Study Architecture 
ProPEL 
Author(s): Evan Wacker, Sierra Hinze, Anna Alswager & Kyle Young
This study addresses the need for sustainabiliy considerations in the decision-making process for the end-of-lifespan of higher education buildings. Currently, these buildings are often demolished based on aesthetic and convenience factors, in turn disregarding environmental and social costs. To address this issue, a categorical RFP (request for proposal) assessment tool was developed. This tool enables the analysis and comparison of alternative materials management methods for higher education buildings, empowering decision-makers to reduce organizational impact. The assessment considers embodied carbon, material sustainability/ disposal factors, and project financing, allowing stakeholders to make informed decisions. To demonstrate the effectiveness of this model, a hypothetical scenario analysis was conducted for Green Hall, an academic building owned by the University of Minnesota. The findings of this assessment revealed that demolition and new building construction result in over 2.1x increase in project embodied carbon, 1.9x increase in capital costs, and a 1.7x increase in total landfill waste compared to renovation. By adjusting the importance of impact categories, this tool rated renovation at almost double the effectiveness of demolition and new building construction.
https://doi.org/10.35483/ACSA.AIA.InterMaterialEco.23.9
Volume Editors
Caryn Brause & Chris Flint Chatto
