Two Northern Ontario creations have been recognized by the Ontario Wood WORKS! program for design excellence.
The St. Victor Catholic School in Mattawa was bestowed the Institutional Commercial Wood Design Award (under $10 million) sponsored by Resolute Forest Products. The architect was Larocque Elder Architects, Architectes Inc. based in North Bay and the engineer was Halsall Associates Ltd., which has a Sudbury office.
The Victoria Linklater Memorial School in North Spirit Lake received the Northern Ontario Excellence Award sponsored by FedNor. The project was designed by Architecture 49, which has offices in Timmins, Thunder Bay and Sudbury, and engineered by WSP Group.
The program recognizes people and organizations which, through design excellence, advocacy, and innovation, are advancing the use of wood in all types of construction.
"The role of wood in commercial and institutional construction is growing," said Marianne Berube, executive director of the Ontario Wood WORKS! program, in a news release. "Over the last 14 years, we've seen all kinds of wood buildings nominated for awards and this year is no exception."
Berube said wood’s advantages include environmental benefits, and time and cost savings. This year marked a special celebration because six-storey wood-frame building has been approved for the Ontario Building Code.
