Learn About the Impact of Reuse View Report
Material Reuse in the Built Environment Watch Video
0 0

No products in the cart.

Return To Shop
Shopping cart (0)
Subtotal: $0.00

Checkout

Lost password ?

  • Shop
    • In-Store Featured
    • Buy Online Webshop
    • CJ eBay Store
    • Return Policy
  • Donate
    • Donating Materials
    • What We Accept
    • Deconstruction Services
    • Make A Financial Donation
    • Impact Of Reuse
  • Recycle
    • Recycling Services At CJ
  • Visit
    • Hours / Directions
    • FAQ
    • Contact A Department
  • Community
    • About Us
    • Jobs
    • Outreach | ReGives | Volunteering
    • Inspiring Reuse Projects
    • Blog + Events
    • Steel City Big Pour
Learn About the Impact of Reuse View Report
Material Reuse in the Built Environment Watch Video
  • Shop
    • In-Store Featured
    • Buy Online Webshop
    • CJ eBay Store
    • Return Policy
  • Donate
    • Donating Materials
    • What We Accept
    • Deconstruction Services
    • Make A Financial Donation
    • Impact Of Reuse
  • Recycle
    • Recycling Services At CJ
  • Visit
    • Hours / Directions
    • FAQ
    • Contact A Department
  • Community
    • About Us
    • Jobs
    • Outreach | ReGives | Volunteering
    • Inspiring Reuse Projects
    • Blog + Events
    • Steel City Big Pour
Cart 0
Log in
Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest
Return to previous page
Home About Us

History

Our History


Construction Junction has been driving reuse since 1999

We’re western Pennsylvania’s first nonprofit used/surplus building material retailer

It all started under the 62nd Street Bridge


In November of 1999, the Pennsylvania Resources Council (PRC) founded Construction Junction (CJ) – a nonprofit that would serve the Pittsburgh region as a facility for collecting secondhand materials that were destined for landfills and making them available for sale to the general public. PRC, the oldest grass roots environmental organization in the state, developed the idea for a nonprofit building material reuse organization and retailer together with Green Building Alliance and Conservation Consultants, Inc. (now Rebuilding Together Pittsburgh). The original store, located in a warehouse beneath the 62nd Street Bridge in the furthest recess of Upper Lawrenceville, opened for the first day of business on November 12, 1999.

Various items for sale on the first day of operation, Nov. 12, 1999, in the original CJ retail store, which had a large mural painted on the back wall.
Various items for sale on the first day of operation, Nov. 12, 1999, in the original CJ retail store, which had a large mural painted on the back wall.

A neighborhood success


By 2001 we had outgrown that space, and we opened in our current location in the East End neighborhood of Point Breeze North in June of 2002, where we have operated a larger retail store, material receiving and processing space, plus building subtenant spaces.

Due to the amazing support of the Pittsburgh area community, we have experienced years of ever growing numbers of donors, customers, and the amount of material diverted from landfill!

Big Pour Can with Bird logo and text: Supporting reuse since 2007 - Header Icon

A Pittsburgh phenomenon to fill the funding gap


Reuse on a large scale creates many overhead costs, from Worker’s Compensation Insurance to rent to supplies. The revenue from sales of donated items is only enough to pay for around 90% of the bills we have to pay to keep the store and warehouse going. In order to raise money to support the other 10% of our core running costs, we needed a fundraising idea. In 2007, at the former Sharp Edge Beer Emporium location in Friendship (if you know, you know), a group of CJ supporters came up with the answer – and the Steel City Big Pour® was born. The Big Pour is a fantastic event, featuring tastes of the finest foods and craft beers from the Pittsburgh area, and live art by local artists.

An excited crowd at The Steel City Big Pour
The Steel City Big Pour has become a favorite event for fans of Pittsburgh's best craft beer and local restaurants.

We organize and run the Big Pour ourselves – it’s our only fundraiser – and it’s held once a year here at CJ. The Big Pour generates enough revenue to cover that other 10% of our running costs, and is so successful that funds raised have also allowed us to make occasional improvements and undertake partnerships and community programming.

But don’t just take our word for it!

Construction Junction was featured in Rick Sebak’s 25 Things I Like About Pittsburgh – The Steel City Big Pour was number 7 and Construction Junction itself was number 8! You can buy the DVDs from WQED, too.

Community Support

Extending the good


With continued assistance from PRC, and as a way of giving back to our neighborhood, CJ evolved into a regional resource, not only for reuse but also for recycling of a range of materials: glass, paper, cardboard, batteries, florescent bulbs, refrigerant-containing appliances, and small scale scrap metal recycling. We also lease space to other reuse organizations: the Pittsburgh Center for Creative Reuse , Free Ride, and Doors Unhinged.

In more recent years, we have developed programming to share the good in our neighborhood:

In 2010 we formed a partnership with Goodwill of Southwestern PA to provide employment and training opportunities for those with barriers to employment, and we’ve received two Goodwill Power of Work Awards as a result of our participation.

In 2014, we began a partnership called Project Re_ that exposes university level architecture students to used materials while partnering with entry level construction trainees recently released from incarceration. Project Re_ focuses on building prototypes that incorporate reused materials, and that are designed to be replicated on a larger scale. The Project Re_ space within our building has won a local and a statewide American Institute of Architects award.

CJ IN THE NEWS ARCHIVES
BACK TO ABOUT US
Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest

Find Us

214 North Lexington Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15208
Get Directions

Sign Up Today

Keep up-to-date with the latest reuse news and products from us!

  • Hours / Directions
  • Shop
  • How To Donate
  • What We Accept
  • Deconstruction Services
  • Recycling Services
  • About Us
  • Jobs
  • Outreach
  • CJ ReGives for Nonprofits
  • Volunteer at CJ
  • Blog + Events
  • FAQ
  • Financial Donations
  • Steel City Big Pour
  • PA Resources Council
  • Project RE_
  • Build Reuse

Copyright 2023 - All Rights Reserved