Three projects by WAN AWARD winners Perkins+Will have been praised at the Wood Design Awards Gala, receiving three Wood WORKS! BC Awards. The VanDusen Botanical Garden Visitor Centre which won the first ever WAN Engineering Award in 2012 and the University of British Columbia’s Centre for Interactive Research on Sustainability (CIRS) and Earth Sciences Building (ESB) each took home an award in a celebration of schemes which push the boundaries of excellence and innovation in wood construction design.

Of the jury’s choices, Werner Hofstatter from the Canadian Wood Council detailed: “CIRS is a rigorous implementation of true sustainability proving that buildings can replenish more resources than they consume. ESB presents a seamless integration of heavy timber, Timberstrand and cross laminated timber, testifying that wood can serve as the backbone of even the largest structures. Additionally, the Visitor Centre at the VanDusen Botanical Garden demonstrates a fearless vision that brought to life a roof structure consisting entirely of pre-fabricated and compound-curved timber elements, creating a new benchmark for aesthetic and effective wood design.”