Building Reuse: Sustainability, Preservation, and the Value of Design

In Building Reuse: Sustainability, Preservation, and the Value of Design, Kathryn Rogers Merlino makes an impassioned case that truly sustainable design requires reusing and reimagining existing buildings. The construction and operation of buildings is responsible for 41 percent of all primary energy use and 48 percent of all carbon emissions. The impact of the demolition and removal of an older building can greatly diminish the advantages of adding green technologies to new construction. Reusing existing buildings can be challenging to accomplish, but changing the way we think about environmentally conscious architecture has the potential to significantly reduce carbon emissions. Additionally, Merlino calls for a more expansive view of historic preservation that goes beyond keeping only the most distinctive structures and requiring that they remain fundamentally unchanged to embracing the creative reuse of even unremarkable buildings.

In support of these points, Building Reuse includes a compelling range of case studies―from an eighteen-story office building to a private home―all located in the Pacific Northwest, a region with a long history of sustainable design and urban growth policies that have made reuse projects feasible

Review
"This is a welcome addition to the growing dialog on stewardship of the built environment. The detailed case studies provide meaningful insights to an underappreciated and often overlooked sustainability strategy."―Robert Young, author of Stewardship of the Built Environment: Sustainability, Preservation, and Reuse

"A concise, compelling survey rich with insights and real-world examples from across Washington State, Rogers Merlino's study makes a strong case for the many ways reusing older buildings improves neighborhood character, spurs economic growth, and fosters environmental sustainability. Read, use, and reuse this book!"―Stephanie Meeks, President and CEO, National Trust for Historic Preservation and author of The Past and Future City

"This book is an essential text and inspiration for anyone trying to shape a healthy world by addressing human habitats. Beautifully written and researched with case studies that demonstrate the amazing power of design."―Jean Caroon, FAIA, LEED Fellow, Goody Clancy Architects

"Merlino marshals evidence from an impressive variety of sources and cases to critique of the discourse about building value. She adds an important voice to the chorus of practitioners and scholars advocating re-use."―Randall Mason, School of Design, University of Pennsylvania