First Living Building Challenge & Reuse Primer Projects - How PlanetReuse Helped - FALL '10 Newsletter

There have been many successful projects that have incorporated reclaimed materials into the buildings.  Recently, an announcement and a publication helped document the process, the successes as well as the challenges.

Announcement:
Cascadia’s first three Living Building Challenge (LBC) Projects were announced recently.  PlanetReuse had the pleasure of working with the design/construction teams on 2 of the 3 projects.  We helped source many materials from areas throughout the United States for the Tyson Living Learning Center in Eureka, MO and the Omega Center for Sustainable Living in Rhinebeck, NY.  For more information on the LBC and the press release describing the details and the teams, visit the LBC site.

Publication:
The 15 diverse projects in the Design for Reuse Primer demonstrate new models of “building green.” Material reuse is always integral to a sustainable vision of how to tread lightly on the earth, be economically pragmatic, and nurture a community. From a school for children with learning differences to a center for holistic living, these case studies are intended to provide insights about the material reuse process in a wide variety of context. By discussing the challenges and demonstrating the benefits of reclaimed materials, they hope to demystify and inspire reuse.

The Design for Reuse Primer publication and website are the latest resources of Public Architecture's ongoing efforts to demystify and promote building material reuse.

There are many great projects that are reviewed in the Primer.  PlanetReuse enjoyed working on two of the fifteen projects:
- Omega Center Center for Sustainable Living
- Operation Comeback 5200 Dauphine Street

Both the LBC projects and the Reuse Primer are great proof that reclaimed materials are successfully being used in commercial and residential projects throughout the United States and that PlanetReuse provides services that are very beneficial in sourcing, documenting and coordinating reclaimed materials.

All of the projects had amazing owners and design teams that really pushed the boundaries in incorporation of reclaimed materials. We take our hats off to you – congratulations!

Greenbuild(ing) 2010 - Another Great Conference Celebrating Another Year of Growth! - FALL '10 Newsletter

Each year, Greenbuild gathers thousands of participants from all over the world to meet, celebrate, and share stories of challenges, successes, new innovations and new products to make the world a better place. Greenbuild is a great source for education and inspiration.

This year is another celebration as the industry continues forward despite struggles with the economy, changes in leadership, etc. there are many things we can look back at and reflect upon when it comes to the sustainable movement.

PlanetReuse is proud to be part of this movement to move the design and construction industry forward making reclaimed materials a viable option on new commercial and residential projects.

We’re in Booth #1296 this year.  Join us as we exhibit another year to meet, celebrate and share with you.  Our booth will again be made from many of the materials we source and provide to project teams throughout North America.  We will have samples of reclaimed office furniture, reclaimed access flooring, reclaimed wood flooring, reclaimed siding, recycled granite stone flooring, structural steel, carpet tile, brick and many more materials.  Looking forward to seeing you!

Going to the Educational Sessions??
Join PlanetReuse’s Founder + Principal, Nathan Benjamin for an off-site panel discussion at Chicago's Rebuilding Exchange about how architects and contractors can incorporate reused materials into their project process, with a focused discussion and explanation of how reused materials can impact LEED projects across rating systems.  PlanetReuse, the Rebuilding Exchange, OWPP/Cannon Designs, Studio Gang will present on Thursday, November 18th.  To sign up, go to OF04 on course registration.

Reclaimed Materials - "Tell us what you have available so we ..." - FALL '10 Newsletter

….can incorporate reclaimed materials into our projects.”  We hear this time and time again along with comments like “if I only thought about reclaimed materials more often, we could incorporate them into our designs.”

We are listening.

Over the past few months, PlanetReuse has taken a more active approach to telling you what we have with our monthly bulletin with current materials that are available.  In addition to working with design teams and current designs on projects to locate and source materials on a project, we also look to let you know about great materials we have access to that can help you save time, money and help with your sustainable goals on a project.

Here are a few examples different summaries:
September 2010
July 2010

We’ve received great feedback on the bulletin and plan to continue spreading the word about available materials.  You can always go to our listings page.  Let us know what you need on projects by sending us your drawings, material lists, etc. And to remain in-the-know about materials that are available or on their way, join our newsletter and encourage others to do so as well.