University of Virginia uses reclaimed heartwood sourced from St. Johns River
The University of Virginia kicked off an extensive renovation project for a large four-story building on campus at the beginning of 2023. When it came to the flooring selection for the project, the university had a specific vision in mind for a unique hardwood that would create a stunning first impression while delivering durability and functionality.
Touch of Color Flooring (TOC) was brought on by Hourigan Construction to spearhead the flooring installation, which included hardwood and other flooring elements.
Hardwood was to be installed on the first and third floors in the studio areas, a combined 16,000-square-foot project. The first-floor studio (4,000 square feet) is used for entertainment events, music functions, and more. The third floor (12,000 square feet) is a large, multi-use studio space.
The university desired a reclaimed statement flooring that would be the crown jewel of the design. Having seen heartpine used in other school institutions and museums in Virginia, they were drawn to the wood’s aesthetics and history.
Hardwood with Heart
The wood chosen for the UVA project was Goodwin Heartpine Company’s flooring, which is sourced from trees 200 to 500 years old. But it’s not as simple as finding wood in a warehouse and shipping it in. In fact, the wood desired for this project was lying at the bottom of the St. Johns River in Florida. This wood originally was used to build bridges. When the logging companies were transporting these ancient long leaf pine logs downriver, many logs fell into the rivers due to their sheer weight. The cold temperature and conditions in the rivers allowed the logs to remain pristine with no rot or decay. While the retrieval process takes some effort, it makes for incredibly durable and beautiful wood for reclaimed use.
Never to be deterred by a unique and challenging flooring request, TOC worked hand in hand with Goodwin and various other hardwood professionals to source, dry, prepare, and install the heartpine exactly as desired by the university.
“It is always exciting and a little stressful when doing a new installation and using a new product. The UVA design team was pleased with the results,” says Allen Newman of TOC.
The wood underwent an extensive milling process, including drying, sawing into boards, kiln drying, and cutting to size specifications. It was shipped to North Carolina to apply backing and finally shipped to Virginia for installation.
The TOC team then carefully applied Woca Diamond Oil Finish. The most “artful” aspect of the project came during installation. TOC thought through the placement of every piece, inspecting it for its unique qualities and laying out the boards to create the perfect aesthetic that demonstrates the product’s character and quality.
New Process Brings New Challenges
A valuable learning opportunity for TOC was the experience of working with heartpine, which provided an opportunity to excel in an area the team hadn’t spent much time previously. When comparing heartpine with the more commonly used maple, the staining and sanding processes differ greatly. Heartpine is a soft wood and absorbs stain more aggressively, so if it’s not sanded properly, the stain will be uneven. TOC used an oil-based stain for the heartpine, where with the maple a water-based stain is used. There was a learning curve, but the installers rose to the challenge and provided a beautiful result for
the university.
In total, there were 11 revisions on the project before it was finalized (including all flooring materials installed). TOC is highly experienced in installing hardwood, but still, this project stretched the team to new heights. It was their first time working with both heartpine and a heated floor. We gained a lot of knowledge that will be taken to the next project. Thanks to many skilled hands and creative minds, the end product is a masterpiece that the university will enjoy for many decades to come.
Joe Hamad is the owner of Touch of Color Flooring, a family-built and operated business with locations in Harrisburg, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and Richmond, Virginia. Touch of Color has six core divisions: Builder, Multifamily, Senior Living, Commercial, Retail, and Design, and it services seven states throughout the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. Learn more at touchofcolorflooring.com.
