WoodWorks California announced the winners of its 2010 Wood Design Awards at January’s Wood Solutions Fair in Long Beach. Awards were presented in eight categories to building projects located throughout California, including: commercial wood design, engineering, green building, institutional wood design, multi-family wood design, traditional use of wood, timber bridge and interior beauty of wood.

“The quality of submissions continues to rise year to year,” said Bryan Schuyler, regional director of WoodWorks California. “These projects are a real testament to the fundamental value, beauty, design flexibility and environmental attributes of wood. Not only do the winning projects showcase the creativity of the designers, but they demonstrate the new and innovative ways in which wood is being used.”

BCV Architects of San Francisco received the Interior Beauty of Wood Design Award for the Press Club Tasting Room, located in San Francisco. BCV developed a contemporary interpretation of the wine tasting experience and captured the casual sophistication of wine country, blending Napa’s unique natural beauty through the use of wood, with industrial touches. Natural wood is featured throughout the interior of the Press Club, gracing walls, ceilings, floors and wine storage for an intoxicating effect.

3555 Hayden in Culver City. Photo credit: Tom Bonner Photography

The Watsonville Area Water Operations Center. Photo credit: Bruce Damonte

3555 Hayden in Culver City won the Commercial Wood Design Award. It features a complex roof geometry defined by 42-foot long glue-laminated wood beams and rafters. Each beam has a unique curvature and a continuously changing bevel, giving the roofline the appearance of rolling hills. The interior of the structure also includes exposed wood beams. Eric Owen Moss Architects, also of Culver City, designed the building.

The Watsonville Area Water Operations Center, designed by WRNS Studio in San Francisco, received the Green Building Wood Design Award. The project’s design was developed to underscore the city’s commitment to water recycling and the larger goals of conservation, restraint and localism. California redwood owned by the City and slated for fire hazard clearance was custom milled just eight miles from the construction site and used for the building’s siding. The wood, which is better suited to withstand coastal area saltwater than alternatives such as plaster or steel, will develop a natural patina over time that will serve to blend the facility with its natural surroundings.

For more a complete list of winners, as well as information and photos of the award-winning projects, visit the Design Showcase at woodworks.org.