Company Headquarters Wows and Inspires
Showcasing Just How Beautiful, Versatile and Spectacular Veneer Can Be.
When the Bohlke Veneer Company moved to its current location on N. Gilmore Rd in Fairfield, Ohio in 2001, the company’s owners used the occasion and the new building to showcase its inventory of beautiful veneers. “When newcomers first walk into the building, it’s a wow moment, for sure,” said Nick Bohlke, the company’s president of manufacturing.
The lobby, entryway and public rooms of the company’s headquarters are all faced with different types of veneer. But it is the main conference room that is the real showpiece. Known as the Ash Room, all visible features and fixtures in the room are faced in ash, including the wall paneling, doors and the edging and surface of the central conference table. Different types of ash were used throughout, including curly quarter-grained ash, olive ash, with its distinct yellow and brown calico aspect, and ash burl.
The room features distinctive barreled ceilings, such that the ceiling panels curve downward giving an effect somewhat like a train tunnel. “It gives the room great acoustics, hides the plain ceiling and is a really unique and beautiful presentation,” according to Bohlke. “The room feels circular and inclusive rather than modular.”
Four other meeting rooms throughout the building are similarly built out with a focus on a specific wood species, including another large conference room known as the Maple Room, and three smaller rooms known respectively as the Madrone Burl Room, the Redwood Room and the Anigre Room.
Learn more about Mock Woodworking.
“When we were designing this building, we wanted to showcase what clients can do with our material and to demonstrate just how beautiful, versatile and spectacular veneer can be,” Bohlke said.
The interior fabrication work at the Bohlke headquarters was done by a team from Mock Woodworking, and all the wood was sourced from Bohlke’s in-stock inventory. “It took about 18 months to complete all the interior areas due to the intricacies of the work,” Bohlke noted. “It actually took longer to finish the interior than it took to construct the building itself.”
A Partnership Between Fabricator and Supplier
Mock Woodworking often partners with Bohlke on veneer projects. Mock Woodworking produces high quality, customized woodworking, and specialty fixtures for homes, institutions, restaurants, and businesses around the world. “Because the projects we seek are high-end and often complex in nature, it allows us to collaborate with architects and design professionals, and these are unique opportunities for us to offer value-added ideas or provide prototypes and samples to help prove out design concepts,” said Andrew Dix, President of Mock Woodworking. “But even on more typical projects, our team is able to advise on species or construction methods to support successful projects.”
In addition to the five primary theme woods, other species are used as accents throughout the building to either complement or contrast with the prevailing palette. One can note the artful use of lacewood veneer the Redwood Room, anigre in the Maple Room and Macassar ebony substrate in the barreled ceiling of the Ash Room that yields a dramatic light on dark effect against the olive ash panels.
“We are extremely proud of our company home,” said Bohlke. “After two decades, it is as striking and awe-inspiring as ever, which speaks to the high quality of the veneers and to the excellence of Mock’s workmanship.”
**Designed for Longevity, UV Exposure was Important to Wood Choice. **
The building features many of Bohlke’s highest quality veneers. “We undertook the project with the expectation that it would last for many years, and so one thing we were very cognizant of at the time was each species’ ability to hold up to UV exposure as it aged.” Certain wood species are more susceptible to light, and specifically UV exposure, than others. Over-exposure to direct sun or use of finishing compounds that do not contain UV inhibitors allow the wood to change color, fade or yellow over time.
“We specifically chose ash as the theme for the main conference room because it is on southeast side of the building and receives a lot of sunlight.” Bohlke said. “Ash is very forgiving, but maple is less so, and so we used it in a room that faces north. During the design and selection process, we ruled out some really cool ideas because of the UV factor” he added.
See more at M Bohlke Veneer Corp Project Gallery.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Bohlke Veneer Company's headquarters located?+
Bohlke Veneer Company's headquarters is located on N. Gilmore Rd in Fairfield, Ohio. The company moved to this location in 2001.
What wood species are featured in the Bohlke headquarters meeting rooms?+
The headquarters features five themed rooms: the Ash Room, the Maple Room, the Madrone Burl Room, the Redwood Room, and the Anigre Room. Each room showcases a specific wood species throughout its paneling, doors, and fixtures.
What types of ash veneer were used in the Ash Room?+
The Ash Room features curly quarter-grained ash, olive ash with its distinct yellow and brown calico aspect, and ash burl. The barreled ceiling also uses Macassar ebony substrate to create a dramatic light-on-dark effect against the olive ash panels.
Why was ash chosen for the main conference room at Bohlke?+
Ash was chosen because the main conference room is on the southeast side of the building and receives a lot of sunlight. Ash is very forgiving to UV exposure, while species like maple are less so and were used in north-facing rooms.
Who did the interior fabrication work at Bohlke Veneer's headquarters?+
The interior fabrication was done by Mock Woodworking, with all wood sourced from Bohlke's in-stock inventory. The interior work took about 18 months to complete — longer than the construction of the building itself.
How does UV exposure affect veneer wood selection?+
Certain wood species are more susceptible to light and UV exposure than others, which can cause the wood to change color, fade, or yellow over time. Over-exposure to direct sun or finishes without UV inhibitors accelerates this, so species were matched to rooms based on sun exposure.