Kebony decking for floating eco-laboratory

Kebony and CustomBeach recently installed more than 900sq. ft. of environmentally friendly Kebony wood decking for the Miami Science Barge, a floating urban ecological laboratory and public environmental education centre.

The barge, which launched on Friday 22 April 2016 in Biscayne Bay, will provide STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) students with the opportunity to explore new green technologies and marine life. Welcoming students aged 6-18 the barge will provide guided field trips, tours and workshops. In addition, Kebony will give away 250 wooden plant stakes and seeds to celebrate the grand opening and encourage students to think sustainably long after their visit to the barge.

CustomBeach, a Florida-based design and construction company, also used Kebony – the sustainable alternative to tropical hardwood – as the primary building material for the barge’s learning centre, including four multipurpose tables and eight benches. In addition, Kebony was used for a retail stand, hostess podium and recycling bins. The barge acts as both a floating classroom, educating students in the Miami area on eco-friendly initiatives, but also as a demonstration of how sustainability can be incorporated into any build, making Kebony wood the perfect choice.

Developed in Norway, the Kebony technology permanently modifies the properties of sustainable softwood, giving it the same characteristics as the most durable tropical hardwoods. This modification process allows the wood to stand up to extreme weather conditions and moisture found in marine settings.

Ted Caplow, Designer of the Miami Science Barge commented “We are thrilled to partner with CustomBeach, because we share the goal of showcasing innovative sustainable materials that will have broad application in tropical climates.”

Thomas Bache-Wiig, Owner and Head of Operations at CustomBeach explained “We were incredibly pleased to team up with Kebony on this project and excited that they were able to provide us with a durable, low-maintenance and natural building material. At CustomBeach our mission is to enhance the outdoor experience by creating cutting-edge sustainable products. Kebony helps us do just that. The wood’s ability to withstand unpredictable tropical weather conditions makes Kebony the ideal material especially for this project, complementing the barge’s sustainability efforts.”

Andy Hehl, Manager for Kebony U.S said “Our team works to provide high-quality wood that is durable, beautiful and sustainable. We were happy to be a partner on this project and feel it truly encompasses our commitment to green design and an eco-conscious future. Our close relationship with the CustomBeach team has introduced us to incredible opportunities, and we hope to continue working with them on more projects to come.”