Join Live Edge Design in an amazing weekend workshop in the woods!

 

Click here to learn more and to register for the workshop.

Nail-Laminated Timber Design and Construction Guide

 

 

 

The Binational Softwood Lumber Council has released the Nail-Laminated Timber (NLT) U.S. Design and Construction Guide, a first-of-its-kind manual for the U.S. design and construction community. Unlike other mass timber products, Nail-Laminated Timber does not require a unique manufacturing facility and can be fabricated with local dimension lumber for use in applications across sectors and building types. 

The NLT Guide was conceived and prepared by skilled practitioners who are each dedicated to advancing high-quality timber construction across industries, typologies, and geographies. Available exclusively for free download at www.reThinkWood.com, the guide provides direction to ensure safe, predictable, and economical use of NLT, and offers practical strategies and guidance, including lessons learned from real-life projects.

  DOWNLOAD

https://vimeo.com/219024248

Jim Ivanoff | [email protected]

With the number of inbound travelers to Japan growing by leaps and bounds, there is a great need for both new hotel construction and renovations. This tremendous growth story has attracted the attention of Western hotel chains with many of the big international players scrambling to build and buy properties across Japan. The Hilton Group just opened a new hotel in Osaka on June 9th under its high-end Conrad brand.

 

BC Wood has been working with Japanese design firms to spec in Canadian wood products into hospitality projects and we have become active members of the Japan Commercial Design Association. One of the top firms in this group is the Yukio Hashimoto Design Office. Hashimoto-san started his career with the world renown firm Super Potato, but since going out on his own he has himself become one of Japan's most famous designers. As a result, his firm was hired by the Hilton Group to handle the interior design of the entire Osaka Conrad Hotel.

 

Many years ago, Hashimoto-san took a personal interest in Brent Comber's work and even bought an Alder Bench for his own office. Brent and Yukio met whenever Brent visited Japan and discussed opportunities for working together. Hashimoto-san loves to blend sleek, modern designs with the natural warmth of wood, so he asked Brent to make the central art piece for the Osaka Conrad's lobby. The Conrad project was of course very important to Hashimoto-san so he decided to take his entire design team to Vancouver last fall to visit Brent's studio and see this work of art in progress. During that trip, Brent and BC Wood also arranged for Hashimoto-san to speak at IDS Vancouver so that the wider industry could learn about some of the great things happening with commercial design in Japan.

 

Siigaay, which means ocean in the Haida language, was assembled from pieces of ancient Western Red Cedar. Some of these pieces are 800-1000 years old. Brent said that he was " pleased to present this ancient material in a modern context within the beautifully designed lobby of the Conrad Hotel, Osaka Japan. The paradox of ancient material and modern lifestyle still plays a central role in my art as does Japanese and Haida culture."

 

As the Conrad is now the top luxury hotel in Osaka, Brent's art and Hashimoto-san's designs will be enjoyed and appreciated by well-heeled travelers from around world. BC Wood will keep working with Japanese designers so more of our members' products will find their way into the growing number of hospitality related projects in Japan.

The first three months of our fiscal year (April - June) have proven to be very active for the Specifiers Program with Lunch & Learn sessions. Some sessions were initiated by the firms themselves who requested information on a variety of specific products. 

 

The number of companies from industry participating in the program at this point has also been more active than in the past; however, now that summer is upon us, we anticipate a significant slowdown in activity until the fall. 

 

While the activity in our Specifier Program slows significantly during summer, this is the time of year when preparations for the GBM including our WoodTALKS program, kicks into high gear. 

 

WoodTALKS, for those who may be unfamiliar with the term, is the program that targets those who greatly influence what products are specified and educate them on available wood products. For example, this could include interesting designs featuring wood, especially those designs where in the past non-wood products have been specified and used.

 

Last year, we had a somewhat abbreviated program which began Thursday afternoon. This year, we are returning to our regular full program which will begin Thursday, September 7th, at 10:30 AM. The earlier start will ensure architects, who make up the majority of attendees to these sessions, will receive an additional 2 educational credits. We anticipate that the line-up of this year's speakers will be ready to announce in the next few days.   

The GBM has been one of the most successful program of its type, and the group here at BC Wood is dedicated to ensure that will be the case again in 2017.

Have you booked your space at the 2017 GBM EVENT yet?

 

 

If you haven't experienced the GBM, or had to miss it this past year, you should be aware that this is the greatest opportunity of the year to showcase your products to over 300 pre-qualified international buyers and North American Architects, Designers, Builders, Contractors, Developers & Engineers. One returning exhibitor said:

 

"This event continues to be the best trade show that we attend as a company and continues to get excellent reviews from our attending clients. The size of the venue and intimate feel of the event always leaves an impression with new and veteran attendees alike. The social evening at the art gallery was a real stand out this year - good work!!"

