Commercial, Energy Efficiency, GHG Emissions  -  May 25, 2023

City of Boulder Conducts Sustainable Deconstruction Project

The City of Boulder is conducting a sustainable deconstruction project at the municipality's former Boulder Community Health Hospital. 

The project is a partnership between the city and Ameresco, Inc. Work began in 2019 and is expected to reach completion by fall 2023.

The deconstructed building materials will be used for a new fire station and other city projects. These efforts are part of the City of Boulder’s goal to divert 85% of its waste from landfills by 2025 and contribute to Boulder's zero waste and circular economy initiatives.

When the project is finished, it is expected to exceed the city’s target of repurposing, reusing, and recycling more than 75% of the building’s materials. Direct pumps, motors, doors, fixtures, and other materials were auctioned off in the preliminary deconstruction phase and not dumped at a landfill.

During the current and final deconstruction phase, the focus has turned to reusing the former hospital's structural steel for a new fire station, which is slated to open in mid-2024. The steel will be repurposed for other new building projects throughout Boulder.

"We are thankful to Ameresco with whom we forged a good partnership to achieve maximum reuse of materials from the former hospital and demonstrate that sustainable deconstruction can be successfully implemented to help advance circular economy goals and environmental development," said Michele Crane, Chief Architect and Facilities Capital Projects Manager, City of Boulder in a statement. "To meet our climate goals and lower our total carbon impact, it is essential to incorporate all opportunities for reuse, especially of elements, like steel and concrete that take a large amount of energy to make.

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