Rethinking Material Reuse: a Case Study on Lab Retrofit

The advent of industrialization led to a shift in construction practices, making material salvage and reuse less prevalent. However, in today’s era of climate change and increasing waste generation, there is a growing recognition of the importance of rethinking material reuse and embracing circular economy principles. In Massachusetts alone, a staggering amount of construction waste, exceeding 5,920,000 tons, was generated in 2020 per a Massachusetts EPA report (Department of Environmental Protection, 2022). Concurrently, research conducted by the Delta Institute reveals that approximately 25% of a typical house’s total material can be reused, with 70% possible for recycling (Delta Insitute, 2018). This significant gap presents a compelling opportunity for collaboration among designers, contractors, and owners to explore and implement circular economy practices. Thus, the aim of this paper is to shed light on the potential for achieving a circular economy through deconstruction, adaptive reuse and diversion of construction waste from landfills. By delving into Payette’s project on a laboratory retrofit, this case study offers insights into the process and methodology employed. It reflects on the encountered challenges and the valuable lessons learned throughout the project from architects and contractors.

https://doi.org/10.35483/ACSA.AIA.InterMaterialEco.23.47

Volume Editors
Caryn Brause & Chris Flint Chatto