About Us

Our clients

Visionary architects, conscious developers, homeowners, municipalities, and community changemakers who are dedicated to building a future where materials live many lives and people thrive through green careers.

Our mission

We are a circular economy organization, committed to keeping building materials in motion, out of landfills, and in continuous use. Our workforce development programs and educational initiatives, create green careers that protect both people + planet.

Our vision

To lead a national shift toward a circular economy by transforming how communities reuse building materials while empowering a skilled, sustainable workforce and reducing environmental harm.
Sustainable Since
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Years of Reuse Experience
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With over 30 years of experience, our founder began her journey in sustainability by repurposing a Minneapolis home that was scheduled for demolition, using only reclaimed materials sourced from local salvage outlets, including the now-closed historic ReUse Center in South Minneapolis.

“Sustainability is more than a buzzword at Birch Group.
It’s how we unbuild + build.”

 

 

 

 

 

Today, we’re not just a material reclamation organization, we’re a full-service sustainable construction company. From careful deconstruction to high-performance, energy-efficient builds, we blend environmental responsibility with modern design. Our work is forward-thinking goals that meet today’s corporate and community standards for sustainability.

Each project reduces waste, enhances design, and demonstrates that sustainable, eco-conscious construction is both achievable and effective.

Our Approach.

Birch Group sees potential in everything, from old buildings to forgotten materials. Our approach is all about making the most out of what’s already here, keeping resources out of landfills, and building greener buildings.
Rethink.
We challenge the traditional way of thinking about construction. Instead of tossing out old materials, we find new life for them, imagining how everything from wood beams to fixtures can be reused in creative ways. It’s about seeing value where others see waste.
Reclaim.
We specialize in carefully salvaging high-quality materials from deconstructed buildings, everything from antique wood to reclaimed hardware. These materials are available to the public at affordable prices or repurposed into new, sustainable projects.
Reuse.
We believe in zero waste. If materials don’t find new homes right away, we repurpose them into something useful, whether it's custom furniture, feature walls, or other creative building materials. It’s all part of our commitment to a true circular economy.

Purpose

Our purpose is rooted in regeneration, like the birch tree, known for resilience and renewal. We give materials a second life and people a first chance at green careers, all in service of a circular economy that supports the planet and our communities.

Our Sustainable Projects
We give discarded building materials new purpose, salvaging with care and reusing them in homes, furniture, and community spaces.
Revive
We make reclaimed materials affordable and accessible, helping communities revitalize spaces sustainably while reducing waste.
Restore
We create opportunities for green careers, cultivating skills and pathways that strengthen both people and communities.
Grow
We design and construct sustainable homes and spaces that reflect resilience, creativity, and responsibility toward the planet.
Build
True Circular Economy: We don’t just salvage, we actively reuse, repurpose, and reintegrate materials into our own development projects and community spaces, ensuring nothing sits unused in a warehouse.
Material Accessibility: Our reclaimed materials are priced to serve communities, not profits, making sustainable choices available to everyday homeowners, not just designers or contractors.
Green Career Pathways: We offer hands-on job training in deconstruction, reclamation, and sustainable building, creating long-term green careers, not just short-term employment.
Design + Development Integration: Unlike others, we use our own reclaimed materials in the homes and buildings we build, bridging the gap between waste reduction and sustainable housing.

History.

For over 30 years, we’ve created synergistic spaces between buildings and it’s occupants to help each other flourish.

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1995-1998

The beginning of a Sustainable Era

Founder Petrina Rhines purchased her first home from the City of Minneapolis that was slated for demolition, rehabbed using reusable building materials from Reuse Center and sold it as a low-income affordable home.
reuse rehab remodel salvage
1998-2016

Adaptive Reuse In Action

During this period, 36 properties were transformed into affordable homes, primarily in Minneapolis and Brooklyn Park. Several former commercial buildings were also redeveloped into single-family residences, giving new life to structures while strengthening local communities.
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2019

Forging Birch Group: From Apprenticeship to Leadership

Petrina Rhines attended Summit Academy not to learn the basics, but to master the language and anatomy of building, a way to respect the craft and those who work in it. Already experienced, she chose formal carpentry training to strengthen her foundation before teaching others. Upon graduation, she was handpicked by explorer Will Steger to live off-grid at the Steger Center, where she built and taught others to build sustainable cabins on 275 acres while serving as Program Development Coordinator.
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2020

Birch Group Roots

Birch Group began with Petrina Rhines’ drive to master the craft and respect the trade. From her carpentry apprenticeship to living off-grid with explorer Will Steger, she learned that building is about more than structures, it’s about people, community, and sustainability. That vision lives on today as Birch Group: transforming deconstruction, adaptive reuse, and sustainable construction into green careers and stronger communities.

About the company

Birch Group was chosen as the premier company to provide salvage deconstruction services to the
Pillsbury Castle located in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Industry Accolades

News

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KARE 11 NEWS: Minneapolis nonprofit aims to make one home's trash another's foundation
deconstruction reuse better salvage
ATLANTA JOURNAL CONSTITUTION: Non-profits keeps building materials out of landfills
Screenshot 2025-09-21 at 4.23.34 PM
NEXT CITY: Don’t Demolish! Deconstruct Instead. Awareness about used building materials
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APEIRON CONSTRUCTION: Deconstruction-The Art of Care and Sustainable Construction
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ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVE: Sustainable Growth Coalition hosts deconstruction tour

Meet The Founder.

For over 30 years, our founder has worked in the construction industry, always with sustainability at the core. When purchasing her first home, she rejected demolition, choosing instead to rehabilitate the space. Every material possible was reused, and only what truly needed replacing was replaced. Rather than buying new, she turned to the former ReUse Center, where she carefully sourced materials to restore the home.

That commitment to reuse and thoughtful building laid the strong foundation for what Birch Group is today.

“We don’t just deconstruct, we deconstruct with purpose. Every nail pulled and board reclaimed is a step toward healing the planet, honoring the past, and shaping a more sustainable future. Rethink. Reclaim. Reuse.”

Petrina Rhines / Founder

Talking Numbers!

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Happy Customers
"We pride ourselves on delivering exceptional service, which is why 99% of our customers are completely satisfied with Birch Group’s deconstruction and material reuse services."

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Completed Projects
"Over the past five years, we’ve completed 93 projects—carefully deconstructing homes and buildings while keeping valuable materials in circulation."

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Carpenters Employed
"With 12 expert carpenters on our team, we’re passing decades of hands-on experience to the next generation of green builders, combining skill, safety, and sustainability."

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Returning Clients
"With six clients coming back to us for multiple projects, our commitment to quality, sustainability, and expertise speaks for itself."
“As experienced Carpenters, we understand a building from the inside out, how it was built, and how it can be carefully taken apart. In deconstruction, experience makes all the difference.”

 

-Petrina Rhines | Carpentry Apprentice / Founder

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