The non-profit organization increases awareness of reclamation through student/public education. The primary objective of The Reclamation Project is to establish a model for how to properly deconstruct, document, reclaim, and reuse historic buildings. The Project deconstructs historic buildings (built prior to 1950) that are approved for demolition or are decayed into disrepair. Through deconstruc
tion, Project members re-engineer the original structure, learning about our regional vernacular construction methods and historic materials use. The materials are reclaimed, to be warehoused and inventoried. The reclaimed materials are reused, responsibly, in architectural design and research projects. These precious materials, normally, would not be readily available for use due to their rarity and high cost. The opportunity to work with unique materials allows members to explore interests previously closed to them and builds a knowledge, appreciation, and respect for the materials in hand. The history of the materials, from origin through manufacturing, to builder through construction and reuse are researched in detail by Project members. A detailed history of the materials, building, inhabitants, and community is recorded, reclaiming what was almost lost to landfills and long-gone memories.
