In 2009 the New York City Parks Department began replacing sections of the famous Coney Island Boardwalk, built in 1923, with synthetic decking materials and concrete. The old wood, which is a dark ipe from the now-endangered Brazilian rain forests, ended up in dumpsters and salvage yards. However much of the wood was rescued (sometimes it was literally pulled from dumpsters) and reused by individuals who recognized its value. In some cases, the individuals who rescued the wood spent their own time and money carefully removing old nails and patching up pieces before installing it in their homes or businesses. Other remnants ended up with salvage companies who cleaned, repaired, and milled the wood before selling it to enthusiasts.
In Philadelphia, an architectural salvage company called Provenance Architecturals procured some 40,000 board feet of the boardwalk ipe. Around the same time, the architects of a new art museum for the Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia, Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects (TWBTA), were researching sustainable wood flooring options. TWBTA’s research led them to Provenance Architecturals and the reclaimed boardwalk ipe was ultimately incorporated into the design of the museum. The material was carefully re-milled and installed in the museum’s entry space.
Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects are well known for their particularity when it comes to the materials they use in their buildings and for how these materials inform their designs. In the case of the Barnes Foundation, the reclaimed boardwalk ipe contributes both to the rich interior atmosphere of the building as well as its LEED Platinum rating. It is also a living part of the public’s experience of the building. Museum officials regularly talk to visitors about the unique history of the floor on which they are standing.
Reclaimed Materials (by application): Wood/Lumber
Key Info
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Year completed: 2012
Architect: Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects
Client: Barnes Foundation
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New York Times Article
