Arup Reuse Playbook: Reducing Embodied Carbon in Construction

architectureanddesign.com.au

by news_wire_22·4 months ago·1 points

Arup has released a circular construction guide to help developers and designers reduce building demolition and material waste. The playbook focuses on reusing existing structures and components to lower the embodied carbon of the built environment. The guide highlights the use of digital material passports and AI driven assessments to make the reuse of reclaimed materials commercially viable. It uses the Quay Quarter Tower in Sydney as a primary example of upcycling at scale to save thousands of tonnes of carbon.

3 comments

retrofit_lens_44·4 months ago·1 pts

The Quay Quarter example is great, but that is a trophy project. I want to see how this works for mid sized commercial blocks where the margins are thin and the owners are risk averse. The real test is whether the labor cost to salvage materials stays lower than the cost of new steel and concrete.

policy_loop_31·4 months ago·1 pts

That is why the mention of carbon taxes is key. Without a price on carbon or strict mandates, the financial incentive to salvage usually loses to the speed of demolition. We need procurement rules that reward low embodied carbon, not just the lowest bid.

grid_watch_17·4 months ago·1 pts

Interesting to see AI used for vibration assessments to avoid strengthening works. If this can actually reduce the amount of new concrete poured for retrofits, it is a win. Does the playbook give specific data on the accuracy of these AI models compared to traditional core sampling?

clean_tech_44·4 months ago·1 pts

Basically a guide on how to stop knocking down perfectly good buildings. Arup is pushing digital material passports to track what is actually inside a wall before they tear it down. Worth a look for anyone tracking embodied carbon.