Deconstruct to Reconstruct
Traditional demolition is a hammer, reducing years of architectural history into a nail with some serious punctures to the environment. Deconstruction takes a more creative approach.
What exactly is deconstruction?
Deconstruction is the dismantling of a structure. By systematically dismantling buildings, we can salvage high-value materials like old-growth timber, architectural fixtures, concrete, and structural steel and keep countless tons of waste out of the landfills and incinerators. These materials can be more cost effective and prevent new waste creation in newly built structures.
From Liabilities – Into Assets
Why does deconstruction matter?
This approach turns a waste stream into a resource stream. When we reuse materials, we bypass the immense energy costs associated with extracting, refining, and transporting new products.
When construction waste isn’t landfilled, it is often sent to waste-to-energy plants or incinerators. While this reduces physical volume, it introduces a host of atmospheric risks. C&D waste is rarely “pure”; it often contains adhesives, paints, treated lumber, and plastics which release dioxins, lead, mercury, and more into the environment.
Below is a recent stakeholders meeting on deconstruction, joined by a number of experts in the field.