Reclaimed lumber is wood salvaged from old structures like barns and factories, repurposed for new uses such as flooring and furniture. It offers unique character, durability, and sustainability by reducing the need for new timber. Unlike new wood, reclaimed lumber has a history with natural imperfections, providing a rustic look, and often comes from old-growth forests, making it denser and more stable.
Rebuilding Exchange, a non-profit promoting sustainable reuse and workforce training, supplied reclaimed wood for SOM's Reclaimed Timber Pavilion in Millennium Park for the 2025 Chicago Architecture Biennial.
By salvaging and selling building materials, including 2x4 lumber, they demonstrate material reuse and innovative structural design as a scalable, low-carbon alternative to conventional construction. Their inventory and services include a wide variety of reclaimed wood, like old-growth beams and floorboards, often priced lower than retail.
