Founded in 1995, Native Woods provides historic preservation, adaptive re-use, and traditional building services throughout the Mid-Atlantic States, and has received recognition including the Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia Grand Jury Award in 2003 and 2011.
Andrew Gustine is the founder, owner, and principal of Native Woods Restoration Carpentry, a contracting and consulting firm specializing in museum-quality building preservation services. For over 25 years he has combined a love of architecture and a dedication to craftsmanship, exploring the long history and infinite possibilities of building materials and systems. He holds a Masters of Science in Historic Preservation from the University of Pennsylvania, where he focused on the history of building technology and materials science. Andrew also does consulting work for private clients as well as larger Philadelphia area firms like John Milner Associates and S Harris and Co., providing condition assessment, pathology investigation and specifications writing for preservation projects.
On large and complex projects, Native Woods often collaborates with a network of specialty sub-contractors and suppliers, independent craftsmen and mechanics, all of whom share a passionate and professional attitude towards their trade.
For 20 years, Michael Biddison has consistently been one of those collaborators. Michael’s background in both fine art and antique restoration brings a creative perspective and a unique set of skills to projects where new work interacts with existing materials and finishes. In addition to his work with Native Woods, Michael has an active career creating commission sculptures and functional artworks throughout the northeast, and has his own website i-zarts.com.
This mixture of creativity and professionalism is the key to working with old and historic buildings, particularly in small, complicated, multi-trade projects where high professional standards and attention to detail are the priority.
Andrew Gustine
Michael Biddison
Contact us at iGustine@mac.com