Tag Archive for: Firestone Building

A Search for Quality 2

Visit Goodwin at the National Trust for Historic Preservation Conference in Houston, Texas 2The Florida Trust will host its 39th Annual Conference on May 18-20, 2017. Goodwin will be a part of this year’s Conference Marketplace.  We will have a booth set up from 2pm on Wednesday, May 17th through Friday, May 19th at the Hilton Bayfront, in St. Petersburg, Florida.

The theme of this year’s conference is: “Preservation Reinvented for Art and Enterprise.”

Each year, the Florida Trust Annual Conference attracts professionals and volunteers from throughout the state, including historic site managers, architects, archaeologists, designers and municipal planners. Historic preservation is a priority for Goodwin, and we are proud to be part of this exciting event!

If you happen to be in the Tampa Bay, Florida area, feel free to stop by the Conference Marketplace and say “hi” to Jeffrey Forbes, Goodwin’s Marketing Manager.  Jeffrey will have the latest Goodwin products on display, and is happy to discuss any current or future projects you have in mind.

Hope to see you there!

The Firestone Building in Gainesville, Florida received an “Honorable Mention for Adaptive Reuse” award from the Florida Trust in 2015.  Goodwin milled the River-Recovered® and reclaimed Legacy Vertical Heartpine for this historic renovation project.

A Search for Quality 2

When did we stop reaching for the most inexpensive item on the shelf at the grocery store? When did grabbing a carton of milk or eggs on our way home from work become result of a series of ethical decisions?  A few years ago, I would have scanned the refrigerated section of the grocery for the least expensive carton of eggs, put them in my cart, then moved on to the next item on my grocery list — 2% milk with the latest expiration date.

But recently, I have noticed myself analyzing my purchases with greater detail before I make a purchase. A quick Google search led me to a list of all the varieties of eggs sold at my local supermarket: organic, free-range, naturally pasteurized, vegetarian, and the list goes on. In choosing the type of eggs I want to buy, I also have to consider the packaging of the eggs. If I buy the plastic carton, it will hold up long enough to be reused when my roommate brings eggs home from her coworker’s farm. But if I buy the paper carton, it will recycle most easily and doesn’t require any plastic.

Why did such a small task begin to involve so many decisions? I think it is a result of our increased demand for quality. We have all heard that ignorance is bliss, but with limitless information at our fingertips, we can no longer claim ignorance. As a result, our culture is becoming more ethically concerned. This means we are looking for products that meet our needs, but we also want to spend our money investing in the local economy, and caring for the environment. Maybe this is why the millennial generation has also been called the “civic generation”—a name earned by our desire to care for place—the environment in which we invest our lives.[1] We crave uncomplicated quality and authenticity in our spaces.

I have found that nothing brings these elements to a space as effortlessly as nature itself. Natural light, plants, or even an earthy color palette can bring the simplicity and life we crave in our spaces. But nothing has the same transformative impact as wood. It brings the outdoors in while contributing a durability and livability unique to the material. As a product of nature, it does not try to mimic the life we wish to find in our spaces but exposes the authenticity and history innate to the material. We see this in the pictures below that show the transformation that Goodwin’s heart pine LEGACY®  floors had on the historic Firestone building in downtown Gainesville, Florida.

The tongue and groove flooring in this room are building recovered, meaning they were once beams in 19th century industrial buildings in the U.S. The reuse of this wood speaks to its strength as well as the sustainability of the product. A room long forgotten and left lifeless is now a hidden gem in the city…and it’s available for lease starting November 2016!

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Lauren ColeyGuest Post by Lauren Corley

Lauren Corley is a guest author for Goodwin and is a senior in the Innovation Academy at the University of Florida studying Sustainability in the Built Environment with a minor in Innovation. She began her involvement with Goodwin at the 2015 Greenbuild conference in Washington D.C. She is from the Panhandle of Florida and gained an interest for sustainability and its use in space as a high school student. Since moving to Gainesville she has interned for the Repurpose Project as well as the Alachua County Public Schools under the Energy Conservation Specialist.

[1] Morley Winograd, and Michael D. Hais. Millenial Momentum: How a Generation Is Remaking America. New Brunswick, New Jersey, and London: Rutgers UP. Web. 10 Apr. 2016.

