The University of California at Berkeley, long considered ground zero for challenging conventional thought, is at it again. The architect for UC Berkeley's new Stanley Hall, Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Partnership, wanted simple, elegant soffits made from cedar, but the fire code said no to solid wood. Undaunted, they called Contact Industries.

Solve a real problem in the local market place. That was the original goal of Complete Millwork. Helping solve a real problem globally was a bonus. In researching new business opportunities, Complete Millwork quickly saw the advantages in today's veneer wrapping technologies: long, defect-free lengths; fast, easy installation; extremely versatile; and very resource efficient. To share their vision, they built a showroom dedicated to these hardwood-wrapped marvels.

Contact recently introduced new fire-rated door frames, veneer-wrapped in any wood species with fire ratings of 20, 45, 60 and even 90 minutes. These fire-rated door frames are created in sizes up to 4-foot by 8-foot in single and double door openings, ideal for installation in new hotel construction among other applications.

Contact Industries added a thinner, narrower 4-inch version of its tongue and groove paneling to its growing line of wood-wrapped innovations. Contact's advances in veneer technology allow for tongue and groove boards in lengths up to 18', and widths up to 10 1/2", providing ease of installation, which results in less labor and an overall lower installed cost. Additionally, the new tongue and groove paneling is available in both hardwood and softwood species.