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Rewards of Unbuilding | |
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Garage Turns to Science | |
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Rewards of Unbuilding The Rebuilding Center rivals conventional lumberyards in the variety of materials it offers to builders. Crucial to the organization's success is its deconstruction department, which taps into the rich building stock of Portland and supplies more than half of the center's inventory. In the summer of 2001, they recovered 10 to 20 tons (9 to 18 tonnes) a day from a variety of projects. Dismantling a Mill A large part of that flow of materials came from the 40,000-square-foot (3700-square-meter) Meeker Seed and Grain Mill in Amity, Oregon. The mill buildings yielded an incredible array of lumber including hefty 12x12 (29 by 29 centimeter) heavy-timber columns and beams and a whole spectrum of dimensional lumber. An estimated 500,000 board feet (47,000 board meters) of first-growth lumber was salvaged from the mill, and nearly 95 percent of the entire one-city-block structure was salvaged for reuse. The sturdy old mill did not give up its riches easily, however. Every day the "decon" crew faced challenges such as dismantling expanses of flooring made of solid 2x10 (3.8 by 23.5 centimeter) fir turned on end. The enormous storage bins sheathed in 2x6 (3.8 by 14 centimeter) studs nailed at 2 inches (5 centimeters) on center could not be taken apart in a cost-effective way. The bins finally had to be pushed over and crushed for recycling — the last choice before discarding the material. Local architects began tapping into the Amity project by designing projects around the heavy-timber framing members. Unusual materials such as plank flooring — scrubbed with grain for decades exposing an articulated wood grain pattern — were turned into exquisite trim stock. "Our first priority is to encourage people to reuse what they have. We'd rather not see buildings come down at all," says Brian McVay a deconstruction project manager at the ReBuilding Center. "But if there is no chance for saving a building, then we bid on the deconstruction, competing with demolition contractors." It's not always easy to get those bids. Careful deconstruction takes time and sometimes costs more than demolition. But building owners can realize tax benefits, making salvage projects affordable, because the materials are being donated to a nonprofit organization. The high-quality materials in an old house, for instance, can generate tax breaks in the tens of thousands of dollars. When comprehensive deconstruction isn't an option, convincing the owners or contractors to allow surface salvage is often the next step. This was the case for the four-story dormitory slated to be replaced by Portland State University. The 1910 building, with airy, high-ceilinged rooms, has a marble-faced entry, intricately bordered wood floors inlaid with cherry, five-panel doors, and miles of beautifully milled clear vertical-grain trim. "We should be able to pull out 20 tons (18 tonnes) of material before demolition starts," McVay says. Designing for Future Reuse Design professionals can contribute to the conservation of materials by designing and engineering structures so they can be more easily taken apart in the future. Manufacturers in much of Europe are now required to "design for discard" — they are responsible for recycling anything they produce at the end its of life. So goods are designed for easy disassembly, with an emphasis on fostering recycling instead of disposal. "The principle of designing for discard needs to carry into the construction field," McVay says. "It's been said that deconstruction is only effective for a certain era of structures, namely early 20th century homes, but we need to look toward the future." The houses that are being built today, he points out, will someday need to be remodeled, moved, or disassembled. Will these newer structures be easily moved or disassembled? Current practices of overusing adhesives and nails will increase disassembly time and lower the amount of material that can be recovered. Other Benefits of Reuse Besides the quality of the old materials, there are several reasons for the emergence and success of building product resellers across the country. Rising landfill tipping fees encourage owners and contractors to consider deconstruction over demolition. In Portland there is also the advantage of a city government that promotes sustainable design by requiring any of its own projects with construction costs exceeding $50,000 to be certified by the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) program. In the case of rehabilitation or remodeling, LEED points can be earned through salvage and reuse of materials. "The ReBuilding Center diverted four and a half million pounds (2 milion kilograms) of waste from the landfill last year," says Shane Endicott, founder of the ReBuilding Center. "We're creating more jobs every year — jobs out of waste. And we're providing people with building resources that are affordable." The business has operated in the black since opening, with any excess funds going to the umbrella organization Our United Villages, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting community-based projects. The ReBuilding Center has been hailed as an economic anchor in its community. The neighborhood is growing in vitality, and new businesses are starting up. A walk through the center's facility reveals much of reason for the success of the ReBuilding Center. From the person on the forklift to the staff working the floor, there's an energy and engagement of people involved in their community and working for something beyond just themselves. Michael Cockram is an adjunct assistant professor of architecture at the University of Oregon. He is the director of the Italy Field School Program. Discuss this article in the Architecture Forum...
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