This is the third year since the relaunch of the former Carpenters’ Award, and there have been a lot of winners – 93 in fact. The Wood Awards has awarded trophies and certificates to building owners, architects, designers, engineers and craft people involved in projects in four main categories that celebrate the excellence of wood and work in buildings. For those who have been recognised, the attendant publicity has been huge and for those who have sponsored the awards there is the satisfaction of seeing wood secure a higher profile in key journals and the media in general. So it is not just winners who can feel they are “winning with wood” – but rather the timber industry as a whole.
Last year the shortlisted projects were exhibited at several events, including 100% Detail at Earls Court, and they can still be seen at www.woodawards.com. The shortlist will again be unveiled at 100% Detail on September 22 this year. All 131 project entries in 2004 were also exhibited at Carpenters’ Hall, to nearly 200 guests at the awards ceremony. At all these events, the project teams were identified and recognised. But this year the awards will add a further layer of winners by naming any timber suppliers nominated by entrants as having provided special assistance. By so doing, The Wood Awards will recognise, and engage in the publicity, companies that solve technical wood-related problems or provide key advice on such issues as “fit for purpose” or perhaps “environmental acceptability”.
The generic sponsors of the awards now number 18, led by AHEC, the Carpenters’ Company, wood. for good and TTJ. Several more are known to be considering coming on board this year. This is a unique co-operation within the timber industry and reflects the common goal of raising the profile for wood. Some elements of the awards are now open for commercial sponsorship, such as backing the “Call for Entries” campaign of flyers and advertisements and by sponsoring greater distribution of the awards supplement. In the last two years, 85,000 copies have been distributed to architects, builders and designers. In 2005, a further 55,000 are planned. Details on sponsorship can be provided by Kate Ramsay on the dedicated Wood Awards telephone line 07957 730707.
The least that anyone can do to participate in this year’s Wood Awards is to identify any building (completed between June 2004 and this May) which might qualify. Let Kate Ramsay know, and perhaps it will join the likes of Norwich Cathedral Visitor’s Centre or the delightful little hut on Dungeness beach.
