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SEI Circular Economy Case Studies

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Signatory Case Studies
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External Case Studies

About the database

The Circular Economy Case Studies database has been prepared by the Structural Engineering Institute Sustainability  Committee Circular Economy Work Group with the goal of sharing and promoting the excellent circular economy work that project teams are completing throughout North America and the world. Often it is hard to find information on how circular economy principles are implemented in practice; these circular economy case studies aim to better share information amongst the industry. 

Some case studies have been prepared directly by a project team member, while others have been prepared based on available texts and publications. In the second case, the text descriptions are a summary of information available from other sources. These sources are referenced in the Further information and resources section of each case study. 

ProjectYearCityCountryUseConstructionArchitectEngineerDeveloperBuilderSupplierSpecialistsArea (sq ft)Height (ft)AboveGradeBelowGradeRiskCostLCACredit
Chartwell School2006Seaside, CAUnited StatesEducationNew ConstructionEHDD ArchitectureTipping Mar + AssociatesChartwell School OwnerAusonio, incFort Ord Reuse AuthorityPaul T. Beck Contractors (On-site deconstruction of asphalt), John Stephens (lead-based paint removal)212002010IIIUnavailableUnavailableCredit: UC Berkeley Center for the Built Environment
Boulder Community Hospital2023Boulder, COUnited StatesHealthcareDeconstruction of Existing Structure for Reuse, New ConstructionCity of Boulder, Michele Crane, Facilities Chief ArchitectKL&A Engineers and BuildersCity of Boulder's Alpine-Balsam Redevelopment PlanAmeresco - General Contractor, Colorado Cleanup Corporation - Deconstruction Contractorn/aKL&A Team Carbon, Embodied Carbon Specialists250000N/A50IVUnavailablePartially availableCredit: KL&A Engineers & Builders
Green Valley Road Bridge2014Muskingum, OHUnited StatesBridgeMajor Renovation of Existing Structure: OtherN/AMuskingum County Engineer's Office (MCEO)N/ATBCN/AN/A1040N/AN/AN/AIIPartially availableUnavailableCredit: Douglas Davis/ Muskingum County, OH
Circulating Matters2022Ithaca, NYUnited StatesOtherNew ConstructionCircular Construction Lab, Cornell University College of Art, Architecture, and Planningschlaich bergermann partnerCornell Council for the ArtsCircular Construction Lab, Trade Design BuildpcrentsFinger Lakes Reuse150N/A10IIUnavailableUnavailableCredit: Albert Vecerka Esto
Villa Welpeloo2009EnschedeNetherlandsSingle-Family ResidentialNew Construction2012 ArchitectenNico Plukkel BouwkundigPrivate Client (couple)Den Boer Bouwen en Installeren (contractor), T.J. Knol, I. E. C. BlansTBCN/A43003320IIUnavailableUnavailableCredit: Superuse studios
K118 Kopfbau Halle2021WinterthurSwitzerlandOfficeMajor Renovation of Existing Structure: Vertical Expansionbaubüro in situOberli Ingenieurbau AG (civil), Josef Kolb AG (timber)Stiftung Abendrot (client, not a developer)Wetter AG (steel), Zehnder Holz und Bau (timber)Not explicitly listed.Architects were chosen as specialists in adaptive reuse projects136007060IIUnavailableUnavailableCredit: Martin Zeller
Mountain Equipment Coop2000Ottawa, ONCanadaMercantileNew ConstructionLinda Chapman, Christopher Simmonds, Pawel Fiett, Kristen O’Connor, Christopher MoiseCleland Jardine Engineering Limited0Justice Construction0by dEsign (waste management consultant), Enermodal Engineering (C2000 consultant)267003020IIUnavailableUnavailableCredit: MEC
Stadium 9742021DohaQatarPublic AssemblyNew ConstructionFenwick Iribarren Architectsschlaich bergermann partnerSupreme Committee for Delivery & LegacyHBK Contracting00100320014560IIIUnavailableUnavailableCredit: schlaich bergermann partner
Brasada Ranch Resort2006Powell-Butte, ORUnited StatesOtherNew ConstructionCottle Carr Yaw ArchitectsKL&A Engineers and BuildersBrasadaKeeton-King ConstructionPurchased from salvager, Northwest Containers, who purchased from mill0700002520IIUnavailableUnavailableCredit: Cottle Carr Yaw Architects

Updates

While reasonable efforts have been made to ensure the information is representative and accurate, we cannot guarantee there are no errors. Please contact the case study team using this contact form to provide additional information, suggest updates and amendments, or with any other questions. 

Additions

The Circular Economy Case Studies database will be extended over time by the working group. However, we wholeheartedly welcome the submission of new case studies by project teams or other interested parties! To submit a new case study to the database, please use this submission form.

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