What is deconstruction?
Unlike demolition, which uses heavy machinery to crush and tear apart buildings, deconstruction involves carefully disassembling buildings by hand.
Benefits of deconstruction over demolition
Reduces waste
Construction, renovation, and demolition (known as C&D) activities create a lot of waste:
- The U.S. generates over twice as much C&D waste as municipal household waste (U.S. EPA, 2018). Over 90% of this waste is generated by demolition versus new construction.
- In the Portland area, 25% to 30% of waste is C&D from residential and commercial buildings.
Much of this waste includes materials that could be reused instead of being recycled or discarded.
Deconstruction is a method for removing buildings that allows wood and other materials to be salvaged and reused for new construction or renovation projects. Since Portland's residential deconstruction requirement began in 2016, over 600 houses and duplexes have been deconstructed. There have also been around 100 voluntary deconstruction projects including garages and accessory structures. This work has salvaged over 2,200 tons of wood, along with doors, hardware, light fixtures, appliances, windows, and more for reuse.
Reduces greenhouse gas emissions
Deconstruction reduces landfill waste and decreases the need for manufacturing new materials, which helps lower greenhouse gas emissions.
Creates and supports local industry and green jobs
Since enacting a deconstruction requirement in 2016, Portland has seen a proliferation of locally owned deconstruction contractors and salvaged building material retailers.
Portland’s residential deconstruction requirement
In 2016, Portland became the first city in the nation to require deconstruction for residential buildings of a certain age.
This first ordinance required homes built in or before 1916 to be deconstructed rather than demolished. In 2020, the threshold was raised to include homes built in or before 1940.
Since Portland passed its deconstruction ordinance, Seattle, WA; San Antonio, TX; and Hennepin County, MN, have created their own deconstruction programs.
- Administrative Rules: Describes the standards and expectations for the Deconstruction of Buildings Law as authorized in the City Code, Chapter 17.106.
- Chapter 17.106 Deconstruction of Buildings Law: This Chapter of City Code contains the requirements for deconstruction of certain structures.
- Deconstruction Resolution: Adopted Feb. 17, 2016, this resolution directs BPS to develop code language for new deconstruction requirements that go into effect in October 2016.
- Deconstruction Ordinance: Adopted in July 2016, effective Oct. 31, 2016. Includes Exhibit A.