Last week, 800 buyers, sellers and specifiers of value-added wood products gathered in Whistler for the Global Buyers Mission (GBM), Canada’s largest show of its kind. Day two of WoodTALKS—the wood design and construction education event held in conjunction with the GBM—kicked off with the opening of the buyers trade show, which is covered in a separate story.

Allyn Stellmacher

The WoodTALKS participants were then treated to a presentation by architect Allyn Stellmacher on the modernization of US Federal Center South Building in Seattle, headquarters of the US Army Corps of Engineers. Stellmacher explained how their team used reclaimed timber from an adjacent warehouse to create one of the most energy efficient office buildings in the United States. 

Commissioned during an economic downturn, the project also came with employment goals and a very short time-frame. Unique to the effort was the need to test and grade all the deconstructed wood planks and beams and modify the project in real time based on what was available.

Daizen Joinery

Rounding out the multi-day WoodTALKS event was the opportunity for the participants to engage directly with the value-added wood manufacturers showcasing their products at the tradeshow. Similar to “speed dating”, the participants rotate around the trade show floor via mini-seminars, learning the latest on wood products and wood systems. The participating companies included Woodtone, Watkin Sawmills & Chemco Treating, The San Group, FraserWood Industries, Fenstur Windows and Doors, Western Red Cedar Lumber Association, International Timberframes, Daizen Joinery, C & C Resources, BC Log and Timber Building Association, Barker Manufacturing, Westeck Windows & Doors, PowerWood, Kenkéknem Manufacturing, StructureCraft Builders, and Forestry Innovation Investment.

On Day 3 , the architects hit the road for a site tour of Kadenwood Estates, a private enclave of mountain home sites situated above Whistler Creekside, with high end residences nestled among the old growth forest and astounding Coastal Range Mountain views. The tour was guided by the lead architect, Don Gurney, who provided a first-hand look into the project design, how glulam post and beams were used for structural and aesthetic application, and the construction processes.

If you missed our coverage of the first day of WoodTALKS, you can find it here.