Over one hundred, century-old beams from the former Anglican Parish Hall on Queen’s Road are becoming key pieces in the construction of a new learning centre.

A three-way partnership between the O’Brien Farm Foundation, Choices For Youth, and Parish Lane Development has converted that century-old wood into a new opportunity.

Impact Construction, the construction-based social enterprise of Choices for Youth, salvaged the century-old beams and is helping to build a new learning centre at O’Brien’s Farm in St. John’s.

Brian Hanley, the general manager of Impact Construction, says the project has allowed them to employ 19 young people for 36 hours of work.

He says the idea came from the developer who wanted the project to have social significance, so once they found the lumber, they thought another community organization could take advantage of it.

The Learning Centre will focus on Irish and Newfoundland farming culture. It will also host local artisans and provide food services.

O’Brian’s Farm manager Aaron Rodgers says recycling the wood captures the spirit of the O’Brien family.

He says the O’Briens would salvage material from many old structures around St. John’s to prevent waste. To be able to reuse material in this way is important to preserving history, says Rodgers.

Construction is set to start this summer, with the facility expected to be open in the Spring of 2022.