Wood salvaged during deconstruction project in Vancouver, B.C. | Photo: Dr. Haibo Feng
When older buildings are replaced, much of the material ends up in landfill due to challenges with recycling. This represents a missed opportunity for carbon capture and reducing the environmental footprint of new building construction.
In response, experts at UBC’s School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture (SALA) asked the question, “What if new building construction could be changed to make it easier to recycle buildings when they reach the end of their useful life?” The answer is outlined in the guidebook for Design for Deconstruction in Light Wood Frame Construction—a practical, scalable response to the mounting challenges of construction waste and embodied carbon.
Funded by FII, the project proposes minor but impactful changes to light wood framing construction, such as replacing nailed fasteners with screws, to lower the costs of material recovery. The guide is supported by full-scale mock-ups and practical tips.
