November 6, 2009

Wood Works awards

Levitt Goodman Architects honoured for excellence in wood design

PATRICIA WILLIAMS

staff writer

The Canadian Wood Council has recognized structural engineer David Moses, the firm of Levitt Goodman Architects and consultant Les Muniak for their contributions to the wood industry.

Moses, an associate in Equilibrium Consulting Inc. and a frequent lecturer on green building and timber engineering, is this year’s recipient of the Engineer Wood Advocate Award.

“His work as a structural engineer includes innovative and award-winning commercial, institutional and residential heavy-timber projects in North America and parts of Asia,” the Ontario Wood Council noted.

A case in point is the 180-metre long, 14-metre-high glass and glulam façade wall of the Art Gallery of Ontario. Equilibrium Consulting was retained by the glulam supplier to develop concepts and carry out the detailed design and engineering for the hundreds of complex and geometrically different connections.

“This is just one example of his leadership and excellence in glulam connection engineering,” the council said.

Moses, Equilibrium’s Toronto office manager, has published a number of articles on his research into timber and composite materials. He serves on three Wood WORKS! committees and speaks at numerous events.

The council said Levitt Goodman Architects, recipient of the Architect Wood Advocate Award, has “a history of excellence” in wood design. The firm won three Wood Works project awards in 2005. It received the 2009 Wood Design Award for Green Building.

“Levitt Goodman Architects have made significant and ongoing contributions to the growing body of exceptional wood architecture in Ontario,” the council said.

“Their commitment to designing buildings that function efficiently, are environmentally sustainable and have a positive influence on the people who inhabit them has earned this firm the 2009 Wood Advocate Award, Architect.”

The council said Muniak, co-founder of Larden Muniak Consulting Inc. and this year’s recipient of the Wood Champion Award, is an individual whose ongoing work continues to create opportunities for wood construction in Ontario and across Canada.

“A respected building code, fire protection and life-safety consultant, his tireless commitment to excellence in his profession has made him a leader in his field,” the council said.

“His innovative designs and ground-breaking work in pioneering new techniques in fire protection and building code compliance, such as the fog fire suppression system at Credit Valley Hospital in Mississauga, his educational training seminars and presentations, his positions on the Ontario and national building code committees, and his service on the Alberta Wood Works steering committee make him this year’s Wood Champion.”

The awards were presented last evening at a gala in Toronto.

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