The Forest Stewardship Council – US (FSC-US) recently announced the winners of the 5^th annual Designing & Building with FSC Awards at the Greenbuild International Conference and Expo in Phoenix, Ariz. The awards celebrate the best in U.S. and Canadian green building architecture and construction using FSC-certified materials – those sourced from forests managed to high environmental and social standards.

Designing & Building with FSC Awards recognize and honor designers and builders who are committed to using FSC-certified wood and creating a marketplace that promotes environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial and economically viable forest management – the mission of FSC.

In addition to the first place winners announced at the event, one honorable mention was awarded in each category. In the residential category, the honorable mention was given to Allen Associates for its Victoria Garden Mews project in Santa Barbara, Calif., which used FSC-certified wood as framing lumber, sheathing, kitchen and bathroom cabinetry, window benches, and in its re-creation of Victorian moulding, dentils and trim profiles.  FSC lumber makes up 73% of the total wood used on the project.

A company’s efforts in helping to expand markets for FSC lumber was one of the award criteria considered.  To this end, Allen Associates has worked together with local building supply company, Hayward Lumber, for over 10 years – purchasing lumber for their projects and supporting Hayward Lumber’s efforts to promote the use of FSC lumber.  Hayward Lumber is a fourth generation, family owned operation.  CEO Bill Hayward has actively promoted the use of FSC lumber to his clients and the community at large.  Bill is chairman of the Forestry Stewardship Council.  Allen Associates’ owner, Dennis Allen, and Green Resource Manager, Karen Feeney, participated in Hayward Lumber’s educational tour of a sustainably harvested forest and lumber mill managed by Collins Lumber in Chester, Calif.  This tour allowed Allen Associates to see first hand how a sustainably harvested forest and lumber mill are managed compared to traditional lumber practices.  This trip was not only educational, but inspirational, for Allen Associates as a company.

As a result of participating in this educational tour, and combined with their experience working with FSC lumber on the Victoria Garden Mews and other recent green building projects, Allen Associates has set a new company standard to use a minimum of 10% FSC certified lumber on all of their projects – a first for any building contractor in California.

Victoria Garden Mews, which is expected to be certified as a Platinum LEED for Homes project by the US Green Building Council, is a showcase project with high visibility not only locally but nationally as well.  Dennis Allen, one of three partners in the Victoria Garden Mews project, will eventual live in one of the units to be constructed during Phase 2 of the project.  Because of the high level of green products and systems designed into this project, the partnership has established a project website – www.victoriagardenmews.com – to help educate the public about the project and to acknowledge manufacturers that have contributed green products.  In addition, the partnership has offered, and will continue to offer, educational events at the project site.  These events include a groundbreaking and press conference, on-site training and “behind the walls” sessions for local architects and government officials, and sponsoring open houses – such as a green home tour for the general public once the project is complete.

For more information about and photos of the winning projects, visit www.fscus.org/greenbuilding

About the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is an international, non-governmental, not-for-profit organization established to promote the responsible management of the world’s forests. It provides standard-setting, trademark assurance and accreditation services for companies and organizations interested in responsible forestry. Products carrying the FSC label are independently certified to assure consumers that they come from forests that are managed to meet the social, economic and ecological needs of present and future generations. FSC is the only forest certification organization endorsed by such major environmental groups as the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), National Wildlife Federation and Greenpeace. There are currently more than 100 million acres of FSC-certified forestland in the United States and Canada and more than 281 million acres globally. More than 14,000 manufacturers and distributors are certified to buy and sell FSC products, representing more than $20 billion in FSC-labeled product annually.  www.fscus.org