Page 28 - College Planning & Management, July/August 2018

GREEN DEMOLITION
these may have value and are sold or may even be reused in the new facility. However, this does not happen all that often.
What other steps can campus adminis- trators take to both reduce the amount of debris generated and also make the entire demolition procedure more environmen-
tally responsible? Here are some ideas.
Consider deconstructing the existing building. Deconstructing refers to the selective dismantlement of a facility and its components for the purpose of reusing all or most of the salvageable materials in the facility. It can also refer to reusing the old
building’s structure or foundation. Employ planned demolition. This
strategy does not go as far as deconstruc- tion but involves examining the current property for building materials that can be sold, reused, or recycled. A building mate- rial that often falls into this category—and that is found in many older facilities—is brick. If the bricks are more than 50 years old, they may not be recommended for con- struction. However, they can still be reused in other ways. For example, they may be crushed and used as aggregate material to strengthen poured concrete.
Identify and manage harmful materials. Older facilities may contain materials now known to be detrimental to human health and the environment. Often, these materials do not pose a problem once the building has been constructed and is in use. However, when the facility is being torn down, the materials can become dan- gerous. As part of the demolition planning stage, these materials should be identified and then removed safely so that they do not pose a health hazard to workers or the environment during demolition.
Hire a sustainability-focused demoli- tion contractor. A sustainability-focused demolition contractor can demolish an ex- isting facility with sustainability in mind. These contractors are trained to look for ways to reduce waste and recycle or reuse building materials. They should be brought in during the early stages of the project. College administrators can turn to trade associations such as those listed in the sidebar on page 30 to find such a contractor in their community.
Write sustainability into the contract.
Even with a sustainability-focused demoli- tion contractor hired, make sure the agree- ment emphasizes that all demolition work is to be performed with sustainability as a priority; that demolition is to be completed in an environmentally responsible way; and that all regulatory and environmental rules and regulations are to be followed.
Use high-efficiency demolition equipment. High-efficiency demolition
Photo Credit: Jared Doster. Dancer: Rachel Culver
28
COLLEGE PLANNING & MANAGEMENT / JULY/AUGUST 2018
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