Award

Fluted teak siding from NewTech Wood. KF Centre For Excellence, Kelowna, B.C. Revego pocket system from Blum. 36 | D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 3 Architectural Woodwork P H OTO G R A P H Y CO U RT E S Y N E W T EC H WO O D; [S TA I RC A S E] S H AW N TA L B OT/CO U RT E S Y N AT U R A L LY WO O D.CO M + T H E SA N S I N CO R P O R AT I O N ; B LU M C A N A DA LT D. encompasses technology, skill development, product quality, and planning processes. This has resulted in the successful completion of a host of unique proj- ects, among them The Ampersand in Calgary, which features dramatic and unique architectural mill- working throughout its 57,000 square feet of space. All of Executive Millwork's employees partici- pate in trade related and other selected business skills training. In addition, Executive Millwork actively participates in the provincial cabinetmaker apprenticeship program. Its key personnel are involved in the Calgary Construction Association and the local and national Architectural Woodwork Manufacturers Association of Canada (AWMAC). Meanwhile, supporting the sustainability aspects of woodworking are product providers, such as The Sansin Corporation, the global leader in envi- ronmentally friendly wood protection. Since 1986, Sansin has been focused on creating the best per- forming, most beautiful waterborne wood finishes, and its Enviro Stains are fast becoming the world- wide choice for a variety of clients. Sjoerd Bos, managing director of Sansin, says that environmental concerns "are baked into how our company operates on every level. Sansin wood treatments, finishes, and preservatives use water, not petroleum solvents, to deeply penetrate and protect wood naturally, from within. We strive to manufacture products that are as non-toxic as pos- sible, while still being durable and maintainable, and bringing out the beauty of the wood." When asked what he anticipates in the New Year, Bos replies, "The rising use of mass timber under- scores the need to protect wood before, during, and after construction from moisture, handling, U V rays, and cleaning products, and anything else that could take away from the desired aesthetic on the finished project. Utilizing waterborne, environmen- tally friendly architectural finishes safeguards mass timber materials during transportation, storage, installation, and beyond. "Because of the importance of coatings for mass timber, we expect our IRIS program to continue to support professionals to achieve the aesthetic and durability objectives for wood surfaces on commer- cial products. The program considers the impact of design and environment on wood." A great example of the use and benefits of Sansin's products is the KF Centre For Excellence (the Okanagan Aerospace & Aviation Museum), which recently won the Wood Design & Building Sansin Award. This mass timber structure features state-of-the-art mass timber construction through- out its various components, including a freestanding doubly curved CLT spiral staircase that connects the two levels of the museum. To showcase the beauty of the wood and provide superior protection, the mass timber is finished with a comprehensive sys- tem of Sansin's environmentally friendly protective coatings, including Precision Coat SDF clear on the exterior glulam, KP12W clear on the exterior DLT soffit, KP12 clear on the interior glulam, and low- lustre Purity Glacier on the interior handrails. As is the case with woodworkers themselves, products related to wood are in high demand. Quebec-based NewTechWood Canada offers numer- ous benefits to the architectural woodworking sector, mainly the most natural looking composite material on the market made from 95 percent recy- cled materials with U V protection and no issue with extreme cold (the company states that typically the equivalent of 3,000 bags and 1,000 plastic drums are found in 10 feet of its composite wood). Wall siding, composite decking and fencing are among the products in NewTechWood's portfolio, and its fluted composite wood wall panels are a good example of the company's provision of elegance and ease of upkeep: they are available in two models and up to nine colours, allowing the creation of mod- ern accents to indoor and outdoor walls of homes or businesses. Plus, NewTechWood products sup- port creativity in design, case in point: its new Shou Sugi Ban, or "burnt cedar" product that replicates a Japanese technique popular in architecture. Lucy Traetto, marketing representative for Blum Canada Limited, says of the hardware products her company supplies, "Our new pocket system will be launched in the first quarter of 2024 and is a signifi- cant release for us: it's already available in Europe, and we expect it to be extremely popular in Canada as customers have been asking for it for some time now. We're also unveiling a new drawer system, a first for us because it is available in four different platforms." The pocket system Traetto refers to is called Revego, which opens up new opportunities for creating multifunctional space. No matter whether single or double door application, the full overlay fronts disappear into a dedicated narrow cabi- net (the pocket). The doors are quickly and easily installed: put up, align and mount pre-assembled pockets, install fronts and track, make quick adjust- ments – and that's it. Full overlay Revego fronts completely conceal the pocket and furniture units when closed for a perfect gap layout. The drawer system in question is Merivobox, which can be implemented quickly and easily thanks to the consistent platform concept. The box system has simple, clearly labelled, and easily accessible 3D adjustment features that are the same for every drawer side. The new box system has height, side and tilt adjustment features; accurate adjustment options ensure that perfect gap alignment can be achieved. As usual with Blum products, Merivobox systems are easy to install. Simply clip the front on, even when the drawer is closed. Wide and heavy fronts can be easily removed by a single person thanks to the holding position. Also from Blum is my Legrabox, part of a series that gives designers the freedom to personalize metal drawers. Legrabox pure and Legrabox free offer a selection of noble matt colours and a premium look in anti-fingerprint stainless steel. In addi- tion to Legrabox pure with matt, metal finishes, the Legrabox free version allows height C high fronted pull-outs to be customised to individual designs. Meanwhile, the Legrabox Special Edition comes in a special 3D carbon look or a noble rust structured finish. A

• Cover