Prince George Participates in BC Wood Presentation
By 250 News
Friday, February 24, 2006 10:48 AM
-submitted by Rob Van Adrichem
Siegfried Camana of the Associazione Nazionale Architetture Bioecologica, advocates for using natural materials in construction makes presentation
About 100 representatives of the Italian construction industry attended a presentation today at BC-Canada Place dedicated to improving European awareness of the benefits of wood construction.
Presented by BC Wood, members of the Prince George delegation to Torino attended the workshop because of the obvious importance of this issue to the northern BC economy.
The keynote speaker was BC Premier Gordon Campbell, who highlighted the importance of sustainable resource management practices. He told the delegates that - on average - a tree is planted every 6 seconds in BC, and joked that a whole forest would be planted in the time it took to deliver his speech.
BC-Canada Place has been the perfect venue for the workshop, acting as a physical example of what's possible with BC wood products. It was built by Sitka Log Homes of 100 Mile House in a style reminiscent of a small ski lodge. The building has been an incredible success in raising the profile of wood construction, says Sitka General Manager Walter Bramsleven, shown here with P.G. Mayor Colin Kinsley. Bramsleven also made a presentation today.
To date, more than 50,000 people have passed through the facility.
While the conference was going on in the building's exhibit hall, NBC's Today Show was shooting an interview in the building's spectacular two-storey atrium. That kind of exposure can have nothing but positive effects, says Bramsleven, and the workshop with architects and construction officials was aimed at further strengthening a growing movement in Europe to showcase natural materials in home and commercial construction.
The first presentation at the conference was from a European organization dedicated to the use of biologically sustainable building materials. The presentation highlighted the benefits of wood construction from cultural, aesthetic, and historical perspectives. It's a common attitude in places like BC, but traditionally uncommon in Italy and many other European countries, says Bramsleven, because of a prevailing belief that concrete and glass are synonymous with modern architecture.
Established in 1989, BC Wood is a partnership between industry and government, providing marketing programs to more than 200 value-added manufacturers. The members are involved with home construction, cabinet-making, millwork, furniture and fixtures, and engineered building components. The session attracted architects, builders, developers, and timber importers from Italy, France, and Austria.
-Rob Van Adrichem is the commnications/media representative with the Team Torino delegation
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Posted by: diplomat on February 24 2006 12:11 PM
It just pops right out."
You actually tried that? How else would you know? You must be more desperate than me about our lack of decent roads!
So far I managed to cope with most of the worst craters by slamming on the brakes and carefully navigating around them.
Wood, eh? What else have you tried?