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By Barbara Knecht

According to Guy, in separating systems and unlayering materials in a building, there are circumstances that require that either the design be rethought or a higher tolerance for deterioration be accepted. “If the building isn’t caulked or painted at every conceivable place, for example, I might rethink how an area is protected by an overhang or some other building element. Or I may tolerate some wear or deterioration because I have created a system in which I can replace materials or components as needed without destroying the zone around it.”

 

As shown in the section (above), utilities are segregated from wood framing to allow for easier disassembly and to reduce holes in the framing, thereby increasing future salvage value. The Design for Disassembly window detail (below) allows the window to be replaced by simply removing the wood trim, and without disturbing the adjacent finishes. Images: Courtesy Ehdd Architecture

One area where there is no tolerance is worker safety. Dismantling buildings can be extremely hazardous, and it doesn’t take much experience to understand that they are not designed to be taken apart. Besides toxic materials, assemblies give way suddenly, and infrastructure that is deeply integrated with structure is difficult to extract. When materials must be destroyed to be dismantled, workers are endangered by the released pollutants and dust. Dismantling roofs or other high building sections is much safer if they can be removed in large sections and brought down intact for disassembly.

Guy is researching generic methods and guidelines for disassembly. Separating infrastructure from large components and roofs is one goal. Wood-frame construction is typically riddled with holes drilled for utility lines, making disassembly painstaking handwork that would never permit a roof to be removed easily for dismantling. At Chartwell, as at Rinker, the structure and the systems are separated and exposed. Utility lines are run in a raceway located just inside the classrooms above the casework, where it is available but not generally visible. Buildings are an assemblage of systems that create an integrated whole, which will be more efficient if it is designed for a life cycle of construction, repair, maintenance, and adaptation of its components.