Our Story

How it all began...

The Reclaimed Space concept all began in 2007 as a special project for Austin-based DIRTCO Construction. Between jobs, DIRTCO founder, rancher and environmentalist Tracen Gardner began constructing a portable building using some reclaimed materials. Along with the expertise of Austin-based designer Kimber Reed-Barber, this portable structure soon became the foundation for what was to be a revolutionary model of modern sustainable living. In the Summer of 2008, Reclaimed Space was born.

Reclaimed Space is about constructive building. We’re focused on reversing the impact new building is having on our natural environment, resources and society. Achieving this goal starts with providing alternative energy capabilities and fully sustainable living, while building with reclaimed materials. Along with our commitment to forward-thinking and eco-responsibility, Reclaimed Spaces are always visually appealing and affordable.

With over 25 years of building experience, our spaces are not just a product of function; they’re built with a guarantee of unrivaled quality. Reclaimed Space is proud to deliver custom, masterfully built Spaces for sustainable living…anywhere.

Tracen Gardner

It was while growing up on his family’s 2,000-acre working cattle ranch in Central Texas that Tracen Gardner learned his appreciation for land. From an early age, Tracen was taught the importance of understanding the earth and the land he was raised on. Caring for and tending to his land and prized show animals was how Tracen developed his keen sense and awareness for the concept of sustainability.

Tracen’s high school years were spent at the Eaglebrook School in Deerfield, Massachusetts, where the concept of sustainability and earth sciences were major focuses. Tracen went back to Texas to attend the University of Texas at Austin.

After 2 years at UT without a clear direction and the passing of his grandmother, Tracen decided to hitchhike across the country. It was during these travels from Maine to Los Angeles and on to Hawaii that Tracen discovered the type of person he wanted to become. After spending 8 months living in Maui, Tracen decided he was ready to head home and finish college, fulfilling a promise he had made to his grandmother.

Paying the rest of his way through the remainder of college by starting a painting company, Tracen graduated from the University of Texas with a degree in Environmental Resouce Management.

In 1999, Tracen founded Dirtco Construction, an Austin-based construction company specializing in site work and hardscapes. Through Dirtco, Tracen helped develop and beautify many homes and ranches, all while utilizing the sustainable practices he had learned growing up.

After years of searching for the perfect location, Tracen finally acquired his own ranch; a remote piece of acreage near Shiner, Texas. It was the land’s lack of homestead, its distance from the city and lack of utilities that was the inspiration to create a drop-ready home that he could build in Austin and ship to his ranch.

After bringing in designer Kimber Reed-Barber as a consultant and realizing the need for simple, relocatable, sustainable living structures, Reclaimed Space was born.

Daniel Goetz

Daniel Goetz was born in Santa Monica, California and raised in Houston, Texas. From an early age, Daniel was an independent thinker. Daniel’s mother contends that he taught himself to read at 1½. At 3, Daniel would sit in his car seat and name each brand and model of car he saw on the road.

Daniel learned many life and business lessons from his grandfather, who was always revered in his community for being honest and savvy and whose word was better than any written contract. It was through observing his grandfather, his natural knack for business and a desire to help others that lead Daniel to entrepreneurialism, even before he knew what the word meant.

Since the age of 13, Daniel has maintained some form of business, from a landscaping company to eBay to event planning and management.

As a senior at Bellaire High School, Daniel was an all-state wide receiver and played football for a year at the collegiate level at the University of Colorado. Daniel soon found himself unable to have the time to enjoy other aspects of life, spending all of his time focusing on football. He then decided to transfer to the University of Texas at Austin to finish his degree in Advertising and Business Foundations.

Daniel met Tracen Gardner and Kimber-Reed Barber in Austin in the Summer of 2008. He was blown away with their initiative and was brought in to develop their concept into a world-class business.

Daniel prides himself as an on-the-fly creative problem solver, a meticulous marketer, a keen observer of brands and societal trends and as a young leader in the sustainable business community.

Kimber Reed-Barber

Growing up in Austin, Texas, Kimber Reed-Barber has always had a forward-thinking, independent approach to life.

It was from her parents, who were teachers and antique furniture dealers that Kimber learned the value of antique wood and the beauty it holds. Watching and helping her parents find and restore old items into gorgeous antiques, Kimber began to understand how through creativity and work, things can be fixed up and made beautiful again for people to enjoy.

Kimber was the valedictorian of her high school and graduated from the esteemed Plan II Pre-Med Honors program from the University of Texas. Kimber has always had an eye for design, and she started designing professionally after college. At 23, she began rehabbing and remodeling old homes and remembered the joy she received from renewing an area and recreating it into something beautiful.

Kimber has since become an expert in landscape and interior design and management. She is also a student and strong believer in the practice of feng shui in her designs. Kimber’s forte is in open, user-friendly floorplans and creative uses of materials, textures and color to create a modern, rustic feel.

In 2007, Tracen Gardener approached Kimber to consult in his idea to design a cabin for remote living, built from reclaimed materials. Kimber took the idea and ran with it, not only designing the first Space, but also cofounding the company that is now known as Reclaimed Space.