Nearly one month after Hurricane Isaac swept through the Gulf of Mexico, and nearly seven years after Hurricane Katrina, the New Canal Lighthouse on Lake Pontchartrain, in New Orleans, La., will once again light the way. An evening of celebratory events is planned for Wednesday, September 26, culminating in a re-lighting of the new light at 7:15 p.m.
The Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation (LPBF) has been working steadily on the restoration since Hurricanes Katrina and Rita wreaked havoc in 2005. Donations from individuals and companies such as JELD-WEN have all helped to restore the lighthouse that will begin a new life as a museum depicting the Lake Pontchartrain ecology and the devastation caused by Katrina. The LPBF continues to raise funds in order to complete the museum and environmental education center which the organization plans to open in 2013.
New Canal endured Hurricane Isaac in August of this year. Recently completed renovations to the lighthouse, including 16 new JELD-WEN windows and two new exterior doors, weathered the storm.
Harsh coastal conditions—moisture and wind, especially—take a toll on structures. The new JELD-WEN Custom Wood windows made with AuraLast® wood and impact-resistant glass will help the lighthouse withstand extreme conditions well into the future. Additionally, the windows and doors are designed to resemble the 1890 originals as closely as possible.
AuraLast® is JELD-WEN’s exclusive water-based wood preservation process that protects wood to the core and offers a 20-year warranty against wood rot and termites (wood rot being a widespread issue, especially in coastal climates—in fact, rotten timbers were the reason for rebuilding New Canal in 1843). The windows feature impact-resistant laminated glass designed to help safeguard against extensive internal damage from severe wind and debris in hurricane-prone areas. The JELD-WEN Custom Wood Mahogany exterior doors closely resemble the original doors and come with a 45-minute fire rating.
New Canal Lighthouse has an interesting and evolving history, dating back to 1839. The red and white structure of 2012 replicates the one built in 1890 and symbolizes an era of maritime commerce along Lake Pontchartrain, which flows into the Gulf of Mexico. After the U.S. Coast Guard moved to a larger facility in 2002, the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation began to take care of the prominent landmark, though the light itself, secure in its restored home, is approved by the Coast Guard as a private aid to navigation.
New Canal Lighthouse, winner of the JELD-WEN Reliable Lighthouse Restoration Initiative in 2008, was selected from a pool of 12 worthy finalists and half a million votes.
About JELD-WEN
Founded in 1960 as a small Oregon millwork plant with 15 employees, JELD-WEN now has approximately 20,000 employees across more than 100 locations in the Americas, Europe, Asia and Australia. For 50 years, JELD-WEN has built its reputation as the world’s most reliable manufacturer of windows and doors. Today the company offers a full breadth of stylish windows and doors, and has earned numerous awards and endorsements for dependability, innovation and excellence. With a strong commitment to sustainability, JELD-WEN also is a recognized leader in manufacturing energy efficient products - providing solutions that deliver exceptional value for builders, architects and homeowners all over the globe. Visit www.jeld-wen.com to learn more.
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