Case Studies - Reuse & "Design for Disassembly" Projects

Updated Feb 23

Structural Engineering Institute (SEI) Circular Economy Case Studies

Description: "The Circular Economy Case Studies database has been prepared by the Structural Engineering Institute Sustainability Committee Circular Economy Work Group with the goal of sharing and promoting the excellent circular economy work that project teams are completing throughout North America and the world. Often it is hard to find information on how circular economy principles are implemented in practice; these circular economy case studies aim to better share information amongst the industry. Some case studies have been prepared directly by a project team member, while others have been prepared based on available texts and publications. In the second case, the text descriptions are a summary of information available from other sources. These sources are referenced in the Further information and resources section of each case study."

Other Case Studies

Project name	Boulder County Hospital Deconstruction / Fire Station 3 Construction
Location	Boulder, CO
Project size	28,000 ft²
Examples of structural reuse	"Steel from the decommissioned Boulder County Hospital [was reused as] columns for the fire station,"
Examples of architectural reuse	N/A
Examples of DfD	N/A
Current use	Fire Station
Link	https://www.structuremag.org/article/circular-construction-2/ https://davispartnership.com/projects/city-of-boulder-fire-station-3/

Project name	USACE Federal Center South Building 1202
Location	Seattle, WA
Project size	209,000 ft²
Examples of structural reuse	"All of the wood used in the project was salvaged from a 1940s-era warehouse that previously occupied the site—a total of 200,000 board feet of heavy timber and 100,000 board feet of 2×6 tongue and groove roof decking."
Examples of architectural reuse	"Reclaimed decking was also used for interior wall panelling."
Examples of DfD	N/A
Current use	Commercial/governmnt building
Link	https://www.architectmagazine.com/project-gallery/usace-federal-center-south-building-1202 https://www.aecknowledge.com/courses/285 (paid course; free for AIA members)

Project name	Recyclinghaus, Hanover
Location	Suburb of Hanover, Germany
Project size	[Not listed]
Examples of structural reuse	N/A
Examples of architectural reuse	"The aluminium-framed windows and the fiber cement panels, which were recut and repainted, originate from the “House of Youth,” a nearby youth center that had been thoroughly transformed into a social housing project. The wooden strips that now form a weather-protected entrance area were once sauna benches in a nearby sports club. The profiled glass strips however, now shimmering on the facade in blue and green, were saved from an old paint shop that was demolished." Wall insulation made from old jute bags
Examples of DfD	House is entirely made of recycled and recyclable components Glue-free structural wood with wood screws
Current use	Residential building
Link	https://metropolismag.com/projects/hanover-recycled-house/ https://www.cityfoerster.net/projects/recycling_house-218-2.html

Project name	Resource Row
Location	Oerestad, Copenhagen, Denmark
Project size	2270 m2
Examples of structural reuse	"a recycled concrete beam used as a bridge"
Examples of architectural reuse	Facade is made up of panels of brick reclaimed from older buildings "The Resource Rows is using upcycled bricks and waste wood, a recycled concrete beam used as a bridge and old windows and waste wood as rooftop community gardens huts with an atmosphere of allotment gardens."
Examples of DfD	N/A
Current use	Residential rowhomes
Link	https://lendager.com/project/resource-rows/

Project name	Quay Quarter Tower
Location	Sydney, Australia
Project size	102,000 m2
Examples of structural reuse	"QQT retains over 65% of the original structure (beams, columns, and slabs) and 95% of the original core."
Examples of architectural reuse	N/A
Examples of DfD	N/A
Current use	Office and retail building
Link	https://3xn.com/project/quay-quarter-tower-2 https://group.schindler.com/en/media/references/quay-quarter-tower.html

Project name	1 Triton Square
Location	London, England
Project size	[Not listed]
Examples of structural reuse	Adaptive reuse of six existing floors
Examples of architectural reuse	"At the exterior, the original aluminum-and-glass curtain wall system was disassembled, and was refurbished with new gaskets and glass coatings, for greater thermal efficiency, at a pop-up factory less than 30 miles away, and reinstalled."
Examples of DfD	N/A
Current use	Commercial building
Link	https://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/16929-continuing-education-circular-construction https://www.building.co.uk/buildings/bigger-and-better-one-triton-square/5112018.article

Project name	Aeres University of Applied Sciences
Location	Almere, The Netherlands
Project size	[Not listed]
Examples of structural reuse	"Old ship floors – timber that otherwise would be burned – has been used for the roof deck"
Examples of architectural reuse	"Short pieces of tropical hardwood... were used for wooden bench seating on the roof"
Examples of DfD	Demountable structural steel containing loose floors.
Current use	University building
Link	https://www.bdgarchitecten.nl/projecten/aeres-hogeschool-almere/ https://www.built.com.au/app/uploads/2023/03/Builts-Demystifying-the-Circular-Economy-Report.pdf

Project name	Legacy Living Lab
Location	Perth, Australia
Project size	[Not listed]
Examples of structural reuse	N/A
Examples of architectural reuse	N/A
Examples of DfD	At the end of its life, 78% of the building’s elements can be deconstructed and reused
Current use	University building
Link	https://l3.curtin.edu.au/ https://www.built.com.au/app/uploads/2023/03/Builts-Demystifying-the-Circular-Economy-Report.pdf

