Construction and preservation projects can create opportunities to extend the useful life of existing materials while reducing waste. Consigli Construction partnered with Hackley School to transform wood salvaged from a century-old campus oak into custom furnishings for the school.
The Old Oak was damaged during Tropical Storm Isaias. During construction of Hackley School’s Allen Center for the Creative Arts and Technology, Consigli worked with school leadership to preserve the tree’s wood and incorporate it into the campus.
Consigli’s Mill Shop team evaluated the reclaimed material, which contained natural imperfections resulting from age and storm damage. Craftsmen adapted the designs around the condition and characteristics of each piece.
Using traditional woodworking methods and detailed shop drawings, the team produced several custom furnishings, including a Head of School desk, conference table, theater podium and benches for each school division.
The project demonstrates how construction teams can incorporate salvaged materials into new campus improvements while maintaining their historical significance. Rather than treating the damaged oak solely as a removed landscape element, the project gave its wood a continued functional role within the school.
The approach also highlights the role of self-perform capabilities and specialized millwork teams in adapting reclaimed materials for institutional projects.
For schools and other institutional owners, incorporating existing materials into capital projects can preserve elements of a property’s history while creating durable furnishings and interior features. The Hackley School project also illustrates how construction planning and specialized craftsmanship can support material reuse within broader renovation and new-construction programs.
Source: Consigli.
