Hosted by the Schenectady County Historical Society | Click here for more information and a link to register
Deconstruction, or Decon for short, is the process of taking a structure apart piece by piece, with the goal of preserving materials for reuse. It is the most environmentally-friendly, neighborhood-counscious, and historically sensitive alternative to demolition.
This summer, SCHS is partnering with Re:Purpose Savannah to provide a unique opportunity to learn the trade of deconstruction with a hands-on experience in Rotterdam Junction, NY. Led by the team at Re:Purpose Savannah, participants will learn the skills for harvesting reusable materials from a real life demo project. We will fully deconstruct a c. 1810 home, beams and all, and learn useful techniques for how to handle materials, employ proper safety procedures, what tools to use for what, and more.
Deconstruction training will take place over two sessions, and trainees should expect to be on site 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Session 1: July 10 – July 14
Session 2: July 17 – July 21
If you want to join for both sessions, the cost is $350, but please call SCHS at 518.374.0263 x5
SCHEDULE
July 10 - Decon Interior, Windows
July 11 - Decon Roof Day 1, Bring chimneys down to attic floor level
July 12 - Decon Roof Day 2, Ceiling Joists, bring chimneys down to second floor level
July 13 - Decon Second Level Walls
July 14 - Decon Second Level Floor, Joists
July 15 - LECTURE / CLASSROOM TIME
July 16 - SUNDAY – DAY OFF
July 17 - Decon Second Level Floor Joists, First Level Walls
July 18 - Decon First Level Walls
July 19 - Decon First Level Floors
July 20 - Decon First Level Floor Joists, Sill Beams
July 21 - Decon Sill Beams, Foundation elements
July 22 - LECTURE / CLASSROOM TIME
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Estimating Phase:
How to price a job
Working with Tax Credits
Contracts
City and County
Site Plan
Sensitivity to history as well as human situations
Prep Phase:
Demolition Permit
Electrical
Plumbing
Gas
HVAC
Hazardous Materials
Rodent
Landscaping
Cost Tracking
Decon Phase:
Structural analysis
Different types of deconstruction
Various techniques for proper material harvest without breakage
Site management and workflow
Working with Subcontractors
Material Processing on site
Site scrape:
Removing masonry and concrete
Working with hand tools, power tools, or heavy machinery
Compiling a project snapshot
After-the-fact material processing
Lecture Topics:
The history of deconstruction, a traditional craft
Decon as preservation best practice for structural removal
Policy efforts across the nation to make demolition of historic buildings illegal
A closer look at materials: what do they mean, what do they tell us, what are we really looking at
Research and Documentation as best practices for structural removal
The consequences of demoltion: public health, environment, erasure of history