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What is waste for one person is the raw material for an experiment for another. This was also the thread of the project dismantling the Earth Sciences Building external link: an experiment with how far you can get with your ambition to dismantle a building as much as possible in a circular way.

Circular ambitions

The dismantling of the Earth Sciences Building saved 1,442 tonnes of CO2 through the high-quality reuse of the various materials and products released during the demolition work. What remained is shell: the skeleton that will be the skeleton of the Transition Building to be developed. An extraordinary story, which also planted a seed to think differently about (building) communication in outdoor space.

A moral dilemma

Communication on outdoor construction projects is usually done in the same way: weatherproof (mesh) banners are attached to construction fences containing information about the project or advertising for the contractor. After hanging in all weathers for months or even years, these banners are often no longer suitable for recycling. So they end up in the dustbin. A shame!

As circularity was a high priority in the dismantling of this building, the idea soon arose to put our money where our mouth was and experiment with circularity in the exterior communication about the project as well. But this quickly became a moral dilemma: the best option is of course R-1 on the R-ladder: refuse. But since construction of the Transition Building will not start for some time yet and since there is a lot of interesting things to tell about what we have learned from the circular dismantling of this building that can inspire others to deal with waste differently, it was decided to develop something that will last for a long time and that can also be used for construction communication in other construction projects. This ultimately ensures that future construction projects avoid waste.

From lab table to communication tool

But which material is suitable for hanging outdoors in all weathers: after all, it must be indestructible, vandal-proof and demountable, so that it can be used for multiple construction projects on campus.

This question led us to , senior instrument maker and coordinator of the Jobshop in the Caroline Bleeker Building. In fact, he is working on the same experiment, but with a different goal: making specialised equipment from 'waste' for education and research.

Fortunately, Otto knew what to do with this request. And soon, eight old lab tables made of indestructible trespa were transformed into boards attached to the construction fences at the front of the Earth Sciences Building. The lab tables/construction boards were stickered this week by , our regular partner for all outdoor communication (signs, signage, etc.).

You can view the lab tables with all the ins and outs about the dismantling of the Earth Sciences Building on Princetonlaan opposite the Vening Meinesz Building.