Project name	Triodos Bank
Location	Zeist, Netherlands
Project size	[Not listed]
Examples of structural reuse	N/A
Examples of architectural reuse	N/A
Examples of DfD	Fully demountable; main structure is 100% timber ( laminated timber, cross-laminated timber and unprocessed timber components, joined together using screws)
Current use	Office building
Link	https://www.guardianglass.com/eu/en/projects/project-details/triodos-bank https://www.built.com.au/app/uploads/2023/03/Builts-Demystifying-the-Circular-Economy-Report.pdf https://www.dezeen.com/2021/02/21/triodos-bank-remountable-office-rau-architects-ex-interiors/

Project name	Brummen Town Hall
Location	Brummen, Netherlands
Project size	3000 m2
Examples of structural reuse	N/A
Examples of architectural reuse	N/A
Examples of DfD	Modular, prefabricated timber 90% of materials are designed for disassembly Whole structural assembly was recorded with material passports
Current use	Government building
Link	https://www.built.com.au/app/uploads/2024/06/How-to-write-a-Building-Disassembly-Plan.pdf https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/circular-examples/brummen-town-hall https://www.rau.eu/portfolio/gemeentehuis-brummen/

Project name	K118 Kopfbau Halle
Location	Winterthur, Switzerland
Project size	1100 m2
Examples of structural reuse	steel beams
Examples of architectural reuse	window reuse "red facade sheet metal" steel stair case "Granite facades, which have been converted into slabs in the kitchens, toilets, and on the balcony arbors" "majority of the aluminum insulated windows waste wood for flooring "Interior walls made of wood accommodate reused doors and reused triple-layer panel from stage construction."
Examples of DfD	N/A
Current use	Commercial Offices
Link	https://www.archdaily.com/968958/k118-kopfbau-halle-118-hauburo-in-situ

Project name	Etsy Headquarters
Location	New York, USA
Project size	200,000 sqft
Examples of structural reuse	N/A
Examples of architectural reuse	"cable-wire staircase made of wood from the original rooftop waster tower" "reclaimed New York City scaffolding wood at the partitions" "two handmade felt wall partitions salvaged from Etsy's old space"
Examples of DfD	N/A
Current use	Etsy office headquarters
Link	https://www.aia.org/showcases/6280254-etsy-headquarters

Project name	Circl
Location	Netherlands
Project size	Gross floor area not stated, but basement is 1600 m2
Examples of structural reuse	N/A
Examples of architectural reuse	Reclaimed paving stones used for acoustic insulation during construction process, reclaimed fire-hose reels and cable ducts, reclaimed hardwood from monastery and bar for flooring, elevator rental as opposed to purchase
Examples of DfD	Physical connections in place of adhesives, minimal finishes / discouragement against scrawling on construction materials
Current use	Events/education center, meeting space, circular restaurant
Link	https://circl.nl/themakingof/en/

Project name	Alliander Building
Location	Netherlands
Project size	Info not provided
Examples of structural reuse	N/A
Examples of architectural reuse	Transformers used as planters, wood from discarded industrial cable spools used for exterior cladding
Examples of DfD	Atrium space skylight - steel frame, stretched white cotton over skylights
Current use	Building used by subsidiary of the Dutch national energy company Alliander.
Link	https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/06/headway/office-tower-carbon-emissions-amsterdam.html?searchResultPosition=1

Project name	s Beddington Zero (Fossil) Energy Development (BedZED) Project [Case study pulled from FCRBE Reuse Toolkit Material Sheets - Structure and Building Envelope - Steel Beam]
Location	Hackbridge, UK
Project size	Info not provided by commercial/live/work space is 3,000 m2
Examples of structural reuse	Reclaimed structural steel
Examples of architectural reuse	Reclaimed timber for internal studwork, floorboards, bollards, shuttering ply, sub-grade fill
Examples of DfD	N/A
Current use	Mixed use - residential (82 homes) and commercial or live/work space (3,000m2)
Link	Full case study: https://library.uniteddiversity.coop/Ecological_Building/BedZED-Toolkit-Part-1.pdf

Project name	Taisugar Circular Village
Location	Taipei, Taiwan
Project size	Multiple buildings
Examples of structural reuse	"Salvaged hardwood from TaiSugar’s old dilapidated buildings was used as the main structure for the E-House"
Examples of architectural reuse	"Recycled railway tracks were designed as a fence on the ground periphery" "Wooden planks from the old buildings were treated and reused as the wooden frame for the pivoted door at C-House."
Examples of DfD	"Steel was chosen as the structural material rather than reinforced concrete" "Modular building components such as prefabricated PC boards, metal louvers for the façade, prefabricated floor panels for slabs were used in conjunction with BIM software" "Ownership for the elevator, lighting, furniture, and sanitary fixtures were replaced with usership"
Current use	Residential (apartments)
Link	https://www.archdaily.com/974658/taisugar-circular-village-bio-architecture-formosana

Other resources:

Designing for Disassembly at Stadium 974
- Developed by: Structure Magazine
- Description: Case study
Recycling Works Massachusetts
- Description: Reuse and recycling case studies
Design for Reuse Primer
- Developed by: Public Architecture
- Description: "15 Successful reuse projects within different sectors explored in-depth."
ArchDaily
- Article title: Afterlife of Pavilions: Exploring Reuse in Temporary Architecture
InFutURe Wood
- Description: "Project InFutUReWood is supported under the umbrella of ERA-NET Cofund ForestValue by Vinnova – Sweden’s Innovation Agency, Formas, Swedish Energy Agency, the Forestry Commissioners for the UK, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine for Ireland, the Ministry of the Environment for Finland, the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture through the Agency for Renewable Resources for Germany, the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities for Spain, the Ministry of Education, Science and Sport for Slovenia. We aim to answer the questions:
  How easy is it to reuse wood from current buildings especially as structural material? How can the past experience help the future?"