Devon Maurer, Author at reSAWN TIMBER co.

Project Details:

Edelman Fossil Park & Museum of Rowan University
Location: Mantua, NJ
Size: 44,000 sq. ft.
Architects: Ennead Architects & KSS Architects
Builders: Jingoli & Sloan & Company
Exterior Cladding: 21,000 sq. ft. of CUSTOM FSC®-Certified Accoya® wood
Battens: 15,000 linear ft. of CUSTOM FSC®-Certified Accoya® wood

Project Overview

The Edelman Fossil Park & Museum of Rowan University invites visitors to step 66-million years back into Earth’s ancient past. Set on a 123-acre site anchored by an active fossil quarry, the 44,000 sq. ft. museum is a groundbreaking destination that sets a new benchmark for green building practices in the region, as the largest net-zero carbon building in New Jersey.

Designed by Ennead Architects in collaboration with KSS Architects, the Edelman Fossil Park unites science, architecture, and sustainability to foster education and environmental stewardship. It tells a powerful story of Earth’s incredible past, while inspiring visitors to protect its future.

In search of a durable, sustainable wood product that required little to no maintenance, the design team came to reSAWN TIMBER co. early in the design process for a material that would meet both performance and aesthetic needs. The outcome was over 21,000 sq. ft. of CUSTOM FSC®-Certified Accoya wood cladding, and 15,000 linear ft. of CUSTOM Accoya battens. From material selection and production through installation and completion, reSAWN partnered with the project team to provide complete project support and technical expertise.

The Design Vision

The museum’s design integrates indoor learning experiences with outdoor exploration. Inspired by the fossil record and geological narrative of the site itself, the architecture is a metaphorical lens that frames the immersive exhibits, with pavilions shaped to direct movement from indoors out to the hands-on fossil excavation quarry, where visitors can dig for their own prehistoric treasures.

Project Goals

The project’s primary goal was to support the museum’s mission and demonstrate environmental responsibility through the creation of a high-performance building. Utilizing the Living Building Challenge as a guide, the design features several environmentally friendly properties, with mass-timber construction as a focal point to contribute to lower embodied carbon.

The design is centered on an aesthetic that evokes Earth’s ancient past and layered crust; a warm, natural finish was needed for the cladding to establish the building as part of its natural surroundings. The chosen material needed to perform well in New Jersey’s variable climate with minimal maintenance required over time.

“[We] wanted to create a design that was integrated with the natural setting…we chose Accoya made by reSAWN TIMBER co. very intentionally first and foremost for its appearance and aesthetic qualities.” – Thomas Wong, Ennead Architects

Project Support & Solutions

When Ennead approached reSAWN looking to partner with a manufacturer who could execute their design intent, the original aim was to use a clear vertical grain western red cedar to maintain a warm, natural wood tone. After close collaboration with our Specification Consultant, we determined that CVG western red cedar was not the right choice to fulfill the project requirements. After several meetings at our Sample Studio in Telford, PA to discuss materials and study samples, the focus shifted to FSC®-Certified Accoya wood for its sustainability and durability.

“[V]isiting reSAWn, back and forth with product reps at reSAWN…really opened the doors for us to explore wood in a way that we wouldn’t have been able to probably otherwise.” – Andy Sniderman, KSS Architects

Material Selection: Custom-finished Accoya Wood

To produce a material that would mirror the look of red cedar, reSAWN’s research and development team created a custom two-coat finish system that would give longer lasting color with minimal maintenance. The result was a CUSTOM Accoya cladding with a beautiful tone that offers warmth, tactility, and visual connection to nature.

Accoya is produced from sustainable, plantation grown pine, is non-toxic and recyclable, and acts as a carbon sink, offering much lower lifecycle carbon emissions than other building materials, to fully support the building’s net-zero design. Its patented acetylation process ensures exceptional durability and stability, with a 50-year above ground warranty that provides confidence in the product’s ability to perform and remain low-maintenance over the building’s lifetime.

