A new information toolkit that will encourage architects and engineers to design and build with wood, particularly in commercial and public facilities, was announced today by Jobs, Tourism and Innovation Minister Pat Bell at the Vancouver Wood Solutions Fair.

The Architect's Toolkit includes information on B.C. wood species, solid and engineered wood products, case studies on award-winning wood structures, and guides to B.C. building and finishing products. The toolkit includes samples, directories and technical reports on wood performance, environmental considerations, engineered wood products, and the ability of wood-frame construction to withstand earthquakes.

Architects and designers want to know more about the advantages of green building. The Architect's Toolkit details the environmental benefits of building with wood, including lower embodied energy and a reduced carbon footprint. Details on B.C.'s sustainable forest practices are also included in the materials.

More than 200 kits are being distributed initially to B.C. architects. The toolkit is available in a bookshelf format, or online at: www.naturallywood.com

Interest in wood use in larger buildings was boosted last year by the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics and the international attention created by the unique wooden roof and massive wooden arches of the Richmond Olympic Oval. Advances in wood science and product development are also expanding opportunities for innovative wood use and building design.

The provincial Wood First Act, and changes to the B.C. building code to allow six-storey wood-frame buildings, have further increased interest in wood-frame and innovative technologies such as cross-laminated timber systems. More than 30 municipalities and the B.C. government now require or encourage wood use in public buildings.

• Wood is the only major building material that is renewable, sustainable, climate-friendly, lightweight, strong and cost-effective.
• Using wood can offset climate change through carbon sequestration.
• Wood products require the least amount of energy to manufacture, leaving a lighter carbon footprint.
• The Wood WORKS! BC Wood Solutions Fair is a major trade show dedicated to promoting design and construction with B.C. wood and wood products. It attracts architects, engineers, construction contractors and technologists, and students and instructors to learn the latest trends and innovations in wood use, design and technology.
• The Architect's Toolkit was developed by Forestry Innovation Investment with the support of forestry trade associations, including Wood WORKS! BC, Western Red Cedar Lumber Association, the BC Wood Specialties Group, FP Innovations, and the Wood Enterprise Coalition.
• Naturallywood.com is an online resource featuring over 600 manufacturers of B.C. wood products, case studies on commercial and entertainment venues, technical expertise and green building tools.

Learn More:

• To request your own Architect's Toolkit, visit: www.naturallywood.com

Contact:

Marisa Adair
Communications Director
Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation
250 920-8500