Women in Deconstruction

#MeToo hit architecture. Now what? – Curbed

The Architecture Lobby’s Think-In explored ways to improve the “soft infrastructure” of architecture, including better labor practices and achieving gender equity. Michael Schissel

“We need to improve laws and policies to better protect those who report abuse and to make abusers accountable,” Berkowitz continued. “We have to educate our culture at large to upend [the] negative backlash accusers experience. What can architects do to respond to or prevent abusive behavior? How can we organize labor to create a fair and equitable workplace?”

Source: #MeToo hit architecture. Now what? – Curbed

Deconstruction

The Problems with Deconstruction » Urban Milwaukee

2075 N. Cambridge Ave. Photo by Dave Reid.

“I mean, I thought we were doing something great here. But it’s contingent on, as usual, the private sector, money, fear of hiring ex-offenders.” Bauman called this program a case study in the obstacles confronted by attempts to create jobs. “If every time you try to create jobs for the folks most in need and the folks you want to keep off the street and keep out of the criminal justice system, if there’s a million obstacles put up, we’re sunk. We’ll never solve the problem.”

Source: The Problems with Deconstruction » Urban Milwaukee

Reuse Design

New building system using construction waste explored | WSU Insider | Washington State University

WSU team Jose Becerra, David Drake and Jacob Sauer (l-r) display brick they have made from drywall construction waste.

Building construction and demolition waste is a growing problem in the United States. In 2014, contractors disposed of 534 million tons of waste, a tripling since 2003. Drywall, also known as gypsum board or sheetrock, is a ubiquitous interior wall covering that is cost effective but wasteful to install. Building a 2,000 square-foot home generates more than a ton of drywall scrap.

Source: New building system using construction waste explored | WSU Insider | Washington State University

Uncategorized

ReUse Industries opens combined store/makerspace | Local News | athensnews.com

Makerspace Luke Black

Athens Makerspace Manager Luke Black configures a metal lathe, gotten from ACEnet, in the metal shop.

“Now, along with our successful Columbus Road thrift store, we have ReUse on Union to provide community access to high-quality donated goods in niche categories as well as our online store, Athens FabMaker on www.etsy.com, which provides high-end and vintage fabric to artists and designers around the world.”

Source: ReUse Industries opens combined store/makerspace | Local News | athensnews.com

Deconstruction, Reuse Centers

Stardust a landfill alternative — recycled building supplies – Glendalestar.com: News

Photo by Darrell Jackson

Pictured is the interior of the Glendale location where Stardust Building Supplies offers a large assortment for sale to the public.

“Our deconstruction service is free and we have a list of questions that we ask to determine if the job is something we can do,” Fulton said. “Due to Environmental Protection Agency rules, we cannot do houses that were built before 1978 due to rules about asbestos and lead paint. A job supervisor will also do site searches to make sure the job is something we can do.”

Source: Stardust a landfill alternative — recycled building supplies – Glendalestar.com: News

Portland Area, Reuse Design

Edgefield – crackedpots art show – McMenamins

crackedpots art show

This popular summer event showcases more than 100 artists’ creations made of recycled, found or discarded materials. Wander the grounds next to our Little Red shed, and ponder booths containing everything from bird feeders to furniture to sculpture, wearable art and beyond, which will be on display and for sale.

Source: Edgefield – crackedpots art show – McMenamins

Reuse Centers

Business Spotlight: Old Lumberyard boasts treasures of yesteryear | News | corsicanadailysun.com

“We have lots of architectural items,” Plyer said. “In the form of doors, windows, newel posts, stained glass.”“We have a wedding registry as well,” said Carmichael. “If you’re a vintage lover, come pick what you want and we set it up in a display. We will make a tea towel with the couple’s names on it. All our tea towels sold right now benefit Relay for Life with their proceeds.”

Source: Business Spotlight: Old Lumberyard boasts treasures of yesteryear | News | corsicanadailysun.com

Structure Reuse

Cambridge Conversion Project Recognized as Preservation Model – Banker & Tradesman

859 Mass Ave Cambridge

“The restoration and reuse design of 859 Massachusetts Ave. is an inspiring example of community-wide dedication to both preserving history and caring for the future,” Charles Sullivan, executive director of the Cambridge Historical Commission, said in a statement.

Source: Cambridge Conversion Project Recognized as Preservation Model – Banker & Tradesman

Deconstruction

One house into three? House deconstruction team recycles large unwanted homes | Stuff.co.nz

Treena Gowthorpe and Kate Otter-Lowe are setting out to prove that a house can be deconstructed and recycled for the ...

Treena Gowthorpe and Kate Otter-Lowe are setting out to prove that a house can be deconstructed and recycled for the same price as demolition.

