Ontario Wood WORKS! Award Winners demonstrate wood construction is
sustainable, versatile

TORONTO , Nov. 5 /CNW/ - An elite group of Ontario's leading architects, engineers, and project teams will be presented with Wood Design Awards tonight at the 9th annual Wood WORKS! awards celebration. The awards recognize people and organizations advancing the use of wood in non-residential construction.

"We are thrilled to see more design professionals specifying wood in a wider variety of building types," said Marianne Berube , Wood WORKS! Ontario's Executive Director. "This year's winners are diverse, demonstrating wood's exceptional versatility. The winning projects range in size from a small, off-the-grid eco-retreat to a formidable art gallery expansion, and cover diverse uses including a hospital, concert hall, winery and library."

"Wood is chosen for its structural strength, beauty, lower cost, and significant environmental attributes," said Berube. "People are beginning to understand that wood is the world's only major renewable building material and that building with wood from sustainably managed forests, like those in Ontario, is an environmentally responsible choice. Using wood reduces greenhouse gasses, decreases energy consumption, and helps fight climate change."

Working with the design community, Wood WORKS! connects practitioners with resources related to the use of wood in non-residential construction, assists in product sourcing, and delivers educational seminars and training opportunities.

"We are proud to honour people who, through their work with wood, enrich our built environment and lead the way for future excellence and innovation in wood design and building," concluded Berube.

    
    Complete details and colour photos of the 12 award winners are available
    on request.
    

Wood WORKS! is a national, industry-led initiative of the Canadian Wood Council that promotes the use of wood in commercial, industrial and institutional construction. www.woodworksawards.com - www.wood-works.org - www.planetfriendlycanada.com

For further information: or to arrange interviews contact Sarah Hicks: [phone], [email protected]