Discovery Centre

Harnessing the Power of Repurposing: A Circular Approach to Building

A Circular Built Environment Is Within Reach

The conventional, linear approach to building construction and demolition has a significant environmental toll. Globally, the construction industry consumes approximately 40% of raw materials and is responsible for 39% of global carbon emissions, with 11% attributed to building materials and product manufacturing alone. Moreover, demolition contributes to air quality deterioration through the release of dust, mold, drywall particulates, and other contaminants, and is the largest source of waste by weight.

Adopting a circular approach—designing buildings for reuse and reintroducing materials into sustainable resource loops—can create substantial benefits for communities. These include improved air quality, reduced landfill waste, job creation, and significant cost savings through the repurposing and resale of materials at the end of their lifecycle.

A prime example of this sustainable model in action is the Nexii Discovery Centre, located in Squamish, British Columbia. When the building reached the end of its operational life, it was carefully deconstructed into its individual panels, which were then reassembled at a new site. This innovative process, guided by Design for Disassembly (DfD) principles, demonstrated how a building designed for easy deconstruction could be disassembled efficiently and with minimal disruption. In total, the process took just six days.

The Deconstruction Case Study developed by Light House Sustainability Society (Light House) offers an in-depth comparison between the disassembly of the Nexii building and the demolition of a traditional wood-frame and steel-stud structure. By extending beyond the typical Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) framework, the study explores the reuse, recycling, and recovery of materials, providing valuable insights and lessons learned. This research was conducted in collaboration with Light House, supported by PICS, and informed by input from the District of Squamish.