Visit Goodwin at the National Trust for Historic Preservation Conference in Houston, Texas 1

Goodwin Company is excited to attend the National Trust for Historic Preservation conference in Houston Texas on November 15 – 18th.  If you are in the area, we invite you to stop by and say “hi” to Jeffrey in the Goodwin booth.  Jeffrey will be happy to give you a sneak peek at some of our new pre-finished wood.

Goodwin is proud to be part of the sustainable design and historic preservation community.  We have provided antique heart pine and heart cypress for many historic restorations over the years including:

  • Texas Governor’s mansion (Austin, Texas)
  • Louis Sullivan and Frank Lloyd Wright’s Charnley-Norwood Cottage (Ocean Springs, Mississippi)
  • The Queen and the Crescent Hotel (New Orleans)
  • The Historic Firestone Building (Gainesville, Florida)
  • The Portland Observatory (Portland, Maine)
  • Historic Train Depot (Gainesville, Florida)

Looking forward to seeing you in Houston!

Firestone Building Honored by Florida Trust for Historic Preservation 7

(Gainesville, FL) – Phoebe Cade Miles (daughter of the late Dr. James Robert Cade, inventor of Gatorade) and her husband Richard restored the 4,000 sq. ft. Firestone Building in Gainesville, Florida last year. On Friday May 8th, 2015, the project was recognized by the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation (FTHP), receiving an Honorable Mention for Adaptive Reuse at the organization’s annual awards ceremony held in Miami, Florida. Additionally, father and son team, Richard and Ryland Wagner of Joyner Construction in Gainesville – contractors for the restoration – were also honored for their work on the project.

The FTHP’s mission is, “to promote the preservation of the architectural, historical and archaeological heritage of Florida through advocacy, education and historic property stewardship.” Accordingly, the Firestone was acknowledged to be, “a proper rehabilitation of a structure to a new use with consideration for the high level of creativity to the adaption.” Adherence to the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Historic Preservation was weighed heavily.

The restoration brought together many local building specialists. Goodwin Company, who has worked on several projects that have received recognition by the FTHP, milled the River-Recovered® and reclaimed Legacy Vertical Heartpine which surrounds a rectangle of brilliantly positioned reclaimed pine from the original building and an inlay of a fan medallion in the center.

According to Sarah Vidal-Finn, Manager of the Gainesville Community Redevelopment Agency, “The Firestone Building is a model example showcasing the ability to find incredible worth in historic building stock and sensitively reusing it to support modern commerce and businesses.”

For a full list of FTHP award winners, visit: http://www.floridatrust.org/preservation-awards/2015-award-winners.

Photo Credit: Front Street Commercial Real Estate Group

Historic Service Station Transformed by Renovation 3

Antique Reclaimed Wood Serves as Centerpiece of Firestone Office Building’s New Look

(Circa 1929)

(Gainesville, FL) – Great architecture stands forever, which is why Phoebe Cade Miles (daughter of the late Dr. James Robert Cade, inventor of Gatorade) and her husband Richard – owners of the old Firestone building in Gainesville, Florida – chose to install antique River-Recovered® and Legacy Heartpine flooring during their recent renovation. The building, which also houses University of Florida’s Gator Lab and Starter Space, features 4,000 sq. ft. of office space (two stories), a reception area, inside second floor balcony and a completely renovated and remodeled interior. The building itself was constructed using Campville Brick, another material with a unique story and history.

The hallmark of the newly remodeled space is the River-Recovered® and reclaimed Legacy Vertical Heartpine provided by Goodwin Company, which surrounds a rectangle of brilliantly positioned reclaimed pine from the original building and an inlay of a fan medallion in the center. Boston native Rudy Dittmar performed the installation.

“We could not have created this incredible space without the help of Goodwin Company,” explains Miles. “They provided the antique heartpine flooring we needed to complement the original flooring. We were able to save some of the original flooring and with their help, were able to create an amazing design that worked both old and new into a work of beauty.”

“Restoring and renovating historic spaces is one of our passions,” says Carol Goodwin, President of Goodwin Company. “Words cannot describe the feeling of witnessing your product breathe new life into a building with such deep roots and history. Antique wood is really the only option when you want to preserve the rich history and appeal.”

 

Photo Credit: Front Street Commercial Real Estate Group

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 and the Texas Governor’s Mansion.  For more information, visit www.heartpine.com.