 

Last year, over $34 million in new business was developed at this event alone. Click here for a list of those who have signed up to exhibit already.  One WoodTALKS participant expressed that:

 

"This is an excellent program which has introduced me to many new products and companies that can provide services that I can use in my designs. I think that the tours are exceptional - providing a great deal of information in such a live method...Thank you for all your efforts to educate us and show us the great creativity of the Canadians. Also I would like to note that Roy Manion is a great host, makes us feel very welcome."

 

Pre-qualified Buyers will come from the US, Australia, Western Europe, China, Vietnam, Japan, Korea, India, Mexico, Pakistan, Taiwan and some newer markets like Malaysia. One buyer had to say, 

 

"We enjoy GBM a lot. For us there's always a busy schedule meeting with suppliers and discussing contracts, but we like the face to face opportunities and travelling with Taiwan fellow buyers. We purchased about 100,000m2 lumber during the visit and I am sure there will be more business coming up between us and BC Suppliers." 

 

GBM Program Schedule

Thursday - September 7th	BC Wood AGM; Exhibitor set-up Evening Welcome Reception at the spectacular Roundhouse Lodge at the Peak of Whistler Mountain for all participants
Friday - September 8th	Afternoon Sponsored Golf Tournament; Architects (Wood First) in-booth presentations; or Whistler free time Evening Networking Dinner/Reception & Private Showing at the Audain Art Museum
Saturday - September 9th	Breakfast with Opening Ceremony and Morning Networking/Tradeshow/Meetings Breakfast and Morning Networking/Tradeshow/Meetings Exhibitor lunch and teardown

Exhibit space is now VERY limited and will be available on a first-come / first-served basis. If you haven't already registered, contact us for your online registration link at [email protected] or call Randi at 604-882-7100.

 

Dave Farley |  [email protected]

A few comments, suggestions, and ideas...

 

I recently returned from a trip along the I-80 corridor. This highway runs west to East and connects the population centers of San Francisco, Sacramento, and Reno. I-80 also runs right through Truckee, California, the main town of the resort destination of Lake Tahoe, California. A few thoughts and connections that I took away from the trip.

 

The Northern California construction market is once again booming. In my meetings with architects, builders, and distributors, a common theme came about: everyone is extremely busy working on projects that were either new, or finally restarted after the housing crash of 2008. One builder in the Tahoe market is turning work away as they are having a hard time finding skilled employees. It turns out that many construction workers left the industry during the downturn and this void has not been filled.

 

Nearly every builder and architect I spoke to was aware of the softwood lumber dispute and were concerned about how the duties would impact the cost of construction. A few had even contacted their elected state officials to push for a quick resolution to the dispute. This is a marked difference from this dispute to years past in that US builders seemed a lot more educated and engaged this time around.

 

Lots of exciting high-profile projects were uncovered during the trip, including the Tesla Gigafactory project in Reno, Nevada. Of interest to BC Industry is the design and building of the communities surrounding this massive factory. A very wood friendly architect, who we have previously worked with, is responsible for this exciting project and will be attending the GBM this September.

 

A number of other residential and light commercial projects were discovered and will be reviewed in an upcoming issue of Wood Connections. As always, for more information on the US market, please feel free to contact me at [email protected].

BC Wood Mexico Trade Mission & Trade Show, Guadalajara - August 13-19, 2017

Ken Hori |  [email protected]

		Monterrey & Guadalajara
2017		Trade Show + 4 Meetings Monterrey +6 Meetings Guadalajara
Aug-13	SUN	Travel: YVR>MEX> Monterrey
Aug-14	MON	Welcome & Orientation at Hotel
		AM/PM: Group Visits to 3 companies in Monterrey (some one-on-one meeting time will be scheduled into each visit)
Aug-15	TUES	AM: Group Visit to 1 company in Monterrey (some one-on-one meeting time will be scheduled into each visit)
		PM: Travel Monterrey>Guadalajara
Aug-16	WED	AM/PM: TECNO MUEBLE 2017
		* work the trade show booth
		* 2 One-on-one Company Visits scheduled into the day
Aug-17	THU	AM/PM: TECNO MUEBLE 2017
		* work the trade show booth
		* 2 One-on-one Company Visits scheduled into the day
Aug-18	FRI	AM/PM: TECNO MUEBLE 2017
		* work the trade show booth
		* 2 One-on-one Company Visits scheduled into the day
Aug-19	SAT	AM:   Free time
		PM: Travel Home Guadalajara>MEX>YVR

For more information, please contact Ken Hori at 604-882-7100 or [email protected].

Brian Hawrysh