Photo Credit: Maxwell Peterson, Abandoned Philadelphia
SALVAGING MATERIALS
JULIA DE BURGOS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
The SDP will likely need to demolish several school buildings that cannot be reused. Demolishing the schools - many of them large, old, and constructed of stone and other heavy materials - will be a financial burden. To offset the costs, the SDP should utilize a sustainable demolition process, which could allow the it to reduce demolition costs, improve Philadelphia’s environmental record, and encourage economic growth and job development. Sustainable demolition allows salvageable materials from buildings to be extracted and reused in other projects. Philadelphia’s schools, many of which are historic, are full of unique architectural details, such as molding, fixtures, doors and quality materials, such as cut stones and bricks. These may have a high resale value if properly removed. The process of deconstruction requires building analysis to identify usable content and establish a deconstruction plan. Then, the structural interior and exterior can be scoured for reusable and recyclable materials.1 This includes removing any available pipes, HVAC systems,
reclaimed wood, brick, and reusable or recyclable fixtures and furniture2 so that only the building envelope remains. Any remaining materials are sorted; reusable materials are taken to salvage centers, recyclable pieces are taken the recycling plants, and the smaller percentage of unrecyclable waste is taken to a landfill. The extra effort undertaken by contractors and developers may lower costs by reducing dumping fees at landfills due to recycling. Some salvaged materials can be directly resold, generating profits. Reducing debris entering landfills directly connects with Greenworks Philadelphia Targets 7 and 14 which state, “Divert 70 percent of Solid Waste from Landfill,”3 and “Double the number of Low and High-Skill Green Jobs”4 in the city. Considering that current construction and demolition debris constitute 20.6 percent of the city’s total trash stream, reducing demolition debris in landfills would be a significant step in greening the city.5 Requiring sustainable demolition would also create demand for skills in demolition and salvage, which is construction in reverse, and can serve as an entry-level position into the construction industry. In addition, these jobs cannot be sourced locally, with wages returning to local communities. Whenever possible, the SDP should sustainably demolish buildings to encourage greater levels of recycling in Philadelphia, support the city’s green initiatives, and foster the development of local green jobs.
SITE REUSE
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SITE REUSE
SUSTAINBLE DEMOLITION PROCESS