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Project Contest

2020 Preserved Wood in Aquatic Uses Awards

Preserved wood products have a long, rich tradition of use in aquatic environments, including docks, piers, bridges and other port facilities.

Western Wood Preservers Institute is looking to celebrate the innovative uses of preservative-treated wood products in these projects with the 2020 Preserved Wood in Aquatic Uses Awards program. The top qualified entries will receive a wooden model of the Lady Washington (see below).

See previous Aquatic Uses Award Winners

Please read the following before submitting a project. Entry forms can be submitted in printed form or electronically.

Click here to download a PDF form required for submitting an entry.

 

 

Submission Requirements

  • Project must prominently feature preserved wood products in either structural or non-structural uses in or over an aquatic environment.
     
  • Once an entry is submitted, it becomes the property of WWPI, which reserves the right to use submitted materials for future promotional uses. In entering a project, entrants give WWPI the express right to use all submitted photos in promotional materials and websites. Entrants are responsible for royalties or copyright fees resulting from the use of these photos.
     
  • Entry must include 5-10 high quality digital photos (300 dpi minimum resolution). Instructions for submitting the required photos digitally will be provided upon receipt of the completed entry form.
     
  • There is no charge for entering a project.
     
  • Projects must be located in the Western U.S. or British Columbia/Alberta, Canada.
     
  • Construction on a submitted project must be completed by Sept. 18, 2020.
     

NOTE: By submitting the entry form, you agree to give WWPI the express right to use all submitted photos in promotional materials and websites. Instructions for uploading photos will be sent to the e-mail address listed on the form.

 

The Lady Washington is a 90-ton sloop, refitted as a brigantine and named in honor of Martha Washington. It was the first American-flagged vessel to round Cape Horn, the first recorded vessel to reach the Oregon coast and the first to reach ports in Honolulu, Hong Kong and Japan.

Winning Projects - Preserved Wood in Aquatic Uses

2017 Aquatic Uses Award Winners

A waterfront park rehabilitation, a pier reconstruction and a port maintenance and expansion project have earned top honors in the 2017 Preserved Wood in Aquatic Uses Award program.

The three winning projects included Percival Landing in Olympia, Wash., the Malibu Pier reconstruction and the Santa Barbara wharf and harbor maintenance and expansion.

Recognizing their innovative use of preserved wood, each winning project received a wooden model of the sailing ship the Lady Washington. The ship, a 90-ton sloop, was refitted as a brigantine and named in honor of Martha Washington. It was the first American-flagged vessel to round Cape Horn, the first recorded vessel to reach the Oregon coast and the first to reach ports in Honolulu, Hong Kong and Japan.

 

Percival Landing Rehabilitation - Olympia, Wash.

Percival Landing in Olympia, Wash., used preserved wood for rehabilitating a waterfront park area. Both new and reclaimed preserved wood was used in new decks, benches, railings and covered columns.

Project managers selected preserved wood, even though there were some sensitivities about the environment. The city of Olympia determined the park and its structures be energy efficient and low maintenance, have a 50-year design life, and accommodate a potential rise in sea level. The preserved wood specified in the project help meet those goals, while providing a safe and natural area for the public.

 

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Malibu Pier Reconstruction - Malibu, Calif.

A project to upgrade pilings for a pier in Malibu, Calif., was another 2017 Aquatic Award winner. The pier was damaged by Hurricane Marie in 2014, when massive waves weakened the pilings.

New timber pilings treated with ACZA and then coated with a polyurea water barrier were used to replace nearly 60 existing pilings.

Malibu officials requested a brown coating to match the color of existing pilings and were pleased with the look. The coated pilings will be used for all future replacement pilings.

 

Santa Barbara Wharf - Santa Barbara, Calif.

Preserved wood is featured extensively at Stern’s Wharf in Santa Barbara, Calif., including pilings, boardwalks and docks. The harbor was recognized for using polyurea-coated pilings, new preserved wood dock fingers at the 1,100-slip port and a preserved wood boardwalk.

The wharf was originally built in 1872 and at the time was the longest deep-water pier between Los Angles and San Francisco. In the 1940s, the wharf transformed from shipping to recreation use, with construction of a restaurant and other businesses.

The wharf is Santa Barbara’s most visited landmark, The harbor area includes recreation and commercial dock facilities as well as beach areas for the public and a new preserved wood boardwalks to accommodate visitors from cruise ships

 

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2016 Aquatic Uses Award Winners

Two British Columbia ports were recognized for their innovative uses of preservative-treated wood products as project winners in the 2016 Preserved Wood in Aquatic Uses Awards program.

Projects completed by the False Creek Harbour Authority in Vancouver, B.C. and the Harbour Authority of Cortes Island in Whaletown, B.C. took top honors for constructing port facilities using preservative-treated wood.

Each winning port received a wooden model of the sailing ship the Lady Washington. The ship, a 90-ton sloop, was refitted as a brigantine and named in honor of Martha Washington. It was the first American-flagged vessel to round Cape Horn, the first recorded vessel to reach the Oregon coast and the first to reach ports in Honolulu, Hong Kong and Japan.

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WWPI Executive Director Dallin Brooks presents the 20016 award to False Creek Harbour Manager Mike Loy

 

Finger Floats - False Creek Harbour, BC

The False Creek Harbour project at Fishermen's Wharf featured construction of six 40-foot finger floats to serve as boat slips utilizing ACZA treated decking, tie rails and covering planks. The harbor said preserved wood was selected because of its lower initial construction cost and its proven durability.

The preserved wood finger floats "hold up better than most materials with the temperature fluctuations between seasons," said Harbour Manager Mike Loy, who noted preserved wood also has a better appearance over time.

"We feel the treated wood adds to the aesthetic appeal cultivated in our commercial fishing harbor and only gets better with age," Loy added.

 

Wharf and Floats - Whaletown, Cortes Island, BC

The Whaletown project encompassed rebuilding a 100-year-old wharf, including new 150-foot floats. The wharf and floats were previously owned by the Department of Transportation, who agreed to rebuild them before transferring it to the port authority.

Bob Katzko, president of the Harbour Authority of Cortes Island, said preserved wood was selected because of its low cost to maintain.

"We now have a very modern, elegant looking facility that should last us for decades," said Katzko.