Field Trip: Habitat for Humanity Restore

Habitat for Humanity ReStore
500 W. Ben White Blvd. 

Habitat for Humanity Restore is an organization that supports the Austin community by generating revenue for Habitat’s programs and services, leads educational workshops, and provides community service and volunteer opportunities.  Restore acts as a recycling center that diverts millions of pounds of construction materials from the landfill and all revenue from sales directly support Habitat’s homeownership programs. 

Restore relocated to their new South Austin location in November, where they carry a variety of new and used interior construction materials and fixtures.  Local businesses donate overstock inventory, discontinued items, or undamaged returned items, like lighting and furniture.  Restore accepts donations of building materials, furniture, appliances, and fixtures in working condition.  Restore works with local contractors and designers to schedule “soft deconstructions,” removing items like lighting fixtures, cabinets, and doors from residential remodels and demolitions/deconstructions.  They are considering working towards full scale deconstruction in the future, to further reduce reusable materials from ending up in the landfill. Restore currently diverts 80% of the items it can’t sell from the landfill and is working towards an 8 to 10% waste diversion goal.  For more information about Restore or to find volunteer opportunities, click here.

This field trip was a coordinated effort with Interior Design Construction 2, taught by Tamie Glass.  Images courtesy of Heather Sutherland.