PWS - Product History

Our innovative past brings a promising future...

Pure Wood Solutions is headquartered in San Francisco, California and holds the sole US manufacturing and distribution rights to a patented building technology called Holz100. Though new to the US market, Pure Wood Solutions has been a proven product in Europe for 10 years. The Holz100 system was patented in 1998 by Erwin Thoma, creator, founder and president of Thoma Holz GmbH. This European company has designed and constructed buildings throughout Europe based on the same technology that PWS building systems uses. To view some of the Holz100 successes, please visit our International section.

After patenting his creation, Thoma began the Research and Development Center for Natural Timber Processing. This facility, along with various European universities and institutes, tested and proved the Holz100 technology for fire and earthquake resistance, storm wind resistance and mold resistance. The product was also tested for the benefits of energy-saving insulation values and sound attenuation. The direct health benefits of living in a pure wood environment have also been tested in correlation to resting heart rates and indoor-air quality.

The following is a timeline of the Holz100 system’s growth and eventual arrival to the United States.

2000:

Construction of the first Holz100 manufacturing facility begins
Awarded the “German Timber Creativity Prize” in Freiburg, Germany
Awarded the “Innovation Prize” in Salzburg, Germany
Holz100 is introduced to Japan; the first structure is erected in Tokyo.

2001:

Holz100 expands to Norway
Awarded “Most Environmentally Friendly Firm” in Austria

2002:

Two new houses are built every week with Holz100
Awarded "Jobs Through Innovation"

2003:

High precision robotic assembly line put into operation
Awarded "R.I.O. Innovation Prize"

2004:

European company continues to grow internationally through out the next four years, receiving bids in the Norwegian competition for 2008’s Cultural Capital and various other projects.
The product comes to the US.
Gordon Pierce, President of Pure Wood Solutions and Principal Architect for Resort Design Associates, meets Erwin Thoma in Vail, Colorado and forms a partnership to bring the product to the US. What followed was more than three years of due diligence to determine the feasibility of introducing Holz100 to the US market. The result of the due diligence has been overwhelmingly positive. Consumers, as well as builders, developers, architects and other industry professionals are excited about the potential of Holz100 in North America as Pure Wood Solutions.

2007:

The first US residence is built in Walnut Creek, CA. Product was sourced from Europe as a model for Pure Wood Solutions possibilities.

Gordon Pierce, Founder & President of Pure Wood Solutions

Gordon Pierce, President of Pure Wood Solutions

Gordon Pierce is the Founder and President of Resort Design Architects, an internationally acclaimed architectural firm with offices in San Francisco, California and Vail, Colorado. In over 40 years as a practicing architect, Mr. Pierce has developed an international reputation for his uniquely crafted designs that capture the essence of a client’s vision while radiating both strength of character and timelessness; two elements often lacking in contemporary architecture. Mr. Pierce and his firm offer professional design and planning services for destination resort developments and high-end residences throughout the world. His introduction to Mr. Thoma, in Vail, Colorado, sparked an exciting new partnership that makes the dream of more sustainable and green building a reality in the U.S.

Erwin Thoma, International Partner
& President of Thoma Holz GmbH

Erwin Thoma, founder and president of Thoma Holz GmbH

Erwin Thoma serves an advisor for Pure Wood Solutions. He began his career in the 1980’s as a forester in the Karwendel Mountains in Austria. As the youngest forester in Austria, Mr. Thoma began to study and research the multi-faceted uses of wood as a construction material. In 1990, Mr. Thoma decided to devote his career to wood and founded a timber merchant company with support from the Austrian Government. This company eventually evolved into Thoma Holz GmbH. Thoma Holz is a successful and rapidly growing enterprise that operates three manufacturing facilities in Austria and Germany, with a fourth opening in Stadl an der Mur, Austria on April 4, 2008. In addition to the United States, Thoma Holz has established distribution partnerships in Japan, Norway and the United Kingdom.