Deconstruction Leads to Development

By Kelly Novak, Research Manager, NADO Research Foundation

Properly executed deconstruction can result in more than just demolished buildings. Disassembled building materials can be recovered for resale, the site can be used for job training or the deconstruction service could evolve into an entrepreneurial opportunity.

Targeted buildings for deconstruction include former military bases, untenable public housing and abandoned residential buildings. Building deconstruction promotes job training for higher-wage construction jobs and forms local construction expertise resources that support regional ventures like brownfields redevelopment.

Training

The Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR) and partners is now launching, a deconstruction-training program. Mickey Beach, Program Director of the Heartwood Resources subsidiary of the Umpqua Community Development Corporation in Oregon, one of the coalition partners explained, “The program will allow us access to expert training for our material reuse business, which is just three years young with significant job creation potential.”

The program teaches participants about materials reuse companies and how they create their own product stock from proper deconstruction, and how to branch out into appliance repair or value-added industries.

Benefits

Jim Primdahl, Lead Trainer for ILSR explained, “The deconstruction industry has the potential to generate as many as 200,000 jobs and put more than $1 million per year back into local economies.”

Deconstruction enterprises have already resulted in business success for several communities. One such success occurred when a consortium of community groups in Oakland, California came together to open a lumber mill that takes wood from local projects and quadruples the value by milling it prior to resale. Primdahl said, “The consortium’s success confirms that deconstruction is more than removing structures. It is recycling that leads to value-added productions and in turn promotes business expansion/retention and job creation.”

The Future of Deconstruction

The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the National Homebuilders Association (NAHB) Research Center have supported deconstruction initiatives. In the form of a federal agency working group, the agencies have contributed to the release of a Public-Private Partnership for Advancing Housing Technology’s Guide to Deconstruction and are expected to continue to support the promotion of deconstruction as an industry.

In the coming year, ILSR plans to continue current deconstruction training projects in Connecticut and Washington, D.C. and launch training projects in New Jersey, Oregon, Vermont and Washington.

For More Information, Contact: Institute for Local Self-Reliance (202/232-4108 or www.ilsr.org/recycling/ builddecon.html); National Association of Home Builders Research Center (301/249-4000 or visit www.nahbrc.org); Partnership for Advancing Housing Technology (202/708-4277 or visit www.pathnet.org); Mickey Beach, Umpqua CDC, (541/673-4909 or mbeach@mcsi.net); Download the Guide to Deconstruction at www.hud.gov/ economicdevelopment/index.cfm Source: Rural Policy Research Institute, 1999.

Project Profile

Project: Complete Structural Disassembly, Riverdale Village - Baltimore, MD

Players: Maryland Office of HUD, EPA and NAHB Research Center

Building Description: 2,000 sq. ft. two story masonry and brick building; wood framed, partitions, joists, and rafters. Salvageable doors, windows, cabinets, hardwood flooring.

Project Description: With EPA funding and the support of HUD, the NAHB Research Center closely documented the deconstruction of one building on the site. The detailed data provided information about:

Time required for specific deconstruction activities

Task sequencing, operations layout, tools and workers required, and flow of materials

Market opportunities and values of salvaged building materials

End Use: Direct marketing via site sale

Contact: Peter Yost, NAHB RC - 301/430-6242

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