“You take a house that isn’t wanted in the community and deconstruct it. You carefully harvest all the materials from the house and then you use those materials and reconstruct it into tiny builds,” she said.

Source: One house into three? House deconstruction team recycles large unwanted homes | Stuff.co.nz

Deconstruction, Policy/Regulations/Government

First Buildings Deconstructed Under New Law » Urban Milwaukee

2075 N. Cambridge Ave. Photo by Dave Reid.

2075 N. Cambridge Ave. Photo by Dave Reid.

There are a number of city-owned properties that have to be demolished. And using the requirements of its residents preference program, firms going after the deconstruction contracts will have to meet workforce goals and train unemployed or underemployed city residents in this new trade.

Source: First Buildings Deconstructed Under New Law » Urban Milwaukee

Structure Reuse

Entire Sydney office fitted out with recycled materials and furniture wins sustainability award

The entrance to the office. Photo: Supplied

The entrance to the office. Photo: Supplied

The premises, a previously unused diesel generator room, have indeed become a spectacular showcase for the virtues of salvaging both cast-off plant room space that might otherwise languish, and materials that would have ended up in landfill.

Source: Entire Sydney office fitted out with recycled materials and furniture wins sustainability award

Structure Reuse

Inside Mercy Housing’s restoration of Building 9 at Magnuson Park – Curbed Seattle

A window bank unearthed during the restoration process.

The building lived many lives before being decommissioned—barracks, courthouse, offices—and like archaeologists, building crews were able to uncover some original building components that had been long covered up. Vinyl flooring had been placed over terrazzo tile in the original mess hall. A utilitarian wall turned out to be hiding a whole bank of historic windows.

Source: Inside Mercy Housing’s restoration of Building 9 at Magnuson Park – Curbed Seattle

Reuse Centers

Got a locker full of stuff? Deposit it in the Furniture Bank | TreeHugger

Furniture bank

via The Furniture Bank

All that money I spent on rent for the storage locker could have been put to much better use, and all that furniture and stuff that I was storing is now being put to use as well, for people who really need it, and not a bit of it goes to landfill. This truly was a win-win situation.

Source: Got a locker full of stuff? Deposit it in the Furniture Bank | TreeHugger

Structure Reuse

Plain English contemporary dream kitchen in a converted London schoolhouse

The main work space is flanked by two satellites: a cloakroom and elevator to the right of the stair, and, on the opposite side, an open panty.

Above: The main work space is flanked by two satellites: a cloakroom and elevator to the right of the stair, and, on the opposite side, an open panty.

The wide-plank flooring is original, newly lightened with a soap and lye finish. The black metal long-armed sconces were designed by the architects.

Source: Plain English contemporary dream kitchen in a converted London schoolhouse

Markets

Vintage university building materials being auctioned off | CTV Regina News

Items from the U of R’s College Avenue campus are available through an online auction

“Much of this stuff dates back to the original building,” explained Carol Reyda, Project Manager for the University of Regina. “This is stuff that was used back in the early 1900’s.”

Source: Vintage university building materials being auctioned off | CTV Regina News

Structure Reuse

Dreyfuss + Blackford’s historic power station conversion breaks ground in Sacramento – Archpaper.com

(Courtesy Dreyfuss + Blackford)

The adaptive reuse project covers 53,100 square-feet, including 22,800 square-feet of new space, to convert the structure into a Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) center. There will also be a two-story addition that protrudes from the east side of the power station, containing main circulation, classrooms, offices, a café, and a 120-seat planetarium that rises above the building.

Source: Dreyfuss + Blackford’s historic power station conversion breaks ground in Sacramento – Archpaper.com

Waste News

NYC’s toxic construction debris litters mid-Hudson

 

Gov. Andrew Cuomo estimated 5 million tons of construction and demolition debris is generated annually in the New York metro area. Much of it ends up in the mid-Hudson.“Due to the rural nature of the mid-Hudson Valley area and its proximity to New York City, illegal dumping has been an especially difficult problem through the region,” Cuomo said in February 2017. “Haulers see an easy way to cut costs by dumping loads of waste sourced from New York City in the mid-Hudson Valley.”

Source: NYC’s toxic construction debris litters mid-Hudson

Reclamation Administration

Seeking Your Story with the Reclamation Administration!

We are collecting information and would like to hear from you!

I just wanted to thank you, because since I get all the updates through Reclamation Administration I found today out pieces from the old Waldorf Astoria in NYC are for sale – so I bought an old Waldorf Astoria door bell!!!! Yihaaa! – Diederick Kraaijeveld, Oudhout.com.

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Old Globe Grain Elevator in Superior, Wisconsin – was salvaged by the ReBuilding Exchange after Meegan Czop read about it on the Reclamation Administration.

If you have a story of how the Reclamation Administration connected you with a resource or inspiration – please let us know!

