Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/607779
DECEMBER 2015 | 35 Architectural Woodwork PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY TOP 40 WOODWORKS; TOWNE MILLWORK A bright future for architectural woodwork by ROBIN BRUNET Q uality is a funny thing; everyone wants it, but persuading clients to pay for it is another story – and no one in the construction trades appreciates this more intimately than the people who provide architectural woodwork for residen- tial and commercial projects. Mary Zhang, office manager for CAC Cabinetry & Millwork Ltd., explains one of the many ironies of her profession in this regard: "The objective of condominium and townhouse developers is to make use of every last inch of space in order for their projects to be desirable to buyers, but only custom cabinet makers can truly achieve this in the spaces allotted for cabinetry," she says. "Unfortunately, the costs associated with custom work frequently compel developers to choose mass market alternatives, with cheap materials and hardware." Still, CAC, which built its reputation on the custom woodworking thanks to its veteran carpenters, isn't exactly suffering. Business was brisk in 2015 for Zhang and her colleagues, both in terms of new- builds and renovation, and Zhang says it's partly due to CAC's approach to find- ing clients. "We actively seek clients who develop properties as if they're building for themselves instead of buyers. That may sound simplistic, but when you find someone with that attitude, it often results in a productive work relation- ship no matter what kind of project it is." Like CAC, Richard Reynolds, founder and president of R&R Woodwork Inc., carefully nurtures his reputation for qual- ity woodworking by focusing as much attention on the process of obtaining work as the work itself. "I refuse to par- ticipate in open tenders," he says, noting New Growth that in a competitive environment many of his counterparts are bidding themselves down to the bare minimum. "Anyone with a good reputation and a long track record shouldn't need to go this route. Fortunately, I'm in a position where if I get a handful of high-end residential projects plus a few commercial jobs each year, I'm happy." Even though Canada's economic recovery is proving to be anaemic and there's considerable concern what impact the new federal government will have on busi- ness in general, quality – as difficult as it is to sell in a sector where cost cutting is the norm – is what separates the successful woodworking firms from the ones strug- gling to make ends meet. Marketing their attributes is key. According to Mid Canada Millwork (MCM), the company's commitment to quality begins at its 90,000-square- foot manufacturing facility in Manitoba and continues with its cabinet makers and finishers, touted as the best in the industry. The result of this is a portfolio brimming with exceptional projects, one of the most iconic being the millwork for the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles, which features 70,000 square feet of wall panelling and custom millwork in every room; an achievement that took five years and $12 million to complete. It also helps that MCM's services are constantly sought due to its dedication to sustainable forestry and green building. The company uses only formaldehyde-free core materials whenever possible, controls emission at its central processing plant and safely disposes solid waste. Another company dedicated to sustainable methods and whose reputation and portfolio boasts a number of impressive projects is Top 40 Woodworks based in Kamloops, B.C. This AWMAC and FSC-certified millwork company utilizes the lat- est technologies to create bespoke designs. Its manufacturing plant is focused on automation and features some of the finest equipment available in the industry. One of Top 40 Woodworks's more high-profile projects this past year was the waterfront-located Kelowna Yacht Club, designed by the award-winning Meiklejohn Architects Ltd. of Kelowna. Tasked with creating a design that honoured the Club's 70-year heritage within the walls of a brand new, modern steel structure was achieved by incorporating elements suggesting all things nautical. The outside inspires the form of a huge sailing vessel with the interior design anchored around a wood staircase that spirals up through the centre of the building; a staircase that Top 40 Woodworks was equipped to take on – but not one without considerable challenges. Issues ranging from humidity fluctuations – due to its proximity to Okanagan lake – to technical and logistical complexity, as it was built and finished entirely on site, caused many headaches. Jeremy Brochu, project manager from Top 40 Woodworks, says it took four people more than four months to complete the build. The end result however is certainly striking. Solid maple strip laminated caps and handrails complement curved maple veneer panels that transition from soft to angular forms to create a true sense of a luxury yacht inside the building. It stands as proof of the versatility of wood when combined with skilled craftsmanship and an innovative imagination. Last year, many respected millworkers talked about how the industry was changing and that even prolific companies were being forced to fight for every job. This year, attitudes have lightened considerably. In Eastern Canada, Bruce W. Donald, VP at Continental Cabinet Company Inc., looks back on 2015 almost with disbelief. "Up until last year things were very slow, and the market was such that you couldn't buy a job let alone win a tender," he says. "Toronto was completely dry. I remember bidding on four large contracts and not getting one of them. By com- parison, 2015 has been insanely busy, and part of the reason is a lot of projects that were delayed due to budget considerations have moved ahead." Case in point, Continental's work on the historic Wellington Building across from Parliament Hill in Ottawa. "We're providing all the solid surface wood panelling and other components throughout the six-storey facility," explains Donald. The Continental team of 60-plus craftsmen is also busy with hospital work in Selkirk and Saskatoon. "Addi- tionally, we're working with a millwork- ing company in New York that contracts our services, and because of them we're prov iding casework and t abletops for a U.S. university," says Donald. He credits recently hiring a chief estima- tor for Continental's rise in business: "Previously I oversaw everything and was spreading myself too thin, but my chief estimator combined with favourable market conditions have put us in a much better place. Currently, we have $7.6 mil- lion worth of backlogged work and we're booked well into 2016," adds Donald. The craftmanship of Top 40 Woodworks in the Kelowna Yacht Club. Sculptural reception desk from one of Towne Millwork's recent projects.