B.C. Wood Products To Take Centre Stage

By 250 News

B.C. wood products will receive celebrity treatment and nationwide exposure in Mongolia this fall when a Vancouver Island designed and pre-built home becomes the star of a prime-time show, announced today.

"B.C. wood products have undeniable star quality" says Forests and Range Minister Pat Bell  "They have natural good looks, can play thousands of leading and supporting roles, and possess a durability that have will have people enjoying them for years," said Bell. "The show will help establish wood-frame construction as a viable housing option in Mongolia, and further our  exports to Asia, which is our fastest growing regional market."

The "Super House" reality TV program will see a wood-frame house constructed in Mongolia's capital of Ulaanbaatar over 12 one-hour episodes. The show will feature cameo appearances by Mongolian celebrities who will ask questions about the many benefits of wood-
frame construction. Super House will be aired prime time on Mongolia's largest commercial network starting in September 2009.

The 2,000-square-foot house was designed and pre-fabricated at Pacific Building Systems in Cobble Hill. It features windows, doors, mouldings and other wood work from local firms. Timber frame construction on the porches and carport showcase coastal species like Douglas-fir and western red cedar.

"We see exceptional opportunities in Mongolia for wood-frame construction using B.C. forest products," said Grant McKinnon, Pacific Building Systems president. Pacific Building Systems signed a $4- million contract in February to build a townhouse complex in
Ulaanbaatar.

Sixteen value-added and lumber and panel product firms donated materials to help make the project possible. Forestry Innovation Investment (FII), the Province's international marketing agency for forest products, is co-ordinating the $150,000 project and providing
quality assurance at the site to ensure the home is built to Canadian standards.

Vancouver-based Interex Forest Products has provided lumber and structural panels for the Super House project and recently started to sell B.C. forest products into Mongolia.

"While we're just at the beginning of market growth, we see solid potential for sales and building stronger relations with Mongolian customers," said Bruce Pollock, Interex general manager. "Mongolia has a climate much like northern B.C. and the presence of several large
Canadian mining companies has made trade and business ties fairly easy to establish. What is really exciting is fulfilling the immediate need for housing in Mongolia."

Mongolia recently updated its building code to Canadian standards. This FII-funded work was done by the British Columbia Institute of Technology. B.C. also provided training and continues to support the growth of a wood-frame construction sector using B.C. wood products.

"I believe this program will make a huge impact in the effort to introduce Canadian wood-frame housing to Mongolia," said Manlaibayar Yondon, president of the Mongolian Wood Construction Association. "Super House will provide a high profile for B.C. building products in
Mongolia, and will be an effective way to communicate the many benefits of wood construction."

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