Quantitative evaluation of the relationship between physical parameters and building demolition or adaptation outcomes

Delaney Mcfarland,Brandon Ross,M Z Naser,Rijk Blok,Patrick Teuffel

doi:10.1007/s44150-021-00014-9

Delaney Mcfarland, Brandon Ross + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1007/s44150-021-00014-9

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Abstract

Building adaptation and re-use can contribute to a circular and sustainable built environment, as existing buildings are adapted and the need for new construction materials is reduced. The “adaptability” of buildings has been widely studied; however, few of these studies are quantitative. This paper uses Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) and Logistic Regression (LR) models to explore relationships between the physical features of buildings and their demolition or adaptation outcomes. Source data were taken from 59 buildings that were either demolished or adapted in the Netherlands. After the models were created and validated, a series of sensitivity studies were conducted to evaluate relationships between physical parameters and building outcomes. The physical parameter with the strongest relationship to adaptation outcomes was demountability (ease of removal) of building service elements. The quantitative results were then compared to results from an adjacent qualitative study. The relationships observed from the quantitative sensitivity studies align well with the qualitative observations.

Highlights

A circular economy of the built environment is a topic of increasing interest to academics and practitioners
This paper addresses three specific research questions: 1. Do physical parameters of buildings relate to demolition and/or adaptation outcomes?
In a research effort that was run in parallel to the current paper, Rockow et al [10] compared Design for Adaptability (DfA) strategies reported in the literature with empirical data from 89 building adaptation projects

Summary

Introduction

A circular economy of the built environment is a topic of increasing interest to academics and practitioners. Circular economy has been defined as “a regenerative system in which resource input and waste, emission, and energy leakage are minimized by slowing, closing, and narrowing material and energy loops” [2]. From this definition, building adaptation, as an alternative to demolition and new construction, can contribute to slowing resource input and waste in the built environment. In a research effort that was run in parallel to the current paper, Rockow et al [10] compared DfA strategies reported in the literature with empirical data from 89 building adaptation projects. The themes reported in the table represent DfA strategies that have been empirically evaluated for effectiveness

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