River-Recovered® Heart Cypress Contributes to the Allure of the New Eleanor and Nicholas Chabraja Visitor’s Center at Naples Botanical Garden
Goodwin Company Provides Antique Wood Carefully Recovered from the Apalachicola River
(Naples, FL) – Goodwin Company, pioneers of River-Recovered® wood, announce their contribution to the Eleanor and Nicholas Chabraja Visitor’s Center at Naples Botanical Garden. The company meticulously sawed and precisely milled 20,000 linear feet of River-Recovered® Heart Cypress (virgin growth bald cypress; taxodium distichum) for siding and trim. The majority of the antique logs used for the project were carefully retrieved out of the Apalachicola River. The result is a magnificent, beautifully crafted complex adorned with antique wood that is not only breathtaking, but also tells an intriguing and fascinating story.
“Goodwin worked closely with the entire building design team to ensure the final product exceeded expectations,” explains Carol Goodwin, President of Goodwin Company. “We previously worked on a project with similar specs – the Menil Collection in Houston, Texas – which made us the perfect resource for this magnitude of a project.”
Architect Tenna Florian of the esteemed Lake/Flato Architects in San Antonio, Texas, specified the reclaimed cypress with vertical grain for the Visitor’s Center project. Lake/Flato Architects is a recognized leader in the use of sustainably sourced materials and consciously designed vernacular architecture. They were recognized as the 2004 American Institute of Architects (AIA) firm of the year.
“I take great pleasure in watching visitors arrive at Naples Botanical Garden and marvel at the beauty of the Goodwin’s River-Recovered® Heart Cypress that we used for siding the buildings,” says Brian Holley, Executive Director, Naples Botanical Garden.
“Using this wood is a real win-win-win for us, as through the wood we can tell the story of the forests of Florida – it will last a lifetime or more – and most importantly was salvaged, an important consideration in this LEED Gold project. On top of that the folks at Goodwin are a pleasure to work with.”
Goodwin Company has earned the indisputable reputation for producing antique River-Recovered® and reclaimed wood using the strictest grading standards of any company in the marketplace. Demand for Goodwin’s rich, high quality flooring continues to flourish and has become exceedingly coveted among architects, designers, celebrities, and high-end homeowners.
“Our founder, George Goodwin, still operates the saw to ensure each and every cut meets his high standards and expectations,” says Carol Goodwin. “We are one of the few manufacturers whose founder and owner is actively involved in the production process and personally inspects each and every order before it ships.”
About Goodwin Company
Founded in 1976, Goodwin Company is the building design industry’s trusted partner and preferred resource for fine antique reclaimed and River-Recovered® wood flooring. Esteemed architects, designers and builders specify Goodwin’s products for use in luxury residential homes, historical renovations and commercial projects including corporate office buildings, universities, libraries and high-end retail establishments. Prominent work includes: This Old House corporate offices, private residences of Bob Villa, Paul McCartney, Frank Lloyd Wright and Ted Turner, Weyland Art Gallery, Brownwood at The Villages, the Charnley-Norwood House, Naples Botanical Garden and the Texas Governor’s Mansion. For more information, visit www.heartpine.com.