The Urban WoodWorks is a Colorado based bespoke wood working studio that produces unique furniture and cabinetry out of trees from urban locations across Colorado. The Urban Woodworks offers one of a kind lumber & finished products for your home, office, and buildings.

The Urban Woodworks

Wood Worker | Longmont, Colorado

Artist Process

All of the materials for the woodworking are urban trees, but none of the trees used are removed just for their wood. The trees used have been removed due to disease, storm damage or expansion and are transformed into these heirloom projects.

The Urban Woodworks in Populus

Our Collaboration

Designs by Wildman Chalmers and Katherine Homes with fabrication and installation from Urban Woodworks.

Reception Desk

Level 1 | Reception

MATERIAL
Repurposed Rio Grand Cottonwood Tree

This Rio Grand Cottonwood tree was used for the reception desk and sourced from a local park in Longmont, Colorado after being cut down because it was diseased and dying. By salvaging a tree for the reception desk, we are giving this tree another home and bringing awareness to the importance of repurposing dead trees. The log needed to be planed and then put in the kiln for 42 days to dry. Two hundred and forty-three gallons of water were removed in the kiln drying process and all the water that was removed underwent treatment and returned to the watershed. Any leftover wood shavings from the cutting process went to Hazel Dell Mushroom to use as grow their mushrooms. Wood shavings provide a fantastic environment to grow mycelium. When a tree naturally dies in a forest, it will at some point end up on the forest floor, and as the tree decomposes it feeds a diversity of fungi, insects and microorganisms. Those organisms break down the tree into an organic nutrient-rich soil that benefits the plants around it. This reception desk connects with the story of the forest floor of Populus and to the Mushroom Tapestry in the neighboring room of Pasque.

Yakisugi Inspired Wall

Level 13 | Stellar Jay

MATERIAL
Apple Tree and Siberian Elm Tree Slices

Yakisugi (also known as Shou Sugi Ban) literally translates to burned cedar and was used when there was not yet a synthetic product to protect a wood house. It is still used today to prevent decay, insect and mold infestation and improves fire retardancy. The Yakisugi process is an incredible example of how humans can learn from nature and implement more environmentally forward methods into building production. It typically takes less than 5 minutes to burn the wood - the heat needs to exceed 250 degrees for lasting effects, but once the wood is burned it acts like a natural fire retardant. Over the years wildfires have increased at an alarming rate, fire mitigation is crucial in protecting the forests. While a fire can be absolutely devastating, when managed properly there are many benefits. Species like Fire Lily and Indian Paintbrush are just a few examples of wildflowers that are activated by fire. The canopy can open up allowing more sunlight to come through and the forest floor.

The Apple Tree and Siberian Elm Tree Slices in this piece were repurposed from diseased or storm damaged trees.

Slippery Elm Wood Slices

Level 2 | Rooms + Suites | Presidential Suite

MATERIAL
Repurposed Slipper Elm Trees

These pieces of wood are from a tree that was removed from Sunset Golf Course in Longmont, CO. These Slippery Elm tree slices have unique formations near the outer edge of their rings because of tree burls. Tree burls are large growths that are the result of their host trees fighting stress, which triggers a defense mechanism but leads to a beautiful wood once harvested. Examples of stress-causing conditions range from insect or fungal infestations or parasites.