Exotic Woods Gain Popularity in the U.S.

This article presents information on several architectural technologies. There are certain woods that seem as American — and as familiar — as apple pie: oak, pine, and maple, to name just a few. According to Dan Meyerson, who has been selling wood veneer to architects from the New York office of Bacon Veneer Co., since 1993, there is no official definition. In the late 1980s, African anegre was one of the most common sold woods, recalls Meyerson, but his father, who had been in the furniture business since the 1930s, had never heard of it. Before such a permit can be authorized, however, the designated scientific authority of that country must be able to verify that the specimen was not obtained illegally and that its export will not be detrimental to the survival of the species. Johnston Architecture, a firm in Wilmington, North Carolina, that designs beachfront houses, initially specified redwood for many exterior applications because the homegrown lumber could stand up to the hurricane winds and salt spray typical of harsh coastal environments. INSET: Untitled..