One of the biggest byproducts of turning an architect's dream into reality is construction waste. In addition to the environmental impact of construction waste is the often unseen cost to the project. One of our jobs is to ensure our clients are paying the lowest possible cost for materials used in the construction of their projects and one of the best ways we can do that is by reducing construction waste.
Working with a client and architect during design, we are proactive and look at every piece of work with an eye for constructability (how the design will be put together). We look to maintain the aesthetic of the design along with its intended function, but making sure how it is constructed is the most efficient and cost effective it can be. A large aspect of this process is to think ahead about the materials that will be used, their standard sizes, and how the design can compliment that. Below are a few solutions we have implemented throughout the years with this in mind.
My recent work at Piper Village in Greenwood called for site pavers on the sidewalks of the new private road, Morrow Lane, which we were building. During design, we worked with the architect to adjust the layout of the concrete bands which contain the pavers to dimensions that eliminated cutting. This not only sped up installation time, but also eliminated smaller (cut) paver sizes which can be problematic in the long-term. With a little planning and emphasis on dimensioning, we gained significant efficiencies in installation.
On many Rafn projects we have ordered drywall in sizes other than the standard four by eight. This can reduce waste by requiring fewer cuts to fit a given application. In some cases, we have used 9’ long drywall panels, turning the sheets vertically on our furred-out walls.
A similar strategy was taken at a recent apartment project of ours where the site built components (planters in the courtyard) were designed based on standard sizes of the materials specified. This means that if the product being used to construct the sides of the planter come in a standard length of 3 feet, the overall design of the planter takes that into account along with the sizes of the posts and joints to come up with a final overall size that fits it’s location in the courtyard.
And finally back to my project at Piper Village. Our construction of Buildings 5 & 6 this past summer included two basically identical buildings side by side. We sequenced the excavation and foundation work to enable us to excavate dirt from the second foundation, utilizing a telebelt to convey the excavated material from this foundation directly into the first foundation as under slab and perimeter backfill. This prevented the need to export waste material, which saved time, space for a staging area for the stockpile, and trucking costs.
The underlying objective is reducing and managing waste. When an architect and contractor can work together proactively in preconstruction, designing with the end product and materials in mind, a project benefits with smoother construction, reduced cost, and a less waste.
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