This summer, Olde Good Things teamed up with the Healthy Materials Lab at Parsons School of Design. Their Healthier Materials Library focuses on cataloging and evaluating building materials for their health impact on people and the planet. Of course, at the heart of every conversation about preservation and earth-friendly practices, “reuse” is bound to come up.
Olde Good Things has been in business since the 1990s, salvaging architectural materials, furniture, and hardware. We’ve preserved pieces from small town schools all the way to the Plaza Hotel NYC. Our collection today encompasses two warehouses and several iron yards in Scranton, PA, as well as a showroom at 333 W 52nd St, NYC. The collection includes pieces from around the world–from Parisian streetlights to Argentinian doors–and across eras, from centuries-old Neoclassical to 20th-century Mid-Century Modern. With such a breadth, we’re well-positioned to have a few thoughts on the word “reuse”.
Parsons’ Healthy Materials Lab
Parsons School of Design was established in 1896 and, over the past century-plus, has launched many groundbreaking projects, including the first interior design and graphic design programs in the US during the first decade of the 1900s. In the 1970s, Parsons merged with The New School and took on a new era of combining academic knowledge and social activism. The Healthy Materials Lab (HML) and their Healthier Materials Collection is one such project.
Jonsara Ruth, co-founder of HML, offered a summary of their purpose …
Healthy Materials Lab was founded at Parsons School of Design on a simple understanding: every material choice impacts human and planetary health. As a research lab within a leading design school, we bridge rigorous inquiry with practical application—translating science into accessible tools that empower designers, architects, and builders to put health at the heart of every decision and every project.
Cristina Handal, a senior researcher at HML, adds how it aligns with OGT …
Partnering with Olde Good Things lets us show that some of the healthiest materials are the ones that already exist. By reusing salvaged architectural pieces, we not only reduce demand for new (often toxic) products but also celebrate craftsmanship of the past. This partnership demonstrates that circularity is more than an environmental strategy; it’s a vital approach to protecting human health. We’re proud to work alongside an organization that has spent decades elevating architectural salvage, especially here in our shared home of NYC.
We’ve teamed up with the lab to take a closer look at several items from our collection and evaluate their material health. The takeaway? Salvaged products are better built, require fewer chemicals to upkeep or produce, with the bonus of extending the amount of use obtained from the initial product costs while helping to minimize landfill. But don’t take just our word for it, the OGT x Parsons HML videos are live on YouTube and Instagram.
Antique Brooklyn Academy Pine Entry Door
An antique 6 panel pine wood door from Brooklyn Academy, view online
Belmont Park Horse Racetrack Oak & Iron Outdoor Bench
The oak and iron Belmont Park Racetrack bench, view online
Mid Century Round Terra Cotta Wall Bricks
1958 terra cotta wall bricks, view online
From wood joinery techniques to solid oak construction and reusing high-production cost materials, this partnership has explored a sampling of the benefits of reusing salvaged materials. We are thrilled to be collaborating with HML to highlight some of the earth-friendly and conscientious advantages of salvaged antiques. Be sure to catch the full videos and come find your perfect salvaged material at Olde Good Things.