To maintain consistent durability and material compatibility, Accoya was also selected for the 15,000 linear ft. of battens. reSAWN guided the design team in recognizing the importance of using a high-performance material for these hidden, but critical, components. Choosing Accoya for both the cladding and battens supports long-term system integrity by reducing the risk of movement and decay, helping to ensure the entire exterior performs as intended for decades to come.

Mockups

After material selection, reSAWN assisted in the development and installation of a series of full-scale mockups on site to ensure the material performed as expected. The mockups were installed in two stages:

The first mockup was installed in late fall 2020 to help understand a larger field of material and observe the product’s weathering properties.
The second, or performance mockup, was conducted in spring 2022 to work through wall assembly details, proper installation practices, and corner/transition details.

Technical & Installation Support

reSAWN’s technical support team collaborated with the project team throughout the entirety of the build to ensure a full understanding of proper installation techniques including fastening aspects, specific overlap aspects, correct detailing, and proper gaps between panels. Several site visits throughout construction were conducted by reSAWN’s Specification Consultant and leadership group to provide support on location during installation, and offer guidance on appropriate finishing techniques to verify the second coat of finish was applied correctly in the field.

“There was a lot of detailed collaboration. Fastening aspects, specific overlap aspects, detailing it the right way, having the right gaps between panels…getting feedback from the [reSAWN] rep to make sure we’re providing the right information for a contractor to be able to build.” – Andy Sniderman, KSS Architects

Project Outcome

Opened to the public in March 2025, The Edelman Fossil Park & Museum of Rowan University now stands as a testement to the power of sustainable design and thoughtful collaboration, serving as a national model for educating the public on plant and animal diversity, earth sciences, and environmental responsibility.

The project team was extremely pleased with the cladding choice and its contribution to the project outcome. reSAWN’s ability to provide guidance on material selection, deliver material on time, recommend best practice installation methods with on-site support, and the material’s ease of workability, played a vital role in aligning the building’s design with its deeper mission – preserving the past, educating the present, and building toward a more sustainable future.

reSAWN is your partner in bringing any design vision to life through dedicated, customized support and the highest-quality materials that elevate your project outcome. We’re committed to supporting you through every stage of your project, from early design stages through completion and maintenance to help your project thrive long-term. Contact us to get started.

With an increased industry focus on sustainability and product performance, wood continues to be the building material of choice for durability, stability, and eco-consciousness. No other resource captures a unique warmth and beauty while providing the high-performance and adaptability sought after by architects and builders.

While the benefits of wood as a building material far outweigh the cons, natural wood is susceptible to vulnerabilities like moisture, rot, and decay. However, by modifying the wood, these vulnerabilities can be offset to enhance the durability and dimensional stability of wood without compromising its natural beauty or environmental friendliness.

What is Modified Wood?

Wood modification involves the application of a chemical, physical, or biological agent upon the wood to alter the cellular structure and enhance performance. Modified wood is stronger and more resistant to decay through reduced water absorption and expansion/contraction. There are a variety of modification techniques, including thermal modification, chemical modification, and furfurylation, which is a combination of both thermal and chemical modification. This article will focus on the benefits of chemical modification – or acetylation – a chemical reaction that has been used for over 100 years and turns softwood into hardwood by preventing the cells in the wood from absorbing water.

Acetylation: Chemical Modification of Wood

Acetylation is the most established, proven, and effective form of chemical wood modification. Unlike pressure treatment, which forces chemical preservatives into the fibers of the wood in a pressure chamber, acetylation chemically alters the biological structure of the wood.

The Acetylation Process

During the acetylation process, the wood is subjected to an organic reaction with acetic anhydride – a clear, colorless liquid with a strong scent of vinegar (essential, vinegar without the water.) Acetic anhydride reacts to a part of the wood’s cellular structure called free hydroxyls, which allow the absorption and release of water in and out of the wood. The acetylation process converts free hydroxyls into acetyl groups, which water can no longer bind to, significantly reducing the ability of the wood to absorb and retain water.

