Building Materials

Rethinking a Centuries-Old Material: Concrete | Lightbulb

Rethinking a Centuries-Old Material: Concrete | Lightbulb

In our pilot episode of Lightbulb, we shine the light on a building material that's been around for centuries — concrete. Ripe for innovation, the #1 most-used building material is changing, not only with its composition but also in the places it's being used. Experts from Lithko Contracting, a concrete contractor, and Ozinga Bros., a ready-mix manufacturer, give us the scoop on what's new and improved in this age-old material.

Deconstructing Construction Materials for Reuse | SmartWorlds - Wasted Markets

Deconstructing Construction Materials for Reuse | SmartWorlds - Wasted Markets

On this episode on SmartWorlds, we look into the large waste and building material reuse problem in our built environment. The building industry in the United States is responsible for an estimated 350 million tons of construction debris flowing into landfills per year. Archeworks, a design school based in Chicago, is leading the charge to expand the building material reuse marketplace. Through a collaboration with the Cook County Department of Environmental Control, the Building Material Reuse Association, the ReBuilding Exchange, and leading design firms, this intensive research and design project explores the barriers and opportunities for reuse that exist in current design culture and public policy, and proposes expanding the reuse economy by re-envisioning architectural practice and the built environment. This episode features a panel discussion with the key players leading this sustainable approach. 

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