Articles about demolition done in a “green” way: deconstruction, dismantlment, non-traditional demolition.
The removal of construction materials from both commercial and residential buildings is called deconstruction or more simply salvage. Both terms describe the careful removal of quality materials with the explicit purpose of reuse. The use of reclaimed materials has become quite popular in commercial redevelopment. Examples of reclaimed materials used in new designs can be seen in WNY at Canalside, Five Points Bakery on the West Side; the new Thin Man Brewery in the Elmwood Village; and Aroma Cafe on North Forest in Amherst, to name just a few. Almost every new project is hoping to achieve a unique and … Read more
The engine behind our efforts has always been our Green Demolition Services. By implementing advanced strategies pioneered by David Bennink of ReUse Consulting, our team has been able to remove buildings more efficiently, with higher landfill diversion rates, and more safely than we could have ever done them before. Our roster of dismantled structures, residential and commercial, is over 200 and steadily growing.
This efficiency has opened doors to new projects and exciting opportunities.
From our About page: Question: People ask us . . . Why Do You Do What You Do? (WDYDWYD?) Answer 1: Jobs! We’re committed to creating local and green jobs for the Buffalo community. More importantly, we feel these jobs should leverage the waste in our society to create opportunity. We’re interested in a critical analysis of our economy to identify wasteful business practices that damage our communities and our environment, and opportunities that exist for new ventures. We’re determined to find solutions and to implement alternatives that put people to work. Answer 2: Innovation! As we look at the … Read more
ReUse Action’s Restoration crew began a project to save this “Country Club”, built in the 80’s and greatly in danger of being lost. The building boasts huge timbers and locally milled hemlock lumber. Unfortunately, years of neglect has resulted in severe deterioration to the southwest wall. It’s our hope the new owner will be able to provide the necessary push to get this building to the point where it can be utilized and appreciated for years to come. Here are some initial photos of the building it was found Friday. The top photo shows the building, completely finished with locally … Read more
Last week we took a shipment of 2x lumber stock to a mill in Arcade, NY Brauen Custom Millwork. It is very exciting to be able to track the life of this wood–from where the lumber came from to how it was processed and finally to the end product. This lumber came from the demolition of the John Deere Factory in Syracuse, NY, was tracked and coded by D-Build, brought back to Buffalo by the Green Demo Team to Action HQ, shipped to the mill, and is now being used in Rusted Grain’s woodshop. We will be using this lumber … Read more
As the summer ends and winter approaches, we finished the final touches on the waterfront food kiosk “Clinton’s Dish.” We boarded her up for the season, installing beautiful storm shutters that were made in the Rusted Grain woodshop at Action HQ! Like the siding, our materials for the storms were locally sourced: yellow pine flooring that was salvaged by the Green Demo Team during a green demolition project taking place in South Buffalo. The aged boards were refaced and stained, becoming an awesome addition to the local flavor of Buffalo’s newest waterfront building. Speaking of flavor…can’t wait ’til they come … Read more
Update: Flickr photos here.
The building reuse industry is growing, getting more attention, and becoming a more realistic option for developers, architects, and homeowners. Buffalo Deconstruction Contractors, ReUse Action and Buffalo ReUse, shared their expertise and learning experiences yesterday as participants and presenters at the 3rd Annual Deconstruction Summit in Syracuse. While I was serving at Buffalo ReUse, we submitted a bid package to deconstruct eighteen residential structures as part of the Syracuse University School of Environmental Science and Forestry’s (ESF) campus expansion. While ESF ultimately opted for demolition with a very challenging construction timeline, our involvement and expertise was given praise yesterday by … Read more
Last Fall, ReUse Action staff deconstructed a barn in Syracuse in collaboration with a new company called D-Build. We were on site for three days, salvaged tons of antique beams and planks, and almost all of it was distributed to customers in the Syracuse area. D-build created an awesome video of that green demolition…you should check it out if you want to learn more about hybrid deconstruction…i.e. green demolition. Check it out here… ReUse Action staff can consult with architects, homeowners, companies, and municipalities on how to best reuse building materials, source reused materials for building projects, and remove buildings without adding … Read more