2023 Reuse Summit Summary

The first panel, themed around the shearing layers of Structure, Skin and Services covered some interesting case studies including the Entopia Building ‘this is not an ordinary project but it needs to be’ from Peter Kelly at ISG. This projectutilised the original structure, a number of material reuse elements included the steel for the PV canopy, raised access flooring, carpet tiles and a beautiful oak reception desk that was remodelled. Matt Morris at Hawkins Brown talked about several projects including TEDI, built from materials – including steel and timber – left over from the deconstruction of a nearby printworks, at the end of its life the building can be reused on site, relocated in its entirety, or stripped and recycled.  Matt also spoke of Hawkins Brown wider industry engagement,particularly on the data associated for circularity and reuse. Lastly, Sarah Trahair-Williams at FORE Partnership talked about Tower Bridge Court (TBC). Sarah said they took 40 tonnes of 1930s steel from House of Fraser, which netted 16 tonnes that could be used in their new TBC building. All projects cited significant carbon savings through the reuse of materials and products, and the panel agreed on the need to move away from highly bespoke buildings and to have more simple designs to facilitate reuse.

Roy Fishwick, Cleveland Steel and Tubes raised a point about particular items that are specified at an early stage of a project but may not be available at point of construction, and whether being too specific too early may actually stymie reuse. Sarah responded by saying that the industry needs to move away from bespoke buildings, to more simple designs, standard components and have designs that flex. She believes it is possible to have an ethos of ‘this is the material that’s available, how can design fit around it’. At the moment she conceded  it is too often a case of the ‘stars aligning’ between supply and demand as the material reuse market is currently not working at scale.

The importance of getting the local Planning Department on board was raised, as more flexibility by planners regarding the implications of reuse is needed: For example , as Sarah commented, the reuse of certain building components may affect floor-to-ceiling heights, could planning be more flexible around storey heights to allow for this? Can the planning process be more flexible  in order to respond to what reuse materials are available without it being flouted by those trying to unscrupulously manipulate the system?

Being sustainable is also about the businesses involved still  trading at the end of the project so need to ensure economic feasibility as well as the environmental and societal requirements –balancing the triple bottom line ,. Reuse can come out more cost effective, particularly with steel as a higher value material (LINK TO DISRUPT). This is not the case with all products. Storage and logistics is a common theme as one of the barriers to reuse.

Other  discussion points included ‘do we need to tell people things are reused’ – in some instances reuse should just look like business as usual, for others obvious reuse and the story-telling behind it is necessary to support a shift in thinking and perception.

In answer to the question ‘what can we do to make products easier to be reused’, the panel all said it would be great to work more closely with manufacturers to support this, and equally that manufacturers need to talk to each other in more detail about how their products work together within the building eg ceilings and lighting. It will be interesting to see how any Extended Producer Responsibility related policies will drive/ support the way manufacturers design.

Lastly, the panel were asked to be the Reuse ‘Fairy’ and to make one wish – the answers were collaboration, data, and be happy with imperfection.