Title page for ETD etd-12132010-191856

Type of Document

Master's Thesis

Author

Go, Carlo

Author's Email Address

carlo.l.go@gmail.com

URN

etd-12132010-191856

Title

Building Life Cycles: An Exploration of a Building’s Transformation From One Life Into the Next

Degree

Master of Architecture

Department

Architecture

Advisory Committee

Advisor Name	Title
Feuerstein, Marcia F.	Committee Chair
Emmons, Paul F.	Committee Member
Holt, Jaan	Committee Member

Keywords

disassembly
transformation
end-of-life
adaptive re-use
mixed-use

Date of Defense

2010-09-22

Availability

restricted

Abstract

‘Nothing endures but change’ - Heraclitus.

Buildings are designed and built to house a specific program for a set period of time. The end of a building’s life marks a change in its use. In today’s building practices, some building owners opt to demolish an entire building prior to constructing a new one. Unfortunately, this world-wide attitude results in the production of millions of tons of waste every year and is not an ecologically sustainable practice.

However, as green building methods become more valued in today’s society, building owners and designers are becoming more conscious of buildings’ end lives. Construction methods are increasingly involving concepts of designing for disassembly, wherein parts and materials can be easily taken apart for reuse or recycling. Such practices are vital in minimizing the unnecessary production of construction waste.

Everything on earth exhibits change. This thesis explores the development of a newly constructed building and its transformation at the end of its life into a new building. The project consists of two designs; the program of the first was predetermined while the program of the second was chosen by the committee at the concluding stage of the first design.

This thesis seeks to develop a position on architectural design and construction methods that acknowledges the fact that buildings are not permanent objects and that they will, at some point in time, change.

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