Email: ReclamationNews@gmail.com

In exchange, we are happy to print a quote with a link back to a site of your choice.

Waste News

Local blacksmith forging a culture of reuse / Featured news / Newsroom / The University of Newcastle, Australia

Video

Mr Maguire said the day will not only be about fixing damaged items, but also about bringing the community together through a celebration of practical skills that are often overlooked in today’s modern world.

Source: Local blacksmith forging a culture of reuse / Featured news / Newsroom / The University of Newcastle, Australia

Markets

Old building materials from College Avenue Campus being auctioned off | Regina Leader-Post

Jackie Schmidt, president of Heritage Regina, stands among some of the materials which will be included in an online auction being put on by Heritage Regina. Many of the items are building materials removed from the College Avenue Campus of the University of Regina. BRANDON HARDER / REGINA LEADER-POST

Schmidt noted that much of the wood is old-growth wood from trees that were more than 100 years old.“Every lot has a historical story behind it,” said Schmidt. “These are architecturally significant. They belonged to the (College Avenue Campus) and we want to make sure that they are not put into the landfill.”

Source: Old building materials from College Avenue Campus being auctioned off | Regina Leader-Post

Structure Reuse

Brooklyn’s new Domino Park features relics from the old sugar factory | Inhabitat 

Domino Park – Designed by James Corner Field Operations, Domino Park will open June 10.

Set to open to the public on June 10, the park — which was installed with reclaimed relics from the former Domino Sugar Refinery — has been converted into a quarter-mile long stretch of open green space running along the Williamsburg waterfront.

Source: Brooklyn’s new Domino Park features relics from the old sugar factory | Inhabitat – Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building

Deconstruction, Portland Area

Dismantling Of Historic Hayward Field East Grandstand Begins . News | OPB

 

Workers remove seating planks from the East Grandstand at Hayward Field and take them to a truck for transport Monday, June 11, 2018, in Eugene, Oregon.

Workers remove seating planks from the East Grandstand at Hayward Field and take them to a truck for transport Monday, June 11, 2018, in Eugene, Oregon. Andy Nelson/The Register-Guard

In a first step toward dismantling the 93-year-old grandstand, workers removed original seat boards and placed them in a truck. The salvaged Douglas fir bleacher seats are among numerous items that are to be reused in a modern stadium that is to be built on the same site as Hayward Field in time for the 2021 World Track and Field Championships.

Source: Dismantling Of Historic Hayward Field East Grandstand Begins . News | OPB

Waste News

Eco-group faces imprisonment after reviving an abandoned Spanish village | Inhabitat

a group of people in the fields

Nicole Jewel

Currently, six members face more than four years imprisonment each along with a fine of up to $30,000 that will be used to demolish and destroy all of the effort that the group put into rebuilding the village over the last five years.

Source: Eco-group faces imprisonment after reviving an abandoned Spanish village | Inhabitat – Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building

Reuse Design

Meet the Ecopreneur Who Loves to Talk Trash | St. Thomas Newsroom

Jason Utgaard

“It was a snowball effect leading to the intersection of my enhanced awareness of the sheer volume of material I was responsible for nationally distributing through my roles as a buyer/VP, and this surge of sustainably made products I saw while doing sourcing work,” he said.

Source: Meet the Ecopreneur Who Loves to Talk Trash | St. Thomas Newsroom

Structure Reuse

Planning Board denies yet another proposal to reuse West Side firehouse | WBFO

MIKE DESMOND / WBFO NEWS

“I’m not a developer. I don’t understand the machinery, the political machinery, to become a developer and make something else out of it,” said Blochoe. “Five previous owners have failed in doing something to this place, if my count is not mistaken, and I have no other plans.”

Source: Planning Board denies yet another proposal to reuse West Side firehouse | WBFO

Reuse Design

Instruments from Trash: Sirish Satyavolu on his passion – The Hindu

Sirish Satyavolu | Photo Credit: K.V.S. GIRI

‘Collab House at Out of the Box’ is currently working with Sirish towards upcycling trash to music playing instruments. This includes a series of meet-ups starting this Friday where people can come together, collect trash, design instruments and bring them to life at an in-house session .

Source: Instruments from Trash: Sirish Satyavolu on his passion – The Hindu

Policy/Regulations/Government

Nonprofit touts benefits of housing deconstruction over demolition | Waste Dive

 

“It’s much more oriented toward local governments and economic development practitioners,” who are looking at the steps community leaders can take to encourage greater deconstruction, Pytel said. “Waste is typically a consequence of a bunch of other decisions. We’re going up a few levels to get at the decisions that end up creating waste, as opposed to looking at things as waste to begin with.”

Source: Nonprofit touts benefits of housing deconstruction over demolition | Waste Dive

Reuse Design

At this Saskatoon shop, come for the metal recycling, stay for the crazy art installations | CBC News

BN Steel and Metals owner Mark Riffel calls the metal recycled dinosaur in front of his shop Rusty. (Guy Quenneville/CBC)

“There is a reuse side to things that [don’t] just have to be melted down and made into the same old piece of steel or plate or pipe. There’s a creative side.”

Source: At this Saskatoon shop, come for the metal recycling, stay for the crazy art installations | CBC News

Structure Reuse

City industries paved the way for art – SHINE

A Baowu Steel facility in northern Shanghai will be regenerated into an art and education hub, named Shanghai International Art City. Ti Gong

“Keeping the authenticity of the buildings has become a kind of art itself,” said Yongwoo Lee, artistic director of the Shanghai International Art City Research Institute. “Industrial heritage goes far beyond existing architectural recognition with unique standing and image.”

Source: City industries paved the way for art – SHINE

Reuse Design

Featured Artist Jen Hardwick | Artsy Shark

Fish Fish

“Fish Fish” Mixed media 12″H x 16 1/4″W

I thought my art career would be as a painter but three years ago I signed up for my first art show and started working with recycled materials.  At the time I had no idea that these assemblages would become my passion and take me along an entirely different artistic path.

Source: Featured Artist Jen Hardwick | Artsy Shark

Waste News

Construction waste to be turned into gas masks and sports equipment

Construction waste to be turned into gas masks and sports equipment

MDF is widely used in the walls of buildings and has so far proven hard to recycle. Credit: Pxhere, licensed under CC0

‘At the end of the building or renovating you probably have fibreboard as waste and, at this point, it’s not recyclable—it’s only burnt or landfilled,’ explained Dr. Vanreppelen. ‘But we’ve developed a process to use it to make a product called activated carbon, which is used as a filter in water purifiers or gas masks.’

Source: Construction waste to be turned into gas masks and sports equipment

Deconstruction

Deconstruction Project Recycles Materials from Tax-Forfeited Property | www.WDIO.com

Four workers survey how to pull plaster off one of the walls.

Four workers survey how to pull plaster off one of the walls. Baihly Warfield/WDIO

Better Futures Minnesota is managing the projects, Miigwech Aki is providing labor, and the Natural Resources Research Institute is adding in their expertise. They each believe the extra time involved with deconstructing a building instead of demolishing it is worth it.

Source: Deconstruction Project Recycles Materials from Tax-Forfeited Property | www.WDIO.com

Deconstruction

Pilot program aims to reuse, recycle materials from condemned buildings | Duluth News Tribune

Thomas Adams, president and CEO of Better Futures Minnesota“Oftentimes, when people compare demolition and deconstruction, they compare just the cash outlay right at the beginning. But we don’t believe that’s a fair comparison,” he said. Adams pointed to the legacy of overflowing landfills and the health risks they present. He also noted the increase in jobs and taxes generated by dismantling a building.

 

Thomas Adams, president and CEO of Better Futures Minnesota

Source: Pilot program aims to reuse, recycle materials from condemned buildings | Duluth News Tribune

Portland Area, Waste News

 The Last Shot // Caleb Ruecker photographer – Portland OR Historical Crisis – YouTube

Due to a rapid population growth, historic buildings all over Portland are being demolished to make more room for the growing city. But these historic buildings and landmarks help give the city its’ character. That character is what helped portland gain it’s ‘odd-ball’ reputation. Are those days over? Is the city changing permanently? Caleb is a Portland native whose goal is to capture the character of old Portland and share it with us all

Structure Reuse

New architecture school brings lessons to life – REMI Network

architecture school

The addition of the L-shaped, two-wing building offers students a study in contrasts between these two modern construction methods, as well as between 19th-century-style timber construction and 21st-century CLT construction. Levitt said CLT was a natural choice considering the importance of timber and wood resources to northern Ontario, although there was little precedent for its institutional application in Canada at the time, much less on this scale.

Source: New architecture school brings lessons to life – REMI Network

Structure Reuse

Steel Tariffs Just Another Reason Houston Developers Are Looking To Adaptive Reuse Projects

Steel Tariffs Just Another Reason Houston Developers Are Looking To Adaptive Reuse Projects

Pexels

“Adaptive use involves less waste of materials and less need for new building materials like drywall, plaster and concrete, which are highly energy and carbon intensive, even with the most sustainable production methodologies,” Green Generation Solutions CEO Brad Dockser said to ULI. “The ability to reuse windows, walls and ornamentation is critical. And it’s possible to be highly creative. I’ve seen people put an office or a conference room in what used to be a vault. Instead of spending enormous amounts of money”

Source: Steel Tariffs Just Another Reason Houston Developers Are Looking To Adaptive Reuse Projects

Reclamation Administration: News and Research on Building Material Waste Prevention