Play it again Sam The Process of Designing with Reused Components Dr Mark Gorgolewski & Lawrence Morrettin.

Play it again SamThe Process of Designing with Reused Components

Dr Mark Gorgolewski & Lawrence Morrettin

Waste Man - Antony Gormley

A building as an event• Buildings should not be thought of as products• Buildings are “ongoing events in time and space”

– Evolving – Unfolding– Dynamic– Decaying– Revitalizing

• The relationship of buildings and time

“The architect’s work is intended to live on into the distant future. He sets the stage for a long, slow moving performance which must be adaptable enough to accommodate unforeseen improvisations”

Rasmussen

Mountain Equipment Co-op, Ottawa

Architects - Linda Chapman Architects & Christopher Simmonds ArchitectsStructural engineers - Cleland Jardine Engineering LimitedBuilding use - 2,500 m² retail facility

1,000 m2 existing building on the site, formerly a grocery store with steel columns, beams and open-web steel joists

Big Dig House

Big Dig House

Owner – Paul Perdini

Architect – Single Speed Design

300 tonnes of materials diverted including salvaged steel and concrete panels

Vancouver National Works Yard - LEED GoldBusby Perkins and Will Architects

85 % of construction waste was diverted from landfill

Recycled materials: concrete, steel, wood, aluminum, gypsum, plastic/pvc, cardboard

Survey

www.reuse-steel.org

Waste = WallsDesigning buildings from Waste

The goal is to showcase waste materials that have value as reused building construction components. Students propose innovative and effective material uses that will have performance characteristics that meet or exceed traditional materials while illustrating sound design and building science principles and featuring aesthetically-pleasing finishes.

“Performance” and “Process”

Definitions of reuseThere are 4 ways of using recycled or reclaimed material in a

project:

1. Recycle - Use material with a high recycled content - virtually all steel has some recycled content

2. Component reuse - Reuse individual components extracted from the demolition of one project in a new building – not common – shoring industry

3. Rebuild - move most or all of an existing building to a new location – often occurs for pre-engineered buildings

4. Adaptive reuse - reuse the existing structure and possibly add or extend it - relatively common with some structures

Barriers for using salvaged material

• Material availability • The lack of technical and procedural knowledge • Difficulty in developing materials specification• A higher risk in the reused material not performing• Meeting current specifications regulations.• Design team experience• Potential impacts on costs - higher design fees, higher material sourcing

fees• Time and scheduling issues • Contractual issues• Cost

Lessons from various projects• Strong commitment on the part of the client and the project team• Flexibility - avoid rigid design constraints

– Allow for the possibility of various depths of structural member– Create a flexible structural zone, so various structural solutions can be

accommodated• Timing is critical

– Availability of components– When to purchase available salvaged components– Coordination– Storage– Avoid multiple handling

• Identifying the structural characteristics of the salvaged components– Documentation.– Standard component specifications

• Processing or fabrication – Pricing can be difficult if the condition of the reclaimed component is not

known.

Lessons (continued)• Quality control during deconstruction/extraction• Need to create a connection between demand and supply for

reclaimed components– A schedule of demolition projects, each with a brief project description

• Some contractors may be nervous about tendering for unusual projects of this kind– Need to educate contractors and work with them to ensure that full cost

benefits can be realized• Design constraints

– Reuse is easier if the components can be reused for a purpose similar to their original one

– Use similar structural layouts and original span sizes in the new design.– Bolting steel facilitates eventual dismantling

• Contractual relationships?• Liability

Issues for designers

• Perceived increased risk – Designers are taking on

additional risk?– Standard specifications– Passing risk to specialist

companies – Codes and standards

• Contractual issues– Timing of appointing contractor

• Redesign• Flexibility• Design fees

• Timing and availability – Reclaimed components are not

currently easily available of the shelf in quantities and a range of specifications that designers expect

– Lack of a coordinated supply chain

– Identify specific components early on during the design process at demolition sites or reclamation yards

• Codes and standards• Standard specifications

Establishing performance of reclaimed components

• Drawings/specs from the original use are helpful• Historical knowledge and size may be sufficient• Testing is possible and practical• References

– ASTM Standards A7 and A9.– The publication “Appraisal of existing iron and steel structures” by

The Steel Construction Institute of the United Kingdom– CAN/CSA-S6-00 (Canadian Highway Bridge Code).

• Markings for identification

Availability/Sourcing

• Salvage yards• Demolition contractors

– Designers developing local relationships with demolition contractors

• Some specialist material centers• Buildings that are ready for demolition• Industrial and engineering works• Exchange web sites

– www.reuse-steel.org

Timing / coordination can be critical

Outline Design

Identify likely component/material

needs

Revise Design

Identify likely sources

Seek/Purchase goods

Detailed Design

Find Alternatives if necessary

Storage if necessary

Refurbish/recondition if necessary

Construction

Strategies• Overall project aim - clearly defined and upfront goals.• The design and construction team

– committed to reuse – previous experience

• Design process - requires an iterative approach with the detailed design being formed as a response to the materials acquired.

• Specification – performance based with historical material data if known, – provisions for testing procedures if necessary

• Cost plan –remaining flexible to allow for market fluctuations in the supply and demand of available materials

• Project Program – adapt to allow for processes such as sourcing, refurbishment, and testing which coincide with design.

Strategies (continued)• Finding materials/goods –

– May require audits if sourced from existing buildings, coordination of disassembly, delivery and storage.

– Establish partnerships with demolition contractors, etc.

• Selection of materials/goods - create protocols and weighted analysis using determined criteria such as embodied energy and performance.

• Storage – This may be necessary if acquiring materials from a building scheduled to be

demolished prior to construction. – Careful planning and the involvement of the main contractor in this area may

alleviate some of the drawbacks.

• Project management –allocate the necessary resources while still providing a realistic schedules.

Mattamy Homes (Canada)