming a covered porch supported by three tapered, wood columns. Measuring 1,765 square meters (19,000 square feet) in area, the building accommodates a cafe, library, volunteer facilities, garden shop, offices, and flexible spaces used as classroom or rental event space.

LEED Platinum and Living Building Challenge certifications are anticipated.

Queen of Peace Monastery, in Squamish Valley, by Aka Architecure. Photo: Courtesy Wood WORKS! BC

The eight additional buildings to receive category-specific awards were:

Centre for Interactive Research on Sustainability (CIRS)
by Peter Busby of Perkins+Will
(Green Building Award)

Solar Crest, on Sidney Island, British Columbia
by Helliwell + Smith Blue Sky Architecture
(Residential Wood Design)

Monad, in Vancouver, British Columbia
by Lang Wilson Practice in Architecture Culture (LWPAC)
(Multi-Unit Residential Wood Design)

Bioenergy Research and Demonstration Facility, in Vancouver, British Columbia
by McFarland Marceau Architects Ltd.
(Commercial Wood Design)

Queen of Peace Monastery, in Squamish Valley, British Columbia
by aka architecture + design inc.
(Interior Beauty Design)

Klahoose First Nation New Relationship Centre, in Cortes Island, British Columbia
by Merrick Architecture - Borowski Sakumoto Fligg Ltd.
(Institutional Wood Design - Small)

Perkins + Will also designed the Earth Sciences Building in Vancouver. Photo: Courtesy Wood WORKS! BC

Earth Sciences Building, in Vancouver, British Columbia
by Perkins + Will
(Institutional Wood Design - Large)

The Urban Longhouse, in North Vancouver, British Columbia
by Pam Chilton, Zimba Design
(Western Red Cedar)

The winning projects in 12 categories were selected from a total of 98 nominees.

Equilibrium Consulting were the engineers for the new Prince George, British Columbia airport building. The firm received an award for leadership in wood design. Photo: Courtesy Wood WORKS! BC

Merrick Architecture - Borowski Sakumoto Fligg, Ltd. designed the New Relationship Center on Cortes Island for the Klahoose First Nation. Photo: Courtesy Wood WORKS! BC

Monad, a prototype housing project in Vancouver designed by Lang Wilson Practice in Architecture Culture (LWPAC). Photo: Courtesy Wood WORKS! BC

The western red cedar-clad Urban Longhouse in North Vancouver, British Columbia. Photo: Courtesy Wood WORKS! BC