My daughter and I recently visited the Marine Mammal Center located in the Marin Headlands just north of San Francisco on the coast. The center has been operating for nearly 40 years, and is the only rescue facility of its kind in California, and possibly the west coast of North America. The Center is one of the largest marine mammal hospitals in the world, with capacity to treat up to 200 animals at once and more than 600 per year. Since 1975 it has rescued and treated more than 18,000 animals.

The Marine Mammal Center’s website explains that their “mission is to expand knowledge about marine mammals—their health and that of their ocean environment—and to inspire their global conservation. Our core work is the rescue and rehabilitation of sick and injured marine mammals, supported bystate-of-the-art animal care and research facilities, a corps of dedicated volunteers, and an engaged community.”

After many years of good work, the organization received a large number of donations and was able to build a new facility completed in 2009. We were proud to learn that Plyboo had been chosen to grace some of the interiors at this important facility.

Both the lobby and the gift shop are outfitted with Plyboo FSC-certified, vertical grain bamboo plywood, with no added formaldehyde. Plyboo is used extensively for cabinets, counters, displays, shelving and the reception desk in the lobby. It is literally everywhere in the store.

As innovators, educators and promoters of sustainable design and construction products in built environments, Smith+Fong applaud the great work of this groundbreaking organization.