Cikel America recently donated 1,350 sf. of Cikel prefinished exotic Brazilian Cherry hardwood flooring to the first LEED for Homes Platinum level home in Kansas. Cikel also donated 6,000 board–feet of Brazilian Cumaru hardwood for the roof and rain screen cladding. Learn more about this LEED Platinum project and how Cikel America is helping University of Kansas graduate level architecture students.

Miami, FL, September 10, 2009 –– In keeping with its long–standing dedication to corporate and social responsibility, Cikel America donated an impressive 6,000 board–feet (22,000 lineal feet) of its beautiful exotic Brazilian Cumaru hardwood for graduate–level architecture students building the first LEED for Homes Platinum level residence in the state of Kansas. Studio 804, the full–time, one semester, design–build program at the University of Kansas School of Architecture and Urban Planning used Cikel's exotic Cumaru for the two–level home's exterior rain–screen cladding and roof. In addition, Cikel donated 1,350 square feet of its exotic Brazilian Cherry hardwood for the flooring and stair treads on the second level. In collaboration with its distribution partner in the area, The Master's Craft, Cikel donated the material for this off–the–grid residence referred to as the "3716 Springfield House" in Kansas City, Kansas.

"We were working with the KU students in the design phase of this project," said Brian Moore, The Master's Craft vice president, international division. "The major requirement was that the project was going for LEED Platinum rating. Cikel is a well–known chain–of–custody supplier so I immediately thought of bringing them on–board. We have been doing business with Cikel for years and we took a few product samples for the students to review. Cumaru is very durable and great for exterior jobs. Plus, Cikel's Cumaru has a real tight grain and a great finished look to it."

The home was built in the Rosedale section of Kansas City with a holistic approach to sustainability. Throughout construction the student team carefully ensured that all materials would meet LEED Platinum standards upon completion. Cikel's exotic Brazilian Cumaru cladding is visually the most noticeable feature of the project. Cikel's Cumaru is naturally weather–resistant and with a Janka rating of 3,540, represents one of the five most durable hardwood products available. The exotic Brazilian Cumaru exterior rain–screen cladding allows the building to breathe and maintain a healthy indoor environment. In addition, rain water will pass behind Cikel's Cumaru and into integrated gutters and downspouts that will carry the water to an underground rainwater reclamation system (grey water). Cikel's Cumaru was also used in a similar fashion over the metal roof of the home to provide a uniform appearance.

Professor Dan Rockhill's Studio 804 has garnered a national reputation in sustainable building by completing nine "green" houses in nine years. His graduate–level architecture students have learned to become agents of social change and advocates for ecological thinking. On each project, including the 3716 Springfield House, the students do all design work, provide the labor, develop the budget, raise the money, keep the books, and solicit building product donations. In addition to the Cikel Cumaru rain–screen cladding and exotic Brazilian Cherry floors, the single–family residence features passive solar heating through south facing glass, a vertical axis wind turbine, roof–mounted photovoltaic solar panels, geothermal heat pumps, and used reclaimed wood for the frame. The 3716 Springfield House is the first residence in Wyandotte County to utilize renewable energy sources.

"The Cikel Cumaru product is beautiful," said Dan Rockhill, JL Constant Distinguished Professor of Architecture, University of Kansas. "It's actually flawless. That was a big step for us in the process. It's all FSC lumber and we were certainly happy about that. We got everything that we asked for from Cikel. All the sizes we ordered were made up right and delivered to us promptly. We start this project in January without even a plot of land to build on, and we finish the entire project in May. I built this with all students, no subcontractors. Being able to rely on Cikel meant a lot to me. They lived up to their part of the bargain every step of the way."

The 3716 Springfield House features 2,500 square–feet of living space, four bedrooms and two–and–a–half baths. The master bedroom has a private, two–sink bathroom and walk out balcony with views of the 39th Street corridor of Kansas City. In addition, a loft space can be utilized as an office or third guestroom. Downstairs, the open floor plan visually connects the kitchen, dining and living room. The west end of the property abuts a forest preserve removed of any planned residential or commercial development. A double-height west wall will flood the space with filtered daylight via sunscreens and insulated rolling shades which will help retain this heat overnight.

"This is exactly the type of project we like to be involved with," said Gerry Schappell, Cikel America vice president. "Cikel has always been highly motivated by social responsibility, from how we manage our forests and products, to interacting with the communities we do business in. Participating in a project like this, where young architects are learning the value of sustainable building, is certainly a positive thing for us. We've had a great relationship with The Master's Craft for years, and they are quite familiar with our products and how we like to do business. This was one of those win-win opportunities for everyone involved."

Studio 804's 3716 Springfield House is capable of routing energy back through the electrical grid. During morning and afternoon hours when energy consumption is in less demand, a 600 square foot rooftop solar array and a residential wind turbine send energy back to the grid, which is subtracted from the home's electrical bill. When the sun sets or the wind subsides, the residence taps into the public utility system like any other home. However, the net electrical usage is in the homeowner’s favor and utility charges are minimal. In addition, the ground source heat pump helps to maintain a comfortable interior air temperature by utilizing the stable temperature of the earth. Exterior walls with 2' x 6' stud framing packed with wet–pack blown cellulose insulation gives the assembly and R–20 insulation value. Likewise, the ceiling contains a minimum of 12 inches of blown cellulose yielding an R–38 assembly. A durable and efficient standing seam metal roof protects the roof assembly from moisture. This roof system typically carries a 30 to 50 year warranty.