Illinois, USA - Anyone who knows me has heard the story about my first deconstruction experience - my Dad and I salvaging bricks and lumber when his old high school building was being demolished. As a kid in the 60's, I didn't realize I was engaged in a practice that was both old (Dad's depression-era sensitivities) and futuristic (current environmental sensitivities). Now it's part of my professional work.
I've seen outstanding examples of recycling materials for beneficial use, salvaging materials for reuse, repurposing materials for other uses and creating value-added products. I've seen extraordinary examples of salvaged materials used as structural components, exterior and interior architectural elements, decorative items, furnishings and more creative uses than can be noted here. I've seen growth in used building materials businesses, and the infrastructure to connect supply and demand. I've seen the BMRA grow from a cluster of well intentioned individuals to being a real influence in the industry.
Unfortunately, I still see demolition and landfill disposal. I speak to people who can't imagine why anyone would even want to reuse lumber. I speak with people who are convinced deconstruction, salvage, reuse and recycling are unaffordable within project funds. I speak with people who want to salvage materials but don't know who can perform this work, or who can take the materials. I speak with people who think converting timbers to boiler fuel or landfill daily cover is actually recycling.
Near my home this summer I've seen an old lumber yard warehouse deconstructed. Lumber was used by another business, steel was recycled, and concrete was crushed for fill on the same site. I've also received a courteous but lukewarm reception at our county's housing authority when I suggested obsolete housing can be deconstructed instead of demolished. They'll allow it as an option, but won't push it.
We've come a long way, but still have a long way to go to elevate building materials reuse and recycling as standard practice. Before I expire (naturally or otherwise) there are some things I'd like to see happen in the industry - my 'bucket list', and here it is:
1. The conflict between demolition and deconstruction disappears. The routine is to reuse what can be reused, recycle what can be recycled and landfill the little bit that's left. In other words, the hydraulic excavator, Sawzall®, pry bars, and Nail Kickers® all work in harmony to remove buildings and conserve resources.
2. Promoters of 'green building' rating systems fully appreciate the impacts of waste and life cycle benefits of materials reuse, and give full credit to reuse as a major contributor to sustainability.
3. Architectural and engineering professionals, as agents to building owners, educate their clients and vigorously promote salvage and reuse where practical.
4. Deconstruction, salvage, and used material businesses develop a robust and highly visible infrastructure within the building industry. Services are available for any type of project, any time and at any location.
5. The architectural, engineering, interior design, landscape design, demolition, construction and facility management professions are thoroughly familiar with salvage and reuse practices, and employ them as a routine instead of a novelty.
6. Deconstruction, salvage and reuse businesses work cooperatively with each other for the benefit of the industry. There's plenty of untapped opportunity. The same water floats all boats.
That's it. If these things can happen, I'll exit this world a happy man.
Sorry, one more thing. I want to see another Dead (formerly Grateful Dead) concert. I can't remember the others I've seen.
My two cents.
Tom Napier
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Thomas Napier is a research architect with the Construction Engineering Research Laboratory of the US Army Corps, and the current chairman of the Building Materials Reuse Association of America. [Republished by kind permission from BMRA October 2011 newsletter
Building Materials Reuse Association
Story Type: Opinion
ID: 62475
