Building Deconstruction
WORKSHOP TITLE:
Building Deconstruction; A vehicle for reclaiming materials and creating opportunities.
WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION:
As aging industrial centers grapple with population decline, thousands of abandoned houses remain, creating innumerable challenges for city governments and municipalities. Abandoned structures, often considered a liability become havens for crime and exacerbate blight in neighborhoods. The method of building deconstruction, the dismantlement of entire buildings to reclaim and reuse building materials ranging from interior doors and cabinetry to structural floor joists and foundation stone, create an opportunity for environmental and architectural preservation, while also generating a source of material for reuse.
WORKSHOP PRESENTERS:
David Bennink, ReUse Consulting. David has been deconstructing buildings and advising organizations, municipalities, and individuals in deconstruction techniques for over 15 years. David created the technique referred to as hybrid-deconstruction, a process that combines human labor with mechanical power to dismantle buildings more efficiently and safely.
Michael Gainer, Buffalo ReUse. Michael began his career deconstructing abandoned barns in Massachusetts to preserve antique timber frame beams. Shortly after arriving in Buffalo and learning of the city’s plan to demolish 10,000 homes, he joined forces with David Bennink to explore the potential of building deconstruction in the City of Buffalo. Buffalo ReUse has just complete its first year of operation which has also included development of a community retail and environmental education destination called the ReSource, as well as training out-of-school young adults.
TOPICS OF DISCUSSION:
- The economics of deconstruction: is deconstruction an economically viable alternative to demolition?
- Cost benefit analysis: diversion vs. cost. Maximizing your impact while minimizing expenses.
- For profit companies vs. not for profit organizations: successful models, challenges and opportunities.
- Benefits of deconstruction for communities, municipalities, and the environment.
- Generating a source of material for resale and becoming self sustaining.
- Deconstruction can work in your city!
- Getting started and initiating field services.
- Creating a demand for your services.
- Collaborations to increase capacity/scope.
- Overcoming obstacles in the first year.
- Deconstruction as a vehicle for training and neighborhood development.