Wood Selection

Accoya® Wood is the leading example of chemically modified wood, utilizing a cutting edge, proprietary acetylation process. The acetylation of Accoya yields exceptional results for demanding exterior applications like cladding, decking, and more. The processing of producing Accoya begins by responsibly sourcing radiata pine, a high-yield, fast-growing softwood species. Accoya wood is FSC®-Certified, protecting local biodiversity and habitats through a sustainable timber supply chain.

Acetylation Reaction

Once sourced and milled, the wood is subjected to a chemical reaction with acetic anhydride, which occurs in a high-temperature, high-pressure environment, typically around 120° Celsius (248° Fahrenheit). During this phase, the hydroxyl groups (-OH) on large molecules such as lignin and hemicellulose in the plant cell wall react wiht the acetic anhydride and are replaced by acetyl groups (-COCH₃).

Accoya Modified Wood Acetylation Process

Post-Reaction Processing

After the acetylation reaction, the wood undergoes washing and drying to remove residual chemicals and by-products; the finished product is completely non-toxic and certified safe for humans, animals, and the environment.

The resulting acetic acid from the reaction is recovered and purified through a distillation process, which is then recycled back into the acetylation process, effectively regenerating acetic anhydride. This closed-loop system not only reduces the consumption of raw materials, but minimizes the environmental impact associated with the production and disposal of chemicals.

Benefits of Accoya Acetylated Wood

Accoya wood offers many performance, environmental, and aesthetic benefits that make it an excellent alternative to untreated or pressure-treated wood.

High Performance

Compared to untreated wood, swelling and shrinkage in acetylated wood is reduced by 70%-80%. Its dimensional stability allows it to maintain its shape and tight joints in varying humidity and weather conditions. Accoya is highly-proven, having been tested in various environments and real-world conditions, making it an ideal choice for even the most extreme climates.
Accoya wood is exceptionally durable; its durability, or rot resistance, is Class 1, matching and exceeding the performance of nature’s most durable wood like oak and teak.
Accoya wood is backed by a 50 year above ground warranty, and 25 years in ground or freshwater.

Sustainability

Accoya offers much lower lifecycle carbon emissions compared to non-renewable building materials. The acetylation process significantly increases the durability and stability of raw wood, prolonging its useful life and keeping the carbon locked in for longer.
Accoya wood is Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) certified, Cradle to Cradle Gold Certified, and the only construction material in the world to achieve C2C Platinum certification for Material Health.
Unlike other materials like PVC and plastic composites, modified wood is 100% recyclable. Accoya wood is nontoxic, safe for the environment, and sustainably sourced from fast-growing forests.

Aesthetics

Visually, acetylated wood is just like any other wood. It maintains the natural beauty and character of unmodified wood with the added benefit of low maintenance.
Accoya wood is ideal for a variety of textures and finishes, and weathers to a natural silver-gray if left untreated. reSAWN TIMBER co. uses proprietary finishing processes that are developed in-house. These techniques allow for:
- Deeper penetration of finishes into the wood for enhanced durability and visual richness.
- Consistent results across product lines due to controlled processes.
- Customizability, allowing finishes to be tailored to specific design needs or environmental conditions.
For those seeking a more enhanced, textured appearance and dramatic aesthetic, Shou Sugi Ban Accoya – offered by reSAWN – is a striking solution. This award-winning charring technique not only enhances exterior durability, but adds depth and richness to the wood’s appearance. The dense outer char layer develops into a uniquely weathered aesthetic over time for timeless elegance.

Acetylated wood is transforming how wood is used in a variety of applications and demanding environments, offering a smart and sustainable alternative to tropical hardwoods and synthetic materials. As the industry prioritizes sustainability, superior performance, and aesthetics, reSAWN TIMBER co., continues to craft innovative, high-performance products with Accoya wood to meet the exacting needs of any project.

Our modified wood solutions are developed in-house with proprietary finishing techniques and undergo a rigorous research and development process to ensure unmatched performance and aesthetics. We provide comprehensive technical insights and support throughout the project lifecycle to empower architects, builders, and contractors to make informed decisions and achieve desired project results.

Case Study: Building a More Sustainable Future at Edelman Fossil Park & Museum