By Gabrielle Echevarrieta
Upon entering a spa, one may marvel at the sleek design of a tech-forward sauna or cold plunge pool, but the mind rarely dwells on the skilled craftspeople who brought it to life. Ecotone, an NYC-based construction firm focused on both luxury spas and community enrichment, is on a mission to make wellness accessible to all.
Ecotone founder Craig Desmond, a veteran woodworker, set out on a quest to uplift underserved communities through his carpentry expertise. With lofty goals to build impactful communal spaces and establish a robust apprenticeship program, he hatched a plan to develop a “wellness” arm of the firm to subsidize these dreams. Since then, Ecotone has executed a sweeping collection of spa and garden projects spanning from Manhattan’s most exclusive high-rises to Hamptons mainstays like Gurney’s Montauk Resort & Seawater Spa.
“We’re designers and builders who place emphasis on wellness through our creative process, and that has always extended to our employees,” says Desmond. “In that venture, it became glaringly obvious that the construction industry in New York is very unwell. We often get treated like second-class citizens. Not a lot of people are willing to withstand the toxic environments, and it’s why there are so many undocumented workers in the field. Also, the suicide rate for men in construction is very high. [Editor’s note: According to a recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study, the suicide rate for men in the construction industry is about four times higher than for the general population.] I make it a priority to navigate these industry standards and advocate for my team.”
The firm’s apprenticeship program has evolved with the scope of the brand’s projects, and now operates throughout Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx. Desmond mindfully assembles a blended team of young apprentices and seasoned construction workers, instilling both carpentry and interpersonal skills to cultivate a well-rounded generation of builders. The rigorous, yet supportive program shows newbies best practices for navigating tight deadlines and budgets, emphasizing accountability and a team-focused mindset to get each job done well.
Ecotone’s advocacy work extends to a number of public work projects, guided by a mission to create sacred spaces on communal land across the country. The firm worked alongside Parsons School of Design/The New School, the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA), the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation, and the U.S. Forest Service to build a striking black-timber-framed garden in Far Rockaway, Queens, serving as an area for both relaxation and a place for kids to learn trade-based skills.
Ecotone’s reach has also expanded to the southern United States with the creation of a native plant propagation structure in Manteo, North Carolina, utilizing salvaged materials to support the town’s coastal dune preservation initiative.ecotoneny.com, givebutter.com/wZu38b