The project involved a comprehensive assessment of the potential benefits of controlled deconstruction versus traditional demolition for a historic hotel undergoing renovation. The building, constructed in 1959, had undergone multiple alterations and additions, leading to a complex material composition. Approximately 2400 tons of materials were removed during the demolition phase, with the potential for significant waste and carbon emissions. By modeling various deconstruction scenarios, Adaptis quantified potential cost savings, carbon reductions, and material recovery value while considering the project's scale and complexity.

Challenge

The building owners these days faces increasing pressure to reduce waste and carbon emissions while maximizing resource recovery. Traditional demolition methods often result in significant material disposal and lost economic value. In a business-as-usual scenario where traditional demolition approaches are used, the project cost is estimated around $216k.

Summary of Targets

Extend building and component lifespans while maximizing waste diversion to 50% and generating maximum revenue based on material value and feasibility.

Results

A base case demolition cost of $216K is assumed based on average local prices. The demolition scope included around 2400 tons of materials disposed of in landfills. This study demonstrates that in the optimal scenario, with an additional $129k investment for more controlled deconstruction, $175K revenue from material salvaging can be achieved in addition to 110 tons of carbon and 1740 tons of waste savings.

Adaptis Advantage

• Adaptis' proprietary platform optimized material recovery, achieving a 60% diversion rate, $175K in salvaged material value, and 110 tonnes of carbon savings compared to traditional demolition.

• Our data-driven approach identified the most profitable and sustainable end-of-life options for each component, outperforming manual methods in speed, accuracy, and cost-effectiveness.