Reader Response "4 Ways to Demolish a Building"

(Ang Mo Kio SIT Building)

Reader Response "4 Ways to Demolish a Building"

In the article “4 Ways to Demolish a Building”, Rodriguez (2018) explains the various methods to tear a building down. The method used depends on several factors but no matter which, safety is essential. The first method, by implosion, is the most dramatic one. It is often used for large structures in urban areas, and requires comprehensive planning for explosives to tear buildings down. The next method uses the high reach arm, which is a demolition tool attached to a base machine, and buildings are broken up from the top down. The third method is the traditional, common wrecking ball which requires skillful operators. This method creates environmental pollution. The last method is selective demolition, or “strip-out”. It is increasingly popular as it allows recycling and reusing of the materials for new structures. However, it lacks efficiency. Based on the afore-mentioned points, it is apparent that building demolition requires tedious planning and extensive preparation prior to the actual activity, upon taking into consideration several factors relating to the environmental, economic and social aspects.

First of all, the factors to be examined in the environmental aspect are aplenty as demolition commonly causes environmental pollution. With such big structures being torn down, there are inevitably major potential impacts such as noise, dust, traffic implications and more worryingly, waste. In the article “Deconstruction, demolition and destruction” (2011), one key issue raised which is growing in significance is the large amount of construction waste generated even from the simplest demolition. If neglected, the waste generated is particularly problematic to Mother Nature. Yet if proper planning is present, this “waste” can become a resource under the concept of “urban mining”, which is constructive to the environment (Tran, 2017). Likewise, if the other types of pollution such as air and noise pollution are not handled rightly, they can result in significant nuisance to local and surrounding communities.

Secondly, the factors in the economic aspect are notable too, making the outcomes of demolition difficult to predict. In “Making decisions on the demolition or refurbishment of social housing" (2014), it states that estimating the costs and impacts prior to the demolition process is full of complexity and uncertainty. Also, after the demolition, many economic factors are consequently greatly affected as well. One example is illustrated in the article “What is involved in the building demolition process?” (2013). It states that the removal of any building can “alter property values and property taxes in the area”. It also adds that regardless of a small or big demolition project, “site preparation is an important factor”. Hence, the planning and preparation step has to be executed meticulously, to allow for adequate anticipation of ensuing economic changes.

Lastly, with regards to the social aspect, massive destruction of buildings often do go hand-in-hand with social transformation processes. Although the post-demolition impacts in this aspect are often less tangible and noticeable, I think that they are certainly as noteworthy as the after-effects relating to the other aspects. The social costs to be taken into account include direct and indirect ones (Tran, 2017). The former involves reparation costs for damaged properties, costs to address communities’ concerns, and so on and so forth. On the other hand, the latter refers to the social costs not directly attributed to demolition itself, but rather to its aftermath. A typical example of this is the healthcare costs due to high levels of air pollutants caused by demolition. As such, the local communities will suffer damages and discomfort if demolition activities are not well-planned and prepared for. With this being said, general health and well-being are broad and interdependent on varying factors, making the management of the social impacts of demolition demanding.

All in all, the demolition of buildings is notorious to be highly linked to environmental, economic, and social damages. Hence, abundant attention needs to be given to the details in the groundwork prior to any action taken. It is only with immense care and effort in the planning and preparation stage, that the impacts of demolition in these aspects can be (and should be) bettered. To conclude, there will always be a substantial amount of embedded natural, financial and social capitals in the built environment, thus the effort in planning and preparation of the demolition of a building is truly staggering.

(713 words with summary)

(540 words without summary)

5 October 2018, 10:15am (Draft 1)
1 October 2018, 9.55pm (Posted)

References

Ferroadmin (-)Environmentl. (2013, January 23). What is Involved in the Building Demolition Process? Retrieved September 30, 2018, from https://ferrocanada.com/involved-building-demolition-process

Making Decisions on the Demolition or Refurbishment of Social Housing. (2014, June). Retrieved September 30, 2018, from https://www.ucl.ac.uk/public-policy/sites/public-policy/files/migrated-files/Refurbishment_and_demolition_of_social_housing_FINAL.pdf

Thomsen, A., Schultmann, F., & Kohler, N. (2011). Deconstruction, demolition and destruction. Building Research & Information, 39(4), 327-332. Retrieved September 29, 2018, from https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09613218.2011.585785

Tran, V. D., Tookey, J., & Moore, D. (2017). Evaluating the economics of construction and demolition waste minimisation and zero waste in the New Zealand construction industry: A thesis submitted to Auckland University of Technology in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), 2017 (Unpublished master's thesis). Auckland University of Technology.