Photo courtesy of NWCBPhotography Wood panels were installed in the newsroom to control noise and provide a focal point.

In 2006, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation undertook a project to renovate and expand its regional headquarters in Vancouver, B.C., where it would broadcast the 2010 Winter Olympics.

Wood, a key architectural finish for the project, was installed by Benton & Overbury in the atrium, newsroom and new audience lounge lunchroom.

Wood ceiling systems have become a popular choice to provide a focal point and sense of warmth. Typically the systems are a standard size and single dimension, but 9Wood provided 12-inch modules with wood slats of various depths and sizes on this project. The multi-dimensional panels provide definition to the physical space while providing an acoustic treatment to a potentially problematic area.

The wood panels had an especially interesting effect in the newsroom, which opens to the roof structure. A large portion of this area remained exposed to the building’s structural elements and is a striking contrast to the accent of cloud-like suspended wood ceilings and numerous skylights that provide a feeling of openness and natural warmth.

Benton & Overbury and 9Wood also provided and installed complementary wood slat wall treatments from the entry through the atrium and to the reception area.v Open areas, such as those in the CBC Radio complex, are usually difficult to control sound in, but the acoustical treatment behind the wood slats helps absorb and soften the sound in an area comprised mostly of hard surfaces.

Judge’s comment: “The specially designed wood panels from 9Wood, and installed by Benton & Overbury, are a perfect offset to the exposed structure and work well to bring a softer, more organic look to an otherwise stark interior.”