Urban Ashes (UA) has moved to the old Johnson Controls factory. In UA fashion, they have revived the underutilized manufacturing facility while tripling production capacity to tackle their expansion into custom commercial contract furnishings and OEM picture frame manufacturing.
Founded in 2009 as a social enterprise producing photo frames, Urban Ashes, has evolved into a full-service design and fabrication company with a story.
A video showcases how Urban Ashes has broadened its scope and passion for creating custom picture frames, and now offer contract commercial furnishings and OEM picture frames. All the goods still feature their trademark urban salvaged and deconstructed wood, but now are also complemented with steel fabrication and decorative concrete.
This evolution brings Urban Ashes founder, Paul Hickman, full-circle, back to 2000. After 17 years in the commercial design and fabrication world, Hickman was looking to focus entirely on sustainable materials and non-toxic finishes for his design work. He was able to do this by launching his own design firm focused entirely on residential design and fabrication.
Urban Ashes is not only repurposing wood but also repurposing lives. This has become the driving force behind their mission and growth. By providing opportunities in a work environment where our returning citizens, our marginalized youth and other community members, work side by side, they are able to create a ripple effect that begins to knock down barriers and build a stronger society.
Merging decades of experience in green and sustainable materials, the mission of this social enterprise is to provide opportunities for work, mentorship, and a living wage for our returning citizens and marginalized youth.
Recent Urban Ashes projects:
Contract Furnishings, Picture Frames and Finishes
- University of Michigan
- Detroit Foundation Hotel – Detroit
- Busch’s Market – Canton & Brighton, Mich.
- JB’s Smoke House – Canton, Mich.
- PSMI – Saline, Mich.
OEM Picture Frame Manufacturing
- Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation
- Michigan State University
- Large volume production for several international companies