3 Kings Environmental’s Sustainability-focused Demolition of Wenatchee Valley YMCA
Job Overview and Selection
The Wenatchee Valley YMCA was being torn down and rebuilt at another location. Before the construction of the new 50,000 square foot YMCA, the old one needed to be torn down. When it was time for the demolition of the old Wenatchee Valley YMCA, there was a clear focus on finding a company that not only knew how to get the job done, but one that could get the job done using sustainable practices. 3 Kings Environmental was selected for the demolition of the YMCA because of their specialization in reducing waste going to landfills, their direct involvement in reusing salvageable materials, and their expertise in recycling building materials so that there is less of a need for raw components in future construction efforts.
Specific Environmental Considerations and Sustainability Practices
In fact, 3 Kings Environmental does not demolish buildings in the traditional sense. It is a far more surgical approach that can be better described as dismantling or deconstructing. Instead of explosions and wrecking balls, 3 Kings opts for a more delicate approach that can take extra time, but preserves literal tons of materials from needlessly getting thrown away.
Beyond saving materials from piling onto the local landfill, 3 Kings was partially able to secure the bid on this job because of the potential money that could be made back from the sorting and recycling of many of the different materials used in the original construction of the Wenatchee Valley YMCA. Scrap metals like steel, aluminum, and copper from the demo of the building that aren’t repurposed can be sold to help reinvest in the project. Concrete was broken up on site and materials were sorted for proper disposal, recycling, or repurposing.
It was important to the YMCA that waste was reduced and recycling was at the forefront of their minds when it came to this project, but our partnership with Vintage Reclaimed made it so that wood from this demolition could be repurposed and artfully upcycled into new custom pieces of art, furniture, and more. Our dedication to preserving what we have does not just include our virgin resources, but also the materials that have once been used as infrastructure. Very rarely does wood, glass, or metal deteriorate before their purpose does.
With our deconstruction approach, some steps may take more time, but the end results make up for it in both quality of repurposed materials and reduction in environmental impact.. For example, when we take down a concrete wall, we will remove any wooden components and clear the walls of debris. This may seem a bit tedious, but this will actually save time when the wall comes down and the concrete is gathered to be repurposed because there won’t be a need to sort through the materials by hand and pick out any unwanted materials.
Our deconstruction method also reduces the amount of dust created. Dust from demolition can find its way into local ecosystems and cause harm. Demolition dust can get into local groundwater as well as local soil. With the potential presence of harmful materials, we take measures to reduce the amount of dust both onsite and in transit. We spray down piles of rubble to decrease the effect of the wind blowing debris and dust around. We are also sure to tarp our loads of materials so that we can reduce the amount of dust spread when we take our materials to their next destination.
With many demolition jobs, especially when an older building is being demolished, there is a risk of hazardous materials like asbestos, lead-based paint, mold, mercury and more. Some asbestos containing materials (ACBs) were found on the YMCA job. 3 Kings knew how to deal with the disposal of this potentially hazardous material in a way that complied with regulations and focused on the safety and wellbeing of our workers and the local ecosystem.
Final Thoughts
From the very first assessment to the final day of cleanup, 3 Kings Environmental was able to follow through with the YMCA’s commitment to sustainable demolition practices as well as our own commitment to environmental stewardship. Some of the materials from this old YMCA that could have ended up in the landfill will now be made into new construction materials for a wide variety of purposes. Some of the materials will be fashioned by artisans to become new furniture or pieces of artwork. Dangerous materials were kept from entering the local ecosystem and causing harm to wildlife. All of this was made possible by sustainability being a top priority of everyone involved from the YMCA to our employees.
