A design lab based in Portland, approached us in search of a partner to help mill the wood needed for the sustainable and biophilic SeamWalls at the Portland International Airport. After discussing their vision and specific project requirements, we were eager to collaborate.
Once the wood arrived at our shop in Hubbard, OR, we began by grading each piece to determine which would best suit the project. After grading the wood and measuring the moisture content, we moved forward with the milling process. The grading was strict for defects and moisture content due to the nature of the project.
This process involved feeding each piece of Fir into our Moulders, surfacing all four sides (S4S) to a precise 2-1/2″ x 2-1/2″ dimension, and adding an Eased Edge to each piece. Next, we ran them through our Tenoner to trim each piece to the four specified lengths, which ranged from 13″ to 96″. Having these varying lengths allowed us to sustainably grade the wood, minimizing waste by setting aside certain pieces that were ideal for specific dimensions.
After that, the wood was ready to be constructed into the SeamWall you see today.
The end result is a beautiful, biophilic touch that highlights the strength of collaboration and the care that went into crafting each individual piece.