Coney Island Boardwalk Reborn

Nearly 1400 sf of Ipe was delivered to the site this week.  Ipe, Tabebuia impetiginosa, is a tropical wood that we typically discourage any client from installing - it is harvested through destructive logging methods, destroying the rainforests of South America. So how can we use Ipe and still be sustainable? In our searches we came across a few salvaged sources, one of them from Olde Good Things. OGT was able to procure the Coney Island Boardwalk as it was being removed, saving it from the landfill, and thread is giving it a second life. Salvage and resource reuse is what OGT is an expert at. As a long established architectural salvage company, they help to deconstruct what others would quickly throw out - like the trim work from the Plaza hotel, and marble from old banks. Out in Scranton where their storage, and processing warehouses are you can wander for hours (or days) through a treasure trove of wrought iron, ancient stone columns, bathtubs, and it goes on and on.

The wood, despite its nearly 70 year age, was still in great shape, and when sliced open retained its rich color. The wood is in the process of being milled on site, and will soon run up the facade and become decking on our rooftop, balconies, and rear yard.

So getting our wood from a salvaged source was our first option for several reasons - prolonging the life of an already processed product, diverting from the landfill, and minimal transportation.  But sourcing can be challenging, and is not always available. Another option is to purchase from sources that are third party certified. Certifications help guarantee sustainable forestry management and logging practices, and track the chain of custody. FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) is the leading organization, and recognized by LEED, but there are other companies such is SCS (Scientific Certification Systems). Ipe still has to travel significant distances since these hardwood species are not found in North America.

Another great option that we explored is a lesser known wood that can easily replace tropical hardwoods - Black Locust.  Black Locust is native to South Eastern America, although is found all around the East Coast. The wood is comparable to tropical woods in its hardness, rot resistance, and water resistance.  So its really well suited for outdoor uses. This is a good website to get more information - Black Locust Lumber