Canadian Wood and SVCA, Hyderabad host ‘Wood is Good’ Intercollege Design Competition on World Earth Day

The British Columbia (B.C.) provincial government’s crown corporation, Forestry Innovation Consulting India Pvt Ltd (FII India), popularly known as Canadian Wood, in collaboration with Sri Venkateshwara College of Architecture (SVCA), Hyderabad marked World Earth Day, by hosting the inaugural ‘Wood is Good’ Intercollege Design Competition. This is also the first event of the fiscal year 2024-25, bringing together students and faculty members from eight prestigious architecture colleges in Hyderabad. By partnering with SVCA, Canadian Wood aims to provide practical exposure to budding architectural students while raising awareness about the versatility of wood as a sustainable material.

During the competition, teams from participating colleges were tasked with designing unique furniture products using Western Hemlock wood provided by Canadian Wood. Apart from SVCA, the colleges that participated in the event were Vaishnavi School of Architecture and Planning, JNIAS School of Planning and Architecture, Aurora Design Academy, Aurora Design Institute, JBR Architecture College, Deccan School of Planning and Architecture and Church of South India Institute of Technology. In a focused effort to educate budding architects about Canadian Wood, the competition was structured around two categories: storage cabinets and chairs. From each participating college, two groups took part, totaling to 16 groups in the competition. This setup provided a robust platform for students to explore and demonstrate the unique properties and potential of Canadian Wood, ensuring they are well-equipped to integrate this sustainable material in future projects.

The event began with each college group presenting their product design and demonstrating their practical applications to the jury members. Dr. Jimmy Thomas from Canadian Wood was part of the Jury session. The afternoon session commenced with the ceremonial lighting of the lamp by dignitaries, setting a dignified tone for the rest of the event. Dr. Jimmy Thomas delivered a compelling introductory address, followed by insightful speeches from Prof. Kamini Singh, Principal of SVCA, Smt. Vani Devi, Founder-Principal of Sri Venkateshwara Group of Institutions and finally the keynote address by Mr. Ritesh Kumar, Canadian wood who addressed the gathering, shared his expertise and how this whole event idea was developed till the execution.

Mr. Jimmy Thomas, Assistant Director, Technical Services of Canadian Wood said, “As a juror, witnessing the ingenuity of students navigating unfamiliar terrain with wood, I’m deeply impressed by the outcomes. This competition has been a pivotal platform to instil the significance of wood in both current and future architectural landscapes. I extend sincere gratitude to the participating colleges and faculty for their unwavering support, particularly in fostering sustainability education for our future generations. I’d like to commend all the students who participated in the program, showcasing remarkable innovation and dedication in their designs and end products. Our emphasis on India’s COP-26 commitments, underscoring wood as the sole renewable and sustainable material, reinforces the imperative of sourcing from responsibly maintained forests.”

Mr. Ritesh Kumar, Assistant Director, Business Development, Canadian Wood, says, “We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Sri Venkateshwara College of Architecture and its students for embarking on this journey with us. This competition marks the beginning of a promising relationship, as we strive to challenge misconceptions surrounding wood in construction and furniture design. Architects play a pivotal role in reshaping perceptions, and through initiatives like this, we aim to educate and inspire the future generation of architects about the versatility and sustainability of wood. The overwhelming response has energised us, and we look forward to expanding our outreach to other educational hubs across India.”

Professor Kamini Singh, Principal of SVCA said, “I’d like to extend my gratitude to all the principals of the participating colleges and Canadian Wood team for their invaluable support in encouraging students to actively engage in the learning and collaborative process. Through practical experiences, we affirm that wood represents a tangible avenue towards fulfilling our sustainability ambitions. This competition provided students with a hands-on opportunity to explore the potential of working with wood, enriching their learning journey significantly. Beyond mere competition, I commend the spirit of collaboration and innovation demonstrated by all participants. Recognising that students face numerous challenges when working with unconventional materials, this event served as a platform for reinvigorating the use of wood, a traditional Indian material, in the most impactful manner.”

The event culminated with the much-anticipated announcement of the winners, after which participants and guests enjoyed a network evening with Canadian wood team and visiting architects and faculty members from different architectural colleges, allowing for further discussion and celebration of the day’s successes.

The team of Canadian Wood looked forward to fostering meaningful connections with students, faculty, and alumni, furthering its commitment to education, sustainability, and innovation in architecture. The event also witnessed students presenting their concepts and products to a distinguished jury comprising practicing architects, followed by prize distribution and a networking high-tea evening.

FII largely promotes five wood species in India that are sourced from the sustainably managed forests of B.C., Canada. These five species, namely Douglas, Western Hemlock, Western Red Cedar, Yellow Cedar and Spruce-Pine-Fir (SPF), are recommended for different applications. They are available in 23 cities across India through a strong network of 40+ stockists.

About Forestry Innovation Consulting India Pvt Ltd (Canadian Wood)

FII India is a crown corporation of the government of British Columbia (B.C.), the western most province of Canada. Its mandate is to promote wood products from B.C. Canada in the offshore markets and to position it as a global supplier of quality, environmentally responsible wood products from sustainably managed forests by creating awareness, spreading education through information and technical support on the wide variety of timber products available from B.C. Canada. Its brand/logo Canadian Wood was established in 2013 to reach out to the ease of understanding of its activities by its target audience globally. Learn more about Canadian Wood.

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