Deconstruction: Is it a Feasible Alternative for Demolition?
Demolition has long been the common practice for removing buildings. However, with landfill space diminishing, tipping fees rising, and an increased awareness for the environment, alternate methods are becoming more of a reality. This paper will explain a new method for removing buildings. The proposed method is Building Deconstruction. Instead of simply smashing buildings and transporting the debris to landfills, deconstruction involves manually taking apart building components for reuse in the building community. There is some uncertainty in the construction industry as to whether this method is an economically feasible alternative for demolition. The goal of this study is to determine what type of environments will support the implementation of building deconstruction. By looking at case studies, one can identify what factors are favorable or unfavorable to its execution. This data will be matched up to various locations nationally to determine where deconstruction can provide a practical substitute for demolition. Results show that there are multiple environments where deconstruction can be used as an alternative for demolition.
School:
North Carolina A&T State University
Department:
Architectural Engineering
Research Advisor:
Tom Napier
Department of Research Advisor:
U. S. Army Construction Engineering Research Lab
Year of Publication:
2002