Improving the feasibility of building deconstruction and adaptability

Design for Adaptability and Deconstruction (DfAD) is an emerging trend in the construction industry that focuses on the end-of-life aspect of buildings. It is based on the concept that the life of a building or building component ends because it is unable to adapt to change. With proper implementation, DfAD is an important tool to achieve sustainable design for buildings, as it ideally may form a closed materials loop for construction materials by optimizing the amount of materials salvaged at the end of a building's useful life through deconstruction. This thesis focuses on ways to improve the feasibility of deconstruction and material savings, primarily through DfAD. By implementing DfAD principles and guidelines, designing with reusable materials, and planning and implementing a project effectively, the current practical and economic barriers to deconstruction may be mitigated. This thesis presents the essential considerations for deconstruction and materials salvage and presents potential policies to improve its viability. Three case studies present the applications of DfAD approaches and the lessons learned from common challenges associated with deconstruction.

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2010

Author dc:creator

• Quinn, Karen E. (Karen Elizabeth)

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Jerome J. Connor.

• Civil and Environmental Engineering.

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/60780

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/60780