Decisions like this can be costly, as
these solutions are often delaying the
inevitable – a more thorough and well-informed reconstruction effort.
Alaska State Capitol Project
The Alaska State Capitol is currently
being reclad, and the project prompted
debates about historical preservation.
The building, completed in 1931, was
designed similarly to its contemporaries, but Juneau’s climate was tough
on the masonry, degrading the building’s exterior elements much faster than
those in milder conditions. This, in addition to the structure needing significant
seismic retrofitting, required the state
to improve the building’s cladding.
The design team employed a reconstruction approach as opposed to a
strict preservation approach, meaning that the building would undergo
improvements and corrections to the
original design that allow the building
to become vastly safer, more energy-efficient and much more durable.
Further, recladding would yield a
lifespan of roughly 100-150 years, compared to the preservation approach,
which would at best extend the lifespan
by 40 years. Additionally, recladding
would cost only marginally more than a
LG Electronics Recycles 24,000 Tons of Used Devices
EPA HONORS TECH COMPANY FOR ELECTRONICS RECYCLING PROGRAM
LG Electronics USA received EPA’s Gold Tier Award, a top-level recognition in the agency’s Sustainable Materials
Management (SMM) Electronic Challenge, for leadership in
responsible electronics recycling.
The agency's
honor specifically
addresses the tech
company’s efforts
to increase the
amount of used
electronics collected for reuse
and recycling with
a goal of sending
100% of used elec-
tronics to certified
third-party recy-
clers and sharing electronic management practices publicly.
“By using third-party certified recyclers, we’re proud to
help drive the use of environmentally protective practices,”
says William Cho, CEO of LG Electronics USA. “LG’s leadership in
THE 24,000 TONS OF USED ELECTRONICS that were recycled prevented
the release of more than 63,714 tons of
carbon dioxide into the atmosphere,
which is equal to taking 12,209 cars off
the road.
Selecting Materials for
Cladding
The ideal cladding for a building will balance functionality and aesthetics. When
selecting the right materials, what might
work in one area might result in catastrophic consequences in another. Weather
and climate types are critically important
during this decision-making process.
For example, stucco is a suitable cladding material in Arizona because it can
last more or less indefinitely in its hot
and arid climate, according to Paul Lukes,
Owner of PAUL LUKES: Building Envelope
Consulting Services LLC in Seattle.
However, stucco used in a wet and salty
location like San Francisco might degrade
in 20 to 30 years due to corrosion of its
reinforcing lath and metal trims.
“Similarly, while masonry can last
essentially indefinitely in relatively warm
and moderately moist or dry climates,
cold and wet climates can destroy
masonry in 6 to 8 decades due to freeze-spalling,” says Lukes.
Every climate has certain characteristics
that will render some materials useless.
Thus, consult with an envelope professional about what will work best and last
the longest in your location.
strict preservation approach. In providing these improvements to the building,
this reconstruction approach maintains
the original appearance of the building.
“We very nearly duplicated the origi-
nal design’s appearance, but corrected
some of the original design’s technical
flaws and replaced severely degraded
masonry with new masonry. We also
rebuilt the roof-level cornice, enhancing
the building’s appearance and revert-
ing it closer to its original design while
at the same time helping to shelter
the exterior masonry from weathering
damage,” says Lukes. “I think the intent
should be to maintain the existing his-
toric building’s appearance to the great-
est feasible degree, but to also correct
original flaws and improve safety, energy
efficiency and performance.”
Public response to the Capitol’s
recladding has been positive. Although
Lukes’s recommendation to reclad the
building met some initial hesitancy and
on the surface may have seemed a bit
extreme, the considerations favoring it
were so compelling the state agreed to
reclad the building.
Justin Feit justin.feit@buildings.com is
assistant editor of BUILDINGS.
the SMM Challenge reflects our strong commitment to building
a robust market for electronic recycling in the U.S.”
Mathy Stanislaus, Assistant Administrator for EPA’s Office
of Land and Emergency Management, adds: “The successful
practices spearheaded by LG and other Challenge Participants
are inspiring examples of how other manufacturers, retailers
and brand owners throughout various industries can make
their products more sustainable throughout their lifecycles."
The award also recognizes LG’s collection and responsible
recycling of over 24,000 tons of used electronics instead
of sending them to landfills, preventing the release of more
than 63,714 tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
Furthermore, the company also encourages consumers
to replace recycled electronics with more energy efficient
ENERGY STAR certified products.
“The positive environmental impact of LG’s responsible recycling is equal to taking 12,209 passenger cars off the road for
a year or saving enough electricity to power 8,535 U.S. homes
for a year,” says Stanislaus. “I am proud to recognize LG, a true
leader in the industry, for creating innovative ways to meld
environmental responsibilities with sound business practices.”
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