Greensboro, N.C. - Columbia Forest Products announces the winners of the second annual PureBond® Quality Awards competition. Twelve winning projects in four project categories – Residential Kitchen, Residential Bath, Residential Other, and Commercial – were chosen by a team of expert judges.

The winning selections were made based on the use of PureBond® hardwood plywood in a project that led to a quality finished project. Fabricators competed for gift card prizes valued at up to $1,000 in each category.

“The PureBond Quality Awards is a way for Columbia Forest Products to recognize the world-class work being produced by our PureBond Fabricator Network™ members,” Todd Vogelsinger, Director of Marketing, stated. “We’ve created a partnership with craftspeople who build quality custom woodwork for residential and commercial clients using our flagship PureBond brand of hardwood plywood.”

Now in its second year, the PureBond Quality Awards competition has become an important way to spotlight the accomplishments of woodworking specialists. The 2013 winners represented nine PFN fabricators, as follows:

Residential Kitchen Category

First Place: Fitucci Cabinets

Second Place: Fairfield County Millwork

Third Place: Rivendell Woodworks, Inc.

Residential Bath Category

First Place: Lewis & Weldon Custom Cabinetry, LLC

Second Place: Wm. H. Fry Construction

Third Place: Fitucci Cabinets

Residential Other Category

First Place: d. KISER design.construct, inc.

Second Place: NR Hiller Design, Inc.

Third Place: Fairfield County Millwork

Commercial Category

First Place: Fairfield County Millwork

Second Place: Bradco Kitchens

Third Place: K&Z Cabinet Co., Inc.

Residential Kitchen Category Winners

The first place winner of the Residential Kitchen category is Fitucci Cabinets of Van Nuys, CA. The winning design was created for an oceanfront contemporary residence. The project highlighted an open floor plan that used natural surfaces such as walnut cabinetry and PureBond cases throughout the home to complement stunning ocean views and create a functional-yet-beautiful living space.

“Awareness of green products for the construction industry has been on the rise. For me as a cabinetmaker who uses only PureBond panels for my box construction, this is a very important sales point. I found it to be a very important tool in the presentation of my product, and this project was no different,” said Eric Fitucci of Fitucci Cabinets.

The second place winner was Fairfield County Millwork of Bethany, CT with an impressive kitchen featuring knotty pine cabinets, paneling and trim that used PureBond Maple hardwood plywood.

The third place prize in the Residential Kitchen category went to Rivendell Woodworks, Inc. of Concord, CA with a stately and inviting kitchen created using prefinished PureBond hardwood plywood.

Residential Bath Category Winners

The first place winner of the Residential Bath category is Lewis & Weldon Custom Cabinetry, LLC of Hyannis, MA. The winning design was for a new construction project located near the water. With this in mind, a stunning bath was created that not only provided the functional space the family desired, but also offered a moisture-resistant environment through the use of White Maple UV 25 PureBond FF VC all-wood panels.

According to a Lewis & Weldon company spokesperson, the customer desired an all-wood product that was moisture-resistant and created formaldehyde-free, in addition to being made in the USA. “With the widest variety of American-made quality veneers and reliable cores to be found anywhere, why would we choose anything other than PureBond?”

The second place winner was Wm. H. Fry Construction of Cupertino, CA with a luxurious guest bath featuring PureBond hardwood plywood backed with Maple.

The third place prize in the Residential Bath category was awarded to Fitucci Cabinets of Van Nuys, CA with a striking contemporary bath featuring cabinetry made with PureBond hardwood plywood panels.

Residential Other Category Winners

The Residential Other category which was open to projects such built-in furnishings, furniture and closet systems, was won for the second year in a row by d.KISER design.construct, inc. of Omaha, NE, a highly specialized custom studio.

The winning entry is one in which d.KISER assisted an architectural firm in designing many of the home’s special features in addition to the cabinetry. The pièce de resistance (and the winning entry) is a fireplace made with Hickory PureBond panels that also houses an entertainment center and functions as a hallway blocking the public space from the private.

Commenting on the winning project, Doug Kiser of d.KISER said, “The PureBond product we used met the needs of our clients by being low VOC and having no added formaldehyde. This was a concern because they have two young children. In addition, when people see the space and the talk becomes technical, it’s a nice point to say that the soy-based adhesive used in the panels was inspired by mussels sticking to rocks in the Pacific Ocean!”

The second place winner, with a wonderfully creative furniture submission of a “sneaky bar,” was NR Hiller Design, Inc. of Bloomington, IN.

Third place in the Residential Other category was awarded to Fairfield County Millwork of Bethany, CT for an elegant knotty pine trophy room.

Commercial Category Winners

The Commercial category was open to any type of commercial application. The first place submission came from Fairfield County Millwork of Bethany, CT. The winning entry was created for the corporate headquarters for Peoples Bank in Bridgeport, CT. It features a sleek radius teller line and a custom round circulation desk using Santos Rosewood and Wenge veneer over a pre-finished Maple PureBond core.

A spokesperson for Fairfield noted that “air quality and sustainable resources are a recurring theme as to what matters most to our clients. PureBond panel products with no VOC’s offers the best of both worlds: a quality product that is environmentally friendly and managed from sustainable renewable resources.”

The second place winning entry was from Bradco Kitchens of Los Angeles, CA with a working kitchen for Sur La Table, a major retailer of high-end cookware, bake-ware utensils and small appliances.

Third place in the Commercial Category went to K&Z Cabinet Co., Inc. of Ontario, CA for a lab room project completed for the Science Complex at Los Angeles Harbor College – a striking example of “form following function” with no sacrifice in visual appeal.

Judging the Competition

The panel of judges assembled for the 2013 PureBond Quality Awards competition included William Sampson, editor of CabinetMaker+FDM Magazine, with a lengthy history in publishing, woodworking and business; Eric Pfeiffer, an award-winning product designer and co-author of "Bent Ply: The Art of Plywood Furniture,"; Whitney Gainer and Ashley Turner, the two sisters behind the Shanty2Chic blog which teaches followers how to transform their homes on a budget with DIY projects and How-To Tutorials; and Kiersten Hathcock, the creator and creative mind behind the popular and eco-friendly Mod Mom Furniture line.

The criterion for the winners was simply demonstrating "quality" use of PureBond hardwood plywood. "The contest has grown dramatically between our first and second year,” Vogelsinger noted. “In fact, we received nearly twice as many entries this year. Every single one was impressive and instructive,” he added.

About PureBond Technology

Columbia's formaldehyde-free PureBond® technology was a major breakthrough in the engineered wood panel market. Developed by Columbia Forest Products in conjunction with scientists at Oregon State University, the first PureBond hardwood plywood panels were produced in 2005. Since then, more than 50 million have been shipped.

PureBond formaldehyde-free technology continues to be a market differentiator for woodshops that cater to a health-conscious clientele. Over 850 fabricators have joined the PureBond Fabricator Network to identify themselves as leading-edge suppliers who are thoughtful about the materials they use and the concern customers have with good indoor air quality and home resale value.

The PureBond Quality Awards competition will be held again in 2014. "We are very pleased with the participation among the members of the PureBond Fabricators Network, and hope for even more entries next year,” Vogelsinger stated.

To join the PureBond Fabricator Network and become eligible to compete in the PureBond Quality Awards, click here.

About Columbia Forest Products

Established in 1957, Columbia Forest Products is America’s largest manufacturer of decorative hardwood plywood and hardwood veneer. An employee-owned company, it operates facilities throughout North America. It is a leader in sustainable forestry, as well as developing innovative and environmentally friendly technologies and products for healthy indoor living.

Columbia Forest Products has provided fine decorative hardwood plywood veneer panels to North American fabricators for 55 years. The company is committed to offering the industry’s widest product selection, manufactured in efficient, technologically advanced mills, and backed by exceptional service and product support.

Website address: http://columbiaforestproducts.com/Fabricators/2013PQAWinners.

Source: Columbia Forest Products