WoodWorks announces its 2015 Wood Design Award Winners

<a href="http://www.woodworks.org/" target="_blank">WoodWorks</a>, an initiative of the Wood Products Council, just announced the winners of its 2015 Wood Design Awards at the Bay Area Wood Solutions Fair in Oakland, and the designs are stunning! The buildings celebrate innovative thinking in the use of <a href="http://inhabitat.com/tag/timber-construction/" target="_blank">timber</a> and expand the possibilities of its use by bringing wood's costs, sustainability and other advantages into the limelight. Sixteen projects were chosen in nine categories: Institutional <a href="http://inhabitat.com/tag/wood-furniture/" target="_blank">Wood Design</a>, Wood School Design, Commercial Wood Design, Multi-Story Wood Design, Beauty of Wood, Green Building with Wood, Traditional Use of Wood, Innovative Wood Engineering, Regional Excellence and Jury’s Choice.

<a href="http://unews.utah.edu/news_releases/u-architecture-students-and-girl-scouts-build-the-future/" target="_blank">Project:ARCHITECTURE</a> in Provo Canyon, Utah, is a camp designed to inspire young girls to consider careers in design and construction. The cabins were constructed with solid wood panels using locally-sourced wood damaged by pine beetles. Floors and roofs were made using 12-inch thick Brettstapel panels; this solid timber construction system uses softwood timber posts connected with hardwood timber dowels instead of glue or nails. The project won in the category of Regional Excellence.

In the category of Regional Excellence, Angeles National Forest Supervisor’s Office Building in Arcadia, California, by <a href="http://hmcarchitects.com/" target="_blank">HMC Architects</a>, is a 24,000-square-foot project designed to achieve LEED Gold certification and provides a comfortable and energy-efficient working environment through the use of daylighting, ventilation, recycled and renewable materials, energy-efficient lighting and building systems.

The Mojave Rivers Ranger Station in Acton, California, winner in the category of Wood in Government Buildings, utilizes traditional desert materials like rammed earth and adobe, but is in fact made from seismic-resistant reinforced concrete. The designers, <a href="http://wonglogan.com/projects/" target="_blank">Marcy Wong Donn Logan Architects</a>, deployed various passive energy strategies to achieve an enviable energy-efficient performance. The building has roof-mounted thin film photovoltaics, a cool roof, high performance glass, and a geothermal ground source heat pump system to precondition water temperature for the building’s heat pump.

Winner in Multi-Story Wood Design, The N-Habit Belltown Apartments, located in downtown Seattle, is Charter’s and Seattle’s largest modularly constructed project. The building, designed by <a href="http://www.bushnaqstudio.com/" target="_blank">Bushnaq Studio Architecture + Design</a>, was built from 46 individual modular sections and was assembled together in two, 48-hour shifts. The modular sections were built offsite and then transported to the jobsite via flatbed truck for final assembly.

Reveley Classroom Building at the University of Idaho in Moscow is a working example of the variety of raw and engineered wood products that the state of Idaho produces. The project won in the category of Green Building with Wood. <a href="http://patanostudio.com/" target="_blank">Patano Studio Architecture</a> incorporated double-stud and cellulose insulation wall assembly with rigid insulation on the roof in conjunction with a wood burning fireplace result in a low-energy use building.

SAC Federal Credit Union Headquarters in Papillion, Nebraska, designed by <a href="http://leoadaly.com/" target="_blank">LEO A DALY</a>, is a 95,000-square-foot, four-story building, which houses as many as 250 employees. It was designed to include sustainable building materials, responsible energy-efficient mechanical and lighting systems, and lifecycle cost- saving measures. Chilled beams and radiant heating, air-to-air energy recovery wheels and a geo-thermal well field will provide significant energy savings. The project won in the category of Regional Excellence.

St. Edward Catholic Church in Keizer, Oregon, which won in the category of Regional Excellence, can hold up to 750 people. It was conceived as a lantern, a beacon, to the local community. To that end, <a href="http://www.diloretoarchitecture.com/" target="_blank">Di Loreto Architecture</a> designed the new 12,000-square-foot church consisting of a solid base structure above which sits a glass lens enclosing the sanctuary below. It is a direct response to the parishioners' desire for daylight, transparency and symbol.

Winner in Commercial Wood Design, the <a href="http://www.sauter-timber.com/" target="_blank">Sauter Timber </a>Production Facility in Rockwood, Tennessee, is much stronger and more attractive than the standard metal buildings more commonly used for these types of production facilities. Built from cost-effective CLT and glulam, the structure boasts a 23-foot-high ceiling while supporting a six-ton bridge crane designed to carry heavy timber trusses during production.

Winner of the Beauty in Wood award, the Stapleton Library in Staten Island, NY, is a new branch of the New York Public Library and introduces an additional space of 7,000 square feet to the existing facilities. The new structure, designed by architect <a href="http://andrewbermanarchitect.com/projects/stapleton_library" target="_blank">Andrew Berman</a>, is constructed of glue laminated Douglas fir posts, beams and joists, with a Douglas fir roof deck. The framed structure is exposed, while the structurally glazed façade was “applied” to the structural posts within the building.

<a href="http://www.gantthuberman.com/" target="_blank">Gantt Huberman Architects</a> renovated University of North Carolina's Dining Hall at Greensboro, showcasing the beauty of heavy timber on a grand scale. The 119,000-square-foot project has an arched glulam roof structure, designed to resolve the complex geometrical challenges imposed by the five existing building wings arranged around a pentagon-shaped central space. The project won in the Regional Excellence category.

Venture Capital Office Headquarters in Menlo Park, California, by <a href="http://paulmurdocharchitects.com/" target="_blank">Paul Murdoch Architects</a>, won in Commercial Wood Design: Office. The project is a two-story office building is made of prefabricated steel modules set on a concrete parking podium. The design is developed from an initial concept of Ray Kappe and the owner, and in collaboration with Living Homes as prefabricated module consultant.

Burr Burton Academy Mountain Campus in Peru, Vermont, by <a href="http://bensonwood.com/" target="_blank">Bensonwood</a>, is built from locally-sourced building materials.The insulation, windows, orientation, roof overhangs, and all other design elements were specified with the intention of creating a beautiful building that was very energy-efficient and would be long-lasting. The project placed in the Regional Excellence category.

A winner in the Regional Excellence category, the Georgetown University Calcagnini Contemplative Center in Bluemont, Virginia, is comprised of a dining hall, 2 community buildings with break-out rooms, 28 cabins that will house 84 people and a small chapel, is organized about two courtyards, one public the other private. While <a href="http://dynermanarchitects.com/" target="_blank">Dynerman Architects</a> intended to design a modern-looking building, they still wanted to reflect the local rural character in the massing, materials and construction.

The Indian Mountain Student Arts &amp; innovation Center in Lakeville, Connecticut, by <a href="http://flansburgh.com/" target="_blank">Flansburgh Architects</a>, showcases the beauty of timber in educational architecture. The 9,000-square-foot facility, employs a barn-like aesthetic and includes three art classrooms, music and practice rooms, and a “Fab Lab," an innovative space that functions as a multi-disciplinary workshop. The building won in the category of Wood in Educational Building.

The Institutional Wood Design prize was awarded to the Jackson Hole Airport in Wyoming. Designed by <a href="http://www.gensler.com/" target="_blank">Gensler</a>, the structure is the only U.S. airport located within a national park and features vernacular woods, exposed structural elements, and references to historic western heritage.

Live Oak Bank Office Building in Wilmington, North Carolina, by <a href="http://www.ls3p.com/" target="_blank">LS3P Associates</a>, won the Jury's Choice award. The two-story building shaded terraces, active walkways and decks through the courtyard, a second-floor balcony, and a cyprus exterior which will gently weather over time and integrate the